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Showing posts from January, 2014

Sebastian Herkner: Turning Tables*

"I don't want to create trendy products; my aim is to make companions for your whole life". Тhis  is how Sebastian Herkner explains his approach to work, which, in turn, explains his success. The young German is among the industry's most acclaimed designers these days. He launched his enormously successful Bell Table for the traditional company ClassiCon in 2012, but he has also collaborated with many of the top international furniture brands, including Moroso, Pulpo, De Vorm, and Nanoo. Share While he was still a product design student at the Offenbach University of Art and Design, Sebastian began to focus on designing objects and furniture which link different cultural contexts and combine new technologies with traditional methods of craftsmanship. His 2010 reddot design award winner Bell-Table is a prime example of this approach. A fascinating combination of materials and harmonious lines, it is a masterpiece of traditional craftsman’s art. Here is how Herkne

The Story of the Tip Ton Chair*

*This is a copy of my article published earlier on Clippings.com. D o you know what 'dynamic seating' means? It's what the Tip Ton chair offers. Its kinked bottom rail allows you to tilt it forward nine degrees and shift positions back and forth. Great news for your inner child, right! Indeed, the Tip Ton was originally conceived as a school chair by British design duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby for Swiss furniture manufacturer Vitra. Weighing only 4,5kg, it is made from polypropylene, a low-cost plastic that is 100% recyclable. It is stackable and makes very little noise when moved around. With so many requirements, it took more than two years of reserch and experiments to come to the final design. Ed Barber and Jay Osgerby in their London studio. Ed is sitting on two Tip Tons. Photo by Felix Friedmann The chair’s name hides a double reference. Of course, it hints at the characteristic dual seating experience, but it also refers to Tipton, a city of arou

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"Like movie directors, designers are the keepers of the vision and build the interdisciplinary teams that are needed to achieve it”

Paola Antonelli