3rd year

This September I started my final year at Kingston University studying Product and Furniture Design. We started the year with a series of 5 one week projects, each focusing on a slightly different context. We had projects based solely on brands, user needs and manufacturing processes.

For the manufacturing process project we were in groups, and each group given a process. Our process was slip casting. I had limite

d previous knowledge on slip casting, so I found this a really interesting and insightful project. We even attempted to slip cast something ourself- which turned out quite well. We learnt how we could manipulate the clay after being cast, along with many other qualities. Below are some images of slip casting that I really like and inspired me on the project.

This is an image of the jar that we slip cast.

COHDA

I recently attended a lecture series and Richard Liddle, founder of this company was lecturing. I found them really interesting, their approach to design and the issues on sustainability that they are trying to address.

Cohda Design Limited are a UK based urban contemporary product design company with a strong environmental focus. Conforming to various environmental strategies and objec

tives, we create thought-provoking, easy to comprehend, engaging and unique designs that implement and explore new technologies. With an integral presence they aim to break down the pre-conceptions of what ethical, innovative design should be.

URE LIVE

As part of the Designs Council's Design of the Time Festival in October 2007 Cohda presented their event, U.R.E Live. The exhibit took the form of a Recycling Design Factory that created a series of handmade recycled designs direct from waste plastics over a 10-day period. The plastic waste needed to feed the event was brought along to the event by the visitors to the exhibit, in the form of milk bottles, food trays, and various plastic containers direct from their waste bins.

www.design-event.co.uk www.dott07.co.uk

The factory was housed in a disused Fire Station on Pilgrim Street, in Newcastle upon Tyne (UK). The space was almost empty at the beginning of the event, but as the visitors supplied the waste materials needed to fuel the Cohda team's creativity, they saw first-hand how recycled products could be made. With the plastic rubbish they had donated being transformed on the spot into a range of beautiful and useful recycled designs. The final recycled products were displayed alongside information on how they were produced and the energy saved in the production process.

At the end of the week-long event Cohda gave away once design for every day of the exhibit. The winners of the designs were the fortunate few who had brought along their plastic waste, which was marked at the event with the suppliers details and the winners were picked out at random.

Thank you to everyone who got involved in the event and brought along there plastic.

Aram Store (September)

Under the Same Roof - New work by OKAY Studio

The exhibition is a unique insight into the way this group has set up their way of working in London. Collectively the exhibition will explore how many different approaches to life and a creative existence are possible under the same roof offering insight into the ambient ongoing process of being a designer in London today.

Piet Hein Eek

Piet Hein Eek, Pop up shop, within the London Design Festival.

A shop showcasing their work. I really like the use of old reclaimed woods, and the laquered finnish. I like the contrasting colours between the different types of woods. I like the simplicity and honesty that these objects have.

RCA

Wouldn't It Be Nice....

...... wishful thinking in art and design.

Current exhibition on at Somerset House, it brings together ten artists and designers whose work shares a common theme. Subtitles 'wishful thinking', the show's territory is a modest form of Utopianism, a whistle of optimism for how things could be, set against a bass note of misgiving.

Below is Couture Car Cover by Bless. Made from leather and foam, the idea is to enable the car lover 'to bring his or her favourite car upstairs and use it indoors for a different function: to sit, or sleep on it'.

Below is a piece by Martino Gamper called Collective Furniture.

Tent London 2008

Tent London this year was held in the Truman Brewery on Brick Lane following on from last year. It didn't seem as big however this year, not that this is nessasarily a bad thing, I tend to get bored if i have to trail around too long.

Kingston Uni's stand looked really good, and there were a few interesting designs. The exhibition is divided up into several parts, the old classics, and newer designs. Although I do love some of the old classics, the new section is my favorite to look around. 

Design Cities

Design Cities and the Design Museum, along with photos from designers in residence.

Fashion V Sport

Current exhibition at the V&A, Fashion V Sport explores the relationship between contemporary fashion and global sportswear brands, looking at how the two industries have both inspired and collaborated with each other in recent years. Garments, footwear, images and film highlight the way in which these products are worn, collected and customised.

Aram Store

Photos from the Aram Store in July.....