From handbags to hammocks - Louis Vuitton

French fashion designer Louis Vuitton launched his collection of travel furniture and accessories at this years Miami design week. Hanging chairs, lamps and handbags which transform into foldable furniture have been designed especially for the 16 piece collection. 

Designers including Maarten Baas, Atelier Oi, Patricia Urquiola, Christian Liaigre and  Nendos Oki Sato all collaborated with Vuitton to create this unique sophisticated collection for the fashion conscience globe trotter.

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 12^th December to Sunday 23^rd 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

 

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

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

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

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.

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.