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can take on a more cultural role by raising social awareness and empowering local communities. Designers are giving them the tools to help themselves. We noticed a new trend for designers
displaying tribes of objects, assembled artefacts one would expect to see in a museum cabinet. Amba Molly’s ‘Mitose’ project and Yael Barnea Givoni’s ‘Parting Line’ both explored variations of one recurrent theme, responding to a growing desire for the unique and imperfect. Whilst the individual objects have
their own identity, it is only when they are shown as a collection that they form a family or tribe, telling a much more complex and textured story. What will resonate with consumers in the future is the idea of owning something unique that is nevertheless part of a bigger story or community.
REASSEMBLE The ‘New Utility’ trend, which first emerged back in 2008 as a response to the recession, had moved on this year. Where the robust and indestructible was once celebrated, this year’s show indicated that a lighter weight trend was developing. ‘Reassemble’ takes many of the concepts
of ‘New Utility’ and expands them to exploring products that are easy to take apart, mend and recycle. A wonderful example of this is the Bouroullec Brothers ‘Baguette Chair’ for Magis. The chair is distilled down to the essential using the least possible materials and parts. What makes this chair feel particularly progressive is its lightweight appearance, which has been enhanced by the form of the back of the chair that is reminiscent of a knife blade. Tord Boontje’s new ‘Stitched Collection’
for Moroso was also made of minimal parts. He had created lamps, chairs and tables out of plywood that has been stitched together. We enjoyed the visual openness of the pieces and the joyful simplicity of stitching as a production technique. Boontje said: “I
Above left: Stitched Collection by Tord Boontje for Moroso
Above right: Amba Molly’s ‘Mitose’ project
Below: Jorge Mañes’ ‘off the grid living’ project entitled ‘Ultreia’
started to think in a more functional way about sewing, the idea of creating holes in materials and connecting pieces with yarns... I like the idea that the stitching is a very simple, low-tech way of making.” Boontje’s piece reflects one of the most
exciting aspects of the ‘Reassemble’ trend; the emergence of furniture that is easy to assemble and disassemble. As a society we have grown accustomed to assembling flat pack furniture, however, easy disassembly is a dream that has, until now, evaded us.
Jore van Ast’s ‘Clamp Table’ for De Vorm
is a wonderfully uncomplicated example of knock down design. The table is comprised of four individual legs with clamps that can be fitted to the table top and then just as easily unscrewed. What’s particularly useful about van Ast’s work is the fact that the legs can be adjusted to fit on top any table top or surface. Jack Smith’s folding stool has an equally
intuitive mechanism, by picking up one side of the seat the stool folds away. Gravity and the angles used enable the stool to fall shut when put back down. Boontje, Van Ast and Smith’s works imply
that designers are recognising that our lives are more transient and that traditional structures in the home are disintegrating. They are embracing and helping to forge an exciting new future where the rigid and immobile becomes flexible and easily transportable.
SENSE AND TACTILITY As a reaction to the increasingly digital landscape of our lives, people are looking for reassurance and comfort in the real world, which has led to a craving for tactility.
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Story Vases by Front of Sweden
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