Tuesday 11 December 2012

Christmas Boutique in Ranelagh

The Christmas Boutique in Ranelagh is a 12day pop-up gift shop selling affordable Irish craft and design. Currently in its second year, the Christmas Boutique is organised and run by Irish design duo Klickity who's products will also be on sale throughout the 12day event. With a focus on contemporary, affordable, Irish made products the Christmas Boutique brings together 30 designer makers under one roof, an event which Gráinne Lyons Design is delighted to be apart of. Other designers taking part in this event include fellow Malthouse Designers, Jennifer Slattery Textiles and Jamie Lewis.

The 12 day event provides customers with an intimate Christmas shopping experience in the heart of Ranelagh. Choose from a selection of Irish made gifts including jewellery, accessories, homewares, ceramics, lighting, linen tableware, candles, framed prints and greeting cards all starting from €10.00.

The Christmas Boutique is open from 11am-6pm from Saturday 12th December to Sunday 23rd December with late opening until 8pm on Thursdays. Ranelagh Arts Centre is located at 26 Ranelagh Main Street, Dublin 6.

Hope to see you all there.
www.grainnelyonsdesign.com
 





Monday 26 November 2012

A Desk Lamp You Can Eat...?!

Yes,..Amercian designer Victor Vetterlein has made "Bite Me", an edible desk lamp. Bite Me has been designed and made using a material which is derived from gelatin which allows the user to consume the piece when it is no longer useful.
Bite Me is available in four different flavours, orange, cherry, blueberry and apple.
The gelatin used is low in sodium and very low in saturated fat as well as cholesterol.It is also a good source of vitamin E, vitamin K, pantothenic acid, zinc and copper, and a very good source of folic acid, calcium, iron, manganese, potassium and magnesium.
So not only are you experiencing the unique interection with this design piece, its also good for your health :)

Gráinne
www.grainnelyonsdesign.com



Tuesday 13 November 2012

Foam and Rubber Band Upholstery by Meike Harde

German design graduate Meike Harde has designed a range of upholstered benches and stools which have been upholstered simply by folding foam mats and fixing them to wooden frames with elastic bands.
The simple, fast an effective upholstery method involves just three materials and two simple methods, using foam, rubber bands and wood the foam is folded and then held in place around the wood using the rubber bands.
The foam mat is layered and gathered tightly to create waves that are held together at the top and bottom with elastic bands. The cushion is then compressed and fixed using longer elastic bands in the opposite direction, before the wooden stool is inserted underneath the elastic.
The motivation behind Harde’s design was to explore new methods of upholstery construction, aiming to create a stiff cushion from a flat foam mat.

Gráinne
www.grainnelyonsdesign.com





Friday 2 November 2012

Design Week Ireland 2012 5th-11th November

Design Week Ireland which is funded by the Pivot Dublin and devevloped by Unthink runs from the 5th to the 11th of Novenber all over Ireland promoting and celebrating Irish design.
This years Irish Design Week began lastnight with the lauch of many exhibitions and showcases around Ireland including the exhibition "Designs for Life" running in The Malthouse Design Centre.
The Malthouse invites you to share in the story of everyday objects as seen through the eyes of a selction of Ireland's design professionals in the "Living with Design" exhibition. This exhibition introduces the wider public to the value of design and how design can enhance and benefit our loves. Irish designers taken part include Fashion Designer, Paul Costello, Johnathan Legge of Makers and Brothers and designer Orla Keily.


 




Hope to see you all there,
Gráinne
www.grainnelyonsdesign.com

Friday 19 October 2012

New Design Gallery in London

A new design gallery showcasing socially responsible design has opened in Soho coinciding with London Design Festival. The new gallery located at 19 Greek Street has been established by Marc Péridis, creative director of design studio Montage. The design collection features furniture from Brazil which has been curated by US specialists Espasso plus pieces by designers including Studiomama and Australian collective Supercyclers.
On the lower ground level is a screening room and an exhibition space featuring non-commercial works, including woven plastic chairs produced by former prisoners in Colombia for fashion house Marni.
On the first and second floors, Espasso showcases Brazilian design from the middle of the 20th century to the present day, including contemporary designers Arthur Casas and Carlos Motta.
The third floor gallery contains furniture from a number of international design studios, including pieces made from reclaimed pallets by Nina Tolstrup’s Studiomama and cardboard furniture to be used after natural disasters by Parisian studio Nocc.
Montage occupies the top floor of the Victorian townhouse alongside an exhibition space for Supercyclers, a collective of designers who seek to reuse waste materials in their work.

Tuesday 16 October 2012

Waste Wood Chair by Marjan Van Aubel and Jamie Shaw

London-based designers Marjan Van Aubel  and Jamie Shaw have investigated ways of incorporating waste shavings into design using bio-resin. Between 50% and 80% of timber is wasted during the standard manufacturing process of furniture which was the influence behind their Waste Wood chair.  When bio-resin is mixed with the wood shaving and scraps a chemical reaction occurs expanding it into foam. By adding colour dye and varied-sized shavings from different workshop machines, a colourful, lightweight and mouldable material is created.



Thursday 4 October 2012

London Tent 2012 Report

The second stop during my trip to London Design Festival was this years Tent event. One of larger events being held over the 10 day festival. The event was held together with Super Brands London and was put on show in the Old Truman Brewery.
With such a vast amount of design talent and innovation it was hard to highlight the best on display.
The stand that stood out the most for me at this years event,had to be the carved geometric wood pieces by Hungraian designer Laszlo Tompa. His collection included a range of lighting aswel as stylishly carved boxes. The innovation, skill and standard of craftsmanship was next to none.

Another intriguing piece of design was the domino covered cabinet designed by Dutch design company Schelling and Borsboom. Stylist design with a bit of humour.



This next piece was probably one of the designs I have talked about the most since London Design Festival. A coffee table design by UK designer Toby Poolman which captured your attention as soon as you entered the top floor. A piece which demonstrated excelent innovation and craftsmanship but made the user question its production and the characteristics of its wood material.



It was great to see Eco design palying a big part of this years London Design Festival. One of the best examples of eco design and upcycling was the work of UK designer Sarah Turner. Her beautiful lighting has been designed using recycled plastic bottles which she cuts and forms into 3 dimensional flowers. When speaking to Sarah, it didnt suprise me to hear that she was commisioned by Coca Cola to design a chandelier for this years London Olympics.






Friday 28 September 2012

London Design Festival Report - "A Place to Gather"

My first stop during London Design Festival, "A place to Gather".
This show was dedicated to showcasing the design work of  Irish designers based both here and in London itself. Organised by the Crafts Council of Ireland and curated by John Legge, the show transformed an old garage in the middle of Shoreditch into a creative,small but inviting hub of contemporary Irish design. All the designs featured were very much Irish in there design, materials and how they were made. Irish Oak furniture by Simon O'Driscoll which was upholstered in Donegal Irish tweed woven my Kieran Molloy, Irish Ash used by James Carroll of Stickman furniture, Irish willow baskets and lighting by Kathleen Mc Cormack of Basketbarn and Irish linen furnishings by Jennifer Slattery brought traditional Irish craft to a contemporary stage.


A Place to Gather at London Design Festival [photo: Linda Brownlee ]

A Place to Gather at London Design Festival [photo: Linda Brownlee ]

Thursday 20 September 2012

Culture Night 2012

This year’s Culture Night takes place for one night only, this Friday the 21st of September. All around Ireland, museums, galleries, historic houses and design studios will open their doors after business hours for a free night of entertainment, discovery and adventure. 2012 marks the seventh year of Culture Night and this year’s programme is the most diverse yet. People of all ages across the country are encouraged to take advantage of this national night and celebrate the art and design Ireland has to offer.
This year at The Malthouse Design Centre, we are opening our doors to every one of all ages to join us in creating a one off design piece where everyone involved will have their personal stamp put on display. A unique opportunity for anyone interested in design.



Thursday 13 September 2012

Nendo's "Bird House"

Japanese design firm Nendo have created a number of hybrid birdhouses that both humans and birds can share. The "Bird Apartments" have been constructed high in the trees at Komoro City’s Momofuku Ando Centre, Japan. The Momofuku Ando Centres main mission is to promote access to nature. Each Bird Apartment contains 78 separate nesting spaces for birds with a small peephole at the back of each where they can be viewed from inside the human living space. The structure’s design pushes the center’s vision to a whole new level by allowing visitors to get a spyglass look at the natural behavior of the birds that nest there.

                               



Friday 7 September 2012

World Design Capital Helsinki 2012

This years World Design Capital, Helsinki, hosts its 2012 design week this week from the 6th - 16th of September. The theme of this years event is Co-Creation, the main events of which will be held in The Old Customs Warehouse in Katajanokka. Ireland will be represented by winners of the Pivot Dublin and the IDI design challange, The Dublin Design Collective, at the "Everyday Discoveries" Exhibition which will be held over the 10 day event.

 

Tuesday 4 September 2012

"A Place To Gather" in London

"A Place To Gather" is a unique exhibition designed by The Crafts Council of Ireland which will be running during London Design Week this month. The exhibition has been specially designed to showcase the work of top Irish designers including Claire-Ann O'Brien, O'Dricoll Furniture, Anthony Cleary, James Carroll and our very own Malthouse Designer Jennifer Slattery.
"A Place to Gather" will transform a recently discovered old warehouse in Shoreditch, into a creative and exciting glimpse of contemporary Ireland. 
The exhibition will open its doors on Tuesday the 18th of September on Chance Street, near Redchurch Street as part of the Shorditch design triangle. 

Claire-Anne O'Brien

Jennifer Slattery

James Carroll

Tuesday 28 August 2012

Jamie Oliver's BIG Chair Project

To celebrate the 60th year of Arne Jacobsens "Ant Chair", Fritz Hansen donated 25 chairs to the "Better Food Foundation" founded by chef Jamie Oliver for the BIG Chair Project.
The project involves some of the top names in fashion, design and art including Paul Smith, Quentin Blake, Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen and Tracey Emin who have all customized the chairs to be auctioned off in order to raise money for Jamie’s Better Food Foundation.
The unique collection of chairs were revealed lastweek at the Republic of Fritz Hansen store in London and will exhibited throughout September during London Desogn Week until auctioned off in October.
The collection will also include one of Jamie's own textile designs on the classic "Egg Chair".


Thursday 9 August 2012

Summer Holidays

I will be away soaking up the sun in beautiful Bulgaria for the next couple of weeks to make up for the lack of summer and sunshine here in Ireland. I will be back bloggin and keeping you all up to date with the latest in design the end of August.

Until then,have a great couple of weeks. Talk to you all soon.

Tuesday 31 July 2012

London 2012 Preview

Continuing on with his metalic experimentation and lighting, Tom Dixon has created the "Lustre Pendants" which will be showcased in September at this years London Design Week. The collection of lights which exhibit an iridescent sheen which is a result of applying a specialized glaze composed of minerals and precious metals to the ceramic shades and firing them at 1200 degrees celsius. The ceramic forms of each pendant bring together lines and shapes derived from Mayan temples and the archiecture of the Art Deco period. The "Lustre Pendants' are the first ceramic designs in the studio's collection 'Luminosity' which will all be shown at London Design Week at Luminosity at the Dock. 





Wednesday 25 July 2012

Olympic Lighting Design

Milliner Stephen Jones and Lighting Designer Cerith Wyn Evans have collaborated to design the “Celebias Bonnet” a light installation representing the five rings of the Olympics. The five LED rings orbit around a central head band inspired by a halo, allowing the viewer to step under the installation. Wyn Evans is known for using similar LED strips and neon in other lighting designs and installations. Here he has taken this idea and combined it with Jones millinery skills to create a piece which plays on the idea of wearing a halo like a hat.



Monday 16 July 2012

Tent London 2012 Preview

Tent London have produced an ever-evolving design show for six years now and this year’s upcoming September 2012 edition brings together over 200 international exhibitors from over 26 countries. With the shows content expanding each year it always remains ahead of the curve. An event not to be missed full of inspiration, showcasing the best in London Design aswel as some top Irish designers and other design from around the world including Hungary, Norway, Japan,Taiwan and The Netherlands.

This weeks preview highlights the colourful and exciting work of Yorkshire based furniture designer Anthony Hartley. Having exhibited at Tent last year it is great top see Hartley back again showcasing his bright, fresh and engaging furniture which captured the attention of .
First launching at Tent 2011 The Edna Collection is a range of oak cabinets with a single multicolored laminated ply drawers which Hartley hand sprayed and lacquered to a high gloss finish. The addition of aluminum legs takes this collection to a level that not only is fun but combines elegance and style also.



This year at Tent we will see the Core Collection being showcased. This collection of pieces are made from clean and simple MDF or ply template shapes, sprayed in Hartley’s trademark fun and engaging colour palette. The innovation comes in the joining of the templates, which uses multi-coloured cable ties to secure them, and which can be easily assembled without tools. The cable ties are incorporated as a design feature, each one is inset in a small perfect groove which reinforces the clean and simple lines of the pieces.


Wednesday 11 July 2012

The Shard - Europes Tallest

Designed by Italian Architect Renzo Piano in 2000, London’s “Shard” building was finally completed this week and now stands as Europe’s tallest building at 309.6 meters above the new London bridge quarter in the South bank district. He considered the slender, spire-like form of the tower a positive addition to the London skyline, recalling the church steeples featured in historic engravings of the city and believed that its presence would be far more delicate than it was project alleged. The building features 11,000 panes of glass which Piano intended to reflect sunlight and the sky. The 72-storey mixed use tower was inaugurated with a nighttime light show, which combined 12 lasers and 30 searchlights to celebrate the skyline's newest addition. The Shard building contains premium office space, a hotel, luxury residences, retail space, restaurants, a five-storey public viewing gallery, and a spa.