Metafora table by Lella & Massimo Vignelli for martinelli luce

The death of multidisciplinary design legend Massimo Vignelli, responsible for such enduring projects as New York’s subway signage system and the American Airlines visual identity, comes as sad news for the international A&D community.

(more…)

this year's edition of designjunction, as seen by Architonic's editors

A clear highlight of last week’s London Design Festival 2011 was designjunction, the group show that made a confident debut in Milan this April, but which surpassed itself in the British capital. Having started out as a Brits-only exhibition, but now international in terms of its line-up, designjunction took up residence in the white-tiled basement of Bloomsbury’s Victoria House, an ideal space for the strong work on show to dialogue with. Proceedings were helped, naturally, by the presence of a good bar and some fine food. Well done to designjunction’s organisers, Jon Powell and Deborah Spencer. (more…)

'Fred' desk by Roberto Lazzeroni for Poltrona Frau

Roberto Lazzeroni, the Pisa-born designer has created this elegant and surprisingly light leather-and-wood desk for the Italian furniture manufacturer Poltrona Frau. Called ‘Fred’, the design encompasses a distinctive, curved desktop made from a single piece of saddle leather which has been dyed and finished with protective wax. Developed in a special craft process, the desk is accompanied by the ‘Ginger’ chair with both of the designs inspired by Poltrona Frau’s leather craftsmanship. (more…)