Now for some "Design Stuff" which pleased me

Ok so now just a little taste of a few pieces that I saw at Tent London and Create Berlin
whilst visiting certain things at the London Design Festival.


One of the first things to catch my eye (quite literally, as it is on of the first pieces as you enter th e Content exhibition space), was the bench by Boex. I have seen this blogged many times since its launch last year. However, I still wanted to post it on here, As I do love it. The use of such a simple object, such as the pencil, is such a simple idea, which is quite beautiful and surprisingly comfortable.

I did however wonder if the pencils were removable and usable. As this could make for an interesting chair also, where the contours are defined by the use of each pencil!

Again alot of the other items, have been seen before. But it was nice to see them in the real, instead of on an image.There was also a really lovely set of salt and pepper shakers, "samba spice shakers", that worked like maraccas from Absalute appetite. A simple, but playful idea.

The other images will have to come later. So I just hopped over to Create Berlin afterwards which had a really impressive piece, The T-shirt Issue by Mashallah Design & Linda Kostowski. whom created a clothing range by scanning 3D body images and transferring these in to patterns for items of clothing. This is a really exciting concept, with an outcome that is both beautiful and controversial in relation to fashion.


So have so far, only had time to post a little taster of some of the items I saw at the Design Festival so far. However, it was certainly worth the trip.

Young design programme

An impressive exhibition that I kind of stumbled across during the Design festival was the held at Somerset House. I was actually on my was actually on my way to visit the Re-Design exhibition, When I found this...and simply had to stop.

Stylistically, the layout and graphics of the exhibition were very impressive. However, I guess what made such an impact was the content and the work presented, by the Sorrell Foundation . The pioneering Young Design programme has been developed by the Sorrell Foundation, working in partnership with different universities; students, designers and Architects. In order to work collaboratively with different primary and high schools within the UK, to try to create responses to problems, that do not simply meet the needs of the teachers, but more importantly the needs and wants of the Students.


I was also lucky enough to be invited by the exhibition co-ordinator to join a presentation that was made by an architect and student whom worked together on a project. This not only influenced the boy during his time spent at school, but due to the enjoyment of the whole process. He is now going on to study civil engineering at University, with the hope that he could be involved in projects like this again.

Alongside the exhibition and talk, I happened to get the chance of joining them in having lunch, and talking to some of the people present such as architects and school teachers.

Again, another little thing that cheered up my day.

Greengaged trip to powerday

After arriving in London very early on Thursday morning, the first event in my schedule of design week was to take part in one of the Greengaged events. Which had been organised by A small group of people, that are dedicated to the cause of sustainable practice within design and business.

In fact, I coudn't have asked for a better start to my trip. We sailed up the Grand Union Canal on an electric barge, which allowed me to see a slightly different side of London and enjoy life in the slow lane for a while. As although, it certainly does not seem to be the fastest method of transport for getting around London, it was certainly enjoyable and relaxing option.



There was also an interesting mix of people on board, from writers, designers, researchers and students. Which made for good conversation and varied discussion after the presentation by Rob Holdway from Giraffe Innovation, whom was also involved with the TV show Dumped; which featured a group of people that were challenged to live on a landfill site. His presentation was a well informed and passionate account of successes that Giraffe Innovation has had in affecting large companies strategic plans, in order to create a renewed sense of sustainable responsibility and awareness of environmental impact.



The boat soon arrived at it's destination, Powerday recycling plant, which allowed the group to experience a different side of the consumption process. The mass of materials piled up, in a site which the owner claimed was not even close to full, quickly gave a strong impression of the scale of materials that are often wasted. I think in fact many people know this, however it is like many things. You have to see it to believe it. There was photographs taken on mass, of this large, rather smelly building, where it seems the people in it are working very hard to ensure that they recover the maximum amount of materials for new uses, and end up with minimal waste. Perhaps, if people on the other side of the chain worked even half as hard, it could make as significant a change in the waste products produced in todays fast flowing consumer society.

Overall, it was an enjoyable trip. And certainly on of the more diverse experiences I had while visiting the London Design festival.

Falling asleep in public

There are times when there is a need to take break in the day and sometimes when I need a small nap; especially when spending a whole day in city, and planning to stay out at night.

Over the years I have felt this at various times, and have often wondered if it is simply that I have a mild form of narcolepsy, or if it is a normal feeling that most people just ignore or overcome by having a coffee.

So recently when in London, (well in fact yesterday), I went back to the one space that I remember as being truly possible to relax for free. It may seem unexpected, but it is in fact the Tate Modern Gallery. As on the second floor they have a set of black leather sofas, which are simply very comfortable. I had some time to pass before meeting my friends that evening to go to the theater, and I had been out all day on the go.

So decided to go to this spot and relax a little. I stayed there for about 1 hour and a half, and managed to nap for at least 45 minutes of that. Now, to some people, this may be like a strange thing to do in public. However, on these particular set of sofas...there are many people dozing off, it is a little like a permanent art exhibition.
In fact, the two on the two occasions that I have dosed off on these sofas, I have woken up to find many people on the surrounding sofas doing the same thing. So this time I stayed a little longer to observe a little.

The results, many people use these seats to stop and doze. Which makes this space somewhat unique to me.In fact, I can't think of many other places that serve this same purpose. There are coffee shops, with comfortable sofas, in which it is possible to relax...but not really acceptable to snooze. There are the multitude of people that "rest their eyes" on the metro /train / bus/underground but this is usually a mere few minutes escape ... I can't think of many more.
There is of course the park in summer, but as soon as it begins to get a little cold or rains(quite common in Scotland), this opportunity is not possible.

So is there a need for more public spaces in which to relax...is this really a viable idea. There is likely to be abuse, as one main market that you do often see "relaxing" in public is homeless people, and would it have to for commercial gain? Is it a space that is necessary or a product, something to shut you off from the world for a short amount of time.

So I decided to Google "sleeping in public" and from the results I found a few interesting things.
One is a sleeping jacket. However, this has been taken to the next level, with considerations of supports necessary to support the body whilst sleeping in public spaces, therefore it is very interesting and impressive product.





So yes, opposite is the Jacket for sleeping on public transportation by Mathew Gale










Then I noticed this flickr group Sleep in public, which has a myriad of images displaying the fact that I am not the only one whom likes to take a little break at some point during the day.

It is also interesting to notice different opinions in relation to the subject, depending upon whom the person falling asleep is. As it is often deemed unacceptable for homeless people to be caught sleeping in public, and in various cities around the world, it is banned for this reason. Yet, for your average jo, to take a break, although some people find it quite comical and take photos to post online, it is generally acceptable.
ok thats enough for now

Was pondering over what to post today, when I stumbled across this video and simply had to post it here.

As an avid cyclist, and considering that I have just spent 6 weeks France, Belgium, the Netherlands and Germany exploring the cycling culture, for a research travel scholarship. I am quickly becoming addicted to any news or innovations that are cycle related. This is super interesting idea. As one of the huge problems, with increasing the cycling culture in Britain, which is the same worldwide, is the problem with theft. This seems to offer a reasonable solution to this problem, within reason. ie. for commuters whom park in the same place everyday.

Although it does not solve the problem of theft, in relation to freedom of movement...ie. Having the possibility to stop and place your bike wherever you may be.

It seems like a possible solution for stations that would be placed outside office buildings, stations and perhaps even university buildings.

seen on www.treehugger.com

Keep moving?

The impact of this one girl standing still in Stockholm, while people all around keep moving and moving made for a fantastic sequence. I do wish I had made it a little longer. It just captures a thought, the sense of stopping, and standing still. That it is possible, and enjoyable...

Yet it often seems that if you do begin to slow down, take time out...that the world around you speeds up and just moves faster and faster. Therefore, there is a sense of need present within the world today...to not stand still, but to keep going as fast as you can all the time!

It reminds me of the quote by Carl Honore in a TED talk from 2005, when he states that we are;

" a world stuck in fast forward, a world obsessed with speed, of cramming more and more into less and less time,"[1]


So is the answer simply to slow down; to hit the slow motion button on the remote control?
Does the slow motion button still exist? or can you not simply skip forward or back?

sometimes, it is important to rethink time...the process that we go through of skipping forward, and forward and forward...as time just passes us by....

Carl Honore discusses slowness, mostly in relation to life issues and one important question he raises, which could apply to life or design is;

"Is it possible or even desirable to slow down?" [2]

Instead of simply embracing the chance to breathe and consider what we have already, we are almost always thinking about what we need next.

anway something to think about, on a slow sunday afternoon.

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[1] Carl Honore, Slowing down in a world built for speed, TED talk - filmed July 2005, posted Feb 2007

[2] Carl Honore, Slowing down in a world built for speed, TED talk - filmed July 2005, posted Feb 2007

The start of something new

So my first blog entry. a simple start.

I record hundreds of things in my mind, in my sketchbooks, through photographs, thourhg scribbles...However, until now, I have not made use of the infamous blog.

So I feel it is time to start. To organise a little, some of the things that I have seen, that I like, that inspire me. It will host a mix of items; design related, art related, bike related...life related.


so here goes...watch this space