‘Palio’ chair by Konstantin Grcic for Plank

After his much-talked about ‘Avus’ armchair, which was launched by Plank during the 2011 edition of Milan’s Salone del Mobile fair, the Munich-based designer Konstantin Grcic has recently created a comparatively less extravagant but perhaps more practical seat for the same manufacturer. Unveiled earlier in April, also at iSaloni, the geometrical, core leather upholstered ’Palio’ is available in natural or black while the chair’s simple, tubular legs are made of matt-black anodized aluminum. (more…)

‘Visu’ chair by Mika Tolvanen for Muuto

Having recently won the prestigious Bruno Mathsson Award, Finnish designer Mika Tolvanen has realised this series of classic plywood chairs for the Scandinavian furniture brand Muuto. Speaking of his design, Tolvanen explained: “The task was to create a personal interpretation of the ever-relevant plywood/shell chair. I wanted my chair to have an unobtrusive and timeless nature that is familiar but never boring and without sacrificing function or ergonomics. In the end, I think every detail is exactly as it is supposed to be.” Available in a wide variety colours, ‘Visu’ series encompasses two different models: with wooden legs or a steel wire base. (more…)

Detail of the 'A Chair' from Steve Oh's 'A Collection'

A young Korean-American designer Steve Oh has just unveiled his latest collection of maple furniture during this year’s edition of New York’s ICFF. ‘A personal interpretation of classic Shaker furniture’ which is known for its ascetic simplicity and use of innovative joinery, Oh’s equally pared-down, functional ’A Collection’ has been developed in its entirety using natural materials: solid maple wood and 100% wool felt and comprises a chair, a barstool and a table designs. (more…)

'Maritime S' chair by Benjamin Hubert for Casamania

Following his 2011 solid timber ‘Martime’ chair design, the award-winning British industrial designer Benjamin Hubert has updated the last year’s version of the chair by lining its inner shell with upholstered panels in either leather or Kvadrat’s 100 % wool Divina MD textile. Launched earlier in April at Milan’s Salone del Mobile, the chair is manufactured by the Italian furniture brand Casamania. (more…)

'Hensen' chair by Kranen/Gille for New Duivendrecht

Inspired by the form of wharf cranes, two Dutch designers Jos Kranen and Johannes Gille of the Kranen/Gille design studio have realised this delicate, angular chair for the recently-founded furniture label New Duivendrecht. Presented earlier last month in Milan as a part of New Duivendrecht’s impressive, 9-piece collection, ‘Hensen’ is available in three colour versions; blue, white and black. (more…)

'MAY' chair by Simo Heikkilä for Nikari; photo by Chikako Harada

As part of Nikari’s year-long project DESIGNS FOR NATURE, which brings together 12 renowned designers or design studios, who, each month, create a wooden product, the renowned Finnish wood manufacturer has just unveiled the latest, fifth design ‘MAY’. Created by the Kaj Franck Design Prize 2011 winner, interior architect, designer and lecturer Simo Heikkilä, the beautifully simple and quintessentially Scandinavian ‘MAY’ has been developed in solid birch and it will be showcased between 30 May – 4 June in Paris during the ‘Designers’ Days’ at the World Design Capital Helsinki 2012 exhibition ’1-2-3 Helsinki! Design en Seine’. Other designers working on the project include: Harri Koskinen, Martí Guixé, Alfredo Häberli and Jasper Morrison & Wataru Kumano who will team up for the December’s edition.

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'Branch' chair by Staffan Holm; photo by DDR GBG

To celebrate the fifteenth anniversary of Milan’s SaloneSatellite, this year its organisers invited fifteen international designers who presented their designs under the theme of ‘Design<->Technology’. Among the the exhibiting designers, all of whom were either former or current participants in the Satellite, was the award-winning Swedish designer Staffan Holm who showcased this delicate, bentwood chair. Inspired by nature, the aptly-named ‘Branch’ was created with the use of complex wood bending technology, Compwood. (more…)

Chair by Jaime Hayón for &tradition

The renowned Spanish designer and artist Jaime Hayón has collaborated with the Danish furniture brand &tradition on a new chair design whose prototype was presented at Spazio Hayón in Milan’s Ventura Lambrate. Inspired by ‘the harmony of curves’, the chair’s curvilinear, injection-moulded shell is available in variety of colours and materials: ‘from a basic naked shell to quality Kvadrat wool upholstery and a luxurious leather alternative.’ (more…)