‘DECEMBER’ chair by Jasper Morrison and Wataru Kumano for Nikari; photo by Chikako Harada

The latest as well as the last of the 12 designs from Nikari’s year-long project DESIGNS FOR NATURE, which brought together some of world’s most renowned designers or design studios, who, each month, created a wooden product, this pared-down, minimalist chair was developed in a collaborative process between the famed English product and furniture designer Jasper Morrison and Tokyo-based Wataru Kumano. Made of ash and natural wood oil mixture, here’s what the creators of ‘DECEMBER’ say about its design: ‘”We talked about the pleasure in making things and the idea of a chair that could be bought in a box and built at home. Considering Nikari’s skill in wood work, we worked up the idea of a chair which could be made by following easy instructions…’ (more…)

Park Life Chair by Jasper Morrison for Kettal

Park Life is a complete family of furniture for outdoors, whose clean cut profile is adaptable to a wide range of different situations. Lightweight, yet extremely durable, it’s easily stacked for transport or winter storage and its technical sophistication and careful consideration of ergonomics besides a lot of care over how it looks are all intended to ensure a long life, both structurally and visually.

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SG67 handheld vacuum cleaner by Stefano Giovannoni für Alessi

In the past electrical kitchen appliances were a treasured status symbol for the modern household and a symbol of progress. Nowadays, however, they are not particularly valued as gifts in that electronic kitchen products have become cheap mass-produced articles, a development which is generally also reflected in their design. In design-conscious households we therefore tend to find retro design, vintage products or functionally designed professional equipment for the catering industry.
However, where are the household appliances of today which will blend in with a modern design kitchen? We’ve been doing some research for you and have found them….

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'I don't go out there wearing white suits and shooting my mouth off about things unnecessarily': Paris- and London-based British designer Jasper Morrison; photo 2007, Suki Dhanda

Respected British designer Jasper Morrison has learnt many things in the course of his career. For example, how to design products that create ‘atmosphere’, as he describes it, yet have longevity, and how to ignore the marketing machine that would turn design professionals into superstars. And how a violent pink can sometimes be, well, a bit too violent. Architonic spent some time at the recent Orgatec fair in Cologne with the thinking designer’s designer.

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'Harold and Maude' by Carlo Tamborini for Glas Italia

Glas Italia presented at this year’s Salon del Mobile a range of remarkable new products. The new collaborations with Jasper Jasper Morrison and Patrick Norguet go to add to those already existing with Lissoni, Johanna Grawunder, Jean-Marie Massaud, Claudio Silvestrin, Carlo Tamborini.

'Mirror Mirror' by Jasper Morrison for Gas Italia

'I-Beam' by Jean-Marie Massaud for Glas Italia

'The Dark Side of the Moon' by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia

'The Dark Side of the Moon' by Piero Lissoni for Glas Italia

more Glas Italia products @ Architonic

'Bac' chair by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini

The quiet man of design, Jasper Morrison, has created a chair for Italian brand Cappellini that, as one would expect, is considered and beautifully executed. Known for designing products that are almost timeless and transcendent (if you haven’t read his book ‘Super Normal: Sensations of the Ordinary’, co-authored with Japanese product designer, you should), the ‘Bac’ chair is elegant in its simplicity.

'Bac' chair by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini

The piece is made of solid ash and plywood, the frame being available in bleached, wenge-tinted or cherry-red-aniline-tinted ash. The seat is upholstered in either leather or linoleum. ‘Bac’ made its début at this year’s Cologne Furniture Fair (imm cologne).

'Bac' chair by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini

to the Cappellini collections on Architonic

'Monopod' by Jasper Morrison

Two years ago Vitra presented the original design of Jasper Morrison’s ‘Monopod’ for the first time as a cork chair which was part of the second Vitra Edition. Now the German manufacturer has, without much publicity, included an upholstered version of the chair in its collection. It must have become clear very quickly that this massive but elegantly proportioned armchair is suitable for series production after all.

The upholstered version of the limited edited cork chair

The Monopod stands sturdily, tapering with an elegant curve to a wedge-shaped backrest. As a small visitor armchair, the Monopod is a companion for sofas and larger armchairs, and in public areas thanks to its solidity can be used in lounges and reception areas.

more Vitra products @ Architonic

super normal: 'Bac' chair by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini

“Super normal” is normal
At times of crisis many manufacturers go back to basics, and the design principle of the “super normal” propagated by Naoto Fukasawa and Jasper Morisson has become the answer for products when times are hard. No more focus on elaborate experiments with design and form. The aim is no longer to be noticed whatever the cost – instead the objective is to become part of scene as unobtrusively as possible. Delicate new interpretations of the archetypical chair were to be seen in large numbers and are intended to ensure healthy sales figures without long development times. The reason for this trend is that the “super normal” (almost) always adapts itself to its surroundings, whether these are in private households at the kitchen and dining table or for commercial purposes such as the restaurant or waiting room…

Cushion sofa by Front for Moroso

“Applied graphics”
“Applied graphics” as an eye-catcher for furniture were a prominent feature in Milan, for example the surprise effects in the designs of Front for Moroso. Draped covers or soft cushions are printed as photo-realistic graphics on furniture upholstery.

continue the article @ Architonic