Kreon acquires Belux
(Belgium) – Effective 1 January 2016, Kreon became the new owner of Belux, renowned Swiss-based designer and manufacturer of sophisticated lighting solutions.
Founded in Switzerland in 1970 , Belux has worked together with such prominent international designers as Frank Gehry, Naoto Fukasawa, Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, Herzog & de Meuron and Hella Jongerius to develop and produce a range of remarkable, poetic designs including Cloud, Lantern, Jingzi and Blossom.
Kreon is a family-owned business based in Belgium. Belux represents an ideal addition to the Belgian lighting expert and will enrich the company in many areas. Kreon plans to maintain the brand name, product strategy and orientation of Belux and will operate in the market with the dual brands Kreon and Belux.
Downtown Design regional pavilion curators announced
(UAE) - Downtown Design, taking place from 27-30 October in Dubai will feature six purpose built environments to highlight the design talent of the region.
Under the theme of Game: The Element of Play in Culture, six curators, chosen for their unconventional approach, have been given the task of best representing and defining their country’s aesthetic.
The UAE pavilion will be curated by Mobius Design Studio, a Dubai-based collective of designers informed by their shared passion for visual communication in all its forms. Founders Hadeyeh Badri, Hala Al-Ani and Riem Ibrahim, have worked with a breadth of academic and cultural institutions, from the New York University Abu Dhabi to the UAE Pavilion at the Venice Biennale.
Egyptian architect, artist and storyteller Waleed Shaalan has been chosen as curator of the Kuwait pavilion. He is multidisciplinary in his approach, collaborating with a number of entities such as Atelier Jean Nouvel and Cloud 9 Barcelona. His epic career trajectory spans some of the most reputable design firms: from Perkins and Will in Chicago to SSH Design in Kuwait, winning many awards along the way, most notably at the World Architecture Awards in 2012.
Salman Jawed, co-founder of Coalesce design studio based in Karachi, was introduced to the region as an exhibitor for Design Days Dubai 2014. He returns to the UAE, this time to curate the Pakistani Pavilion; representing a nation just finding its way in contemporary design. Pioneering in every sense, Jawed has led the way in industrial design in his native country, melding new ideas with local materials to create a hybrid of past and present.
Arini is a creative platform promoting learning in the fields of design, architecture and urbanism - selected for the creative insight they will bring to curation of the Jordanian Pavilion. Founded in 2012 by three architects, Mohammad Aljabi, Heba Najada and Liyan Jabi, they endeavor to expand the boundaries of architecture and urbanism through projects and publications that ultimately influence our socio-economic and built-up environments.
The powerhouse duo behind the curation of Saudi Arabia’s pavilion are sisters Basma and Noura Bouzo who between them have helped grow the Saudi art and design scene with their magazine Oasis and the launch of the Saudi Design Week.
Finally, co-founder of architectural firm Fleury Attalah, Chacha Atallah, premiered her work to the region during Downtown Design 2014. Returning as the curator of the Tunisian pavilion, she brings her architectural training at Shigeru Ban and Kengo Kuma in Japan to bear, with a scrupulous eye for detail evident in her collections from ceramic stoneware to furniture built with Tunisian artisans.
For more information on all the projects related to Dubai Design Week visit www.downtowndesign.com
darc night beckons
darc night, the darc awards ceremony, to take place at Testbed1 / Doodlebar in London on September 24th during London Design Festival.
All the darc awards votes have now been cast and the winners will be announced at darc night, the awards ceremony, which will take place at Testbed1 / Doodlebar in London on September 24th.
Free admission to darc night is available to independent lighting designers that voted as well as to interior designers and architects (lighting suppliers will be subject to a charge) turning the traditional awards ceremony protocol on its head. Admission will be strictly on a first come first served basis. The awards evening will be completely different with free street food and drinks all night, lighting installations by lighting designers who have teamed up with the sponsoring manufacturer partners, and a completely different format for presenting the evening.
There were over 400 entries for the darc awards, an amazing response to an inaugural competition and proof that designers are looking for something new and refreshing. Decorative lighting categories consist of Best Decorative Lighting Installation, Best Light Art Installation and Best Decorative Lighting Product.
Projects were shortlisted by an international panel of professional architectural lighting designers and light artists before being voted on by the lighting design profession in the first ever peer-to-peer lighting design awards.
Product categories (both decorative and architectural) went straight to the public vote so that lighting designers could genuinely vote for their favourite products from the last three years.
Manufacturer partners are Concord (who are teaming up with Speirs + Major); Cooledge (Light Bureau); Griven (Paul Nulty Lighting Design); Innermost (Elektra); KKDC (dpa); L&L Luce&Light (LDI); LSE Lighting (Troup Bywaters + Anders); Lucent (Michael Grubb Studio); Lumino (Electrolight); Megaman (Design In progress); Reggiani (BDP); and Zumtobel (Arup).
Each manufacturer / designer team will be responsible for creating a lighting installation that will be on display during darc night.
The technical partner at darc night is XL Video and the awards will be manufactured by Applelec. The event is curated by Light Collective and is part of the International Year of Light 2015 programme. The darc awards is supported by both the International Association of Lighting Designers (IALD) and the Society of Light + Lighting (SLL).
darc awards shortlist judging panel announced
(Worldwide) - An international panel of independent lighting designers to create shortlists for each of the project categories. Public voting by independent lighting design community to begin on July 13th.
The shortlist judging panel for the darc awards has been anounced and has immediately began work on choosing ten projects per category to go forward to the public vote.
The panel consists of Kaoru Mende (Japan), principal of Light Planners Associates; Karolina Zielinska-Dabkowska (Poland), a lighting architect and researcher; Chiara Carucci (Italy), Lead Coordinator of Light-Related Organizations for the International Year of Light 2015; Emma Cogswell (UK), Projects Manager for the IALD; Liz Peck (UK), President of the Society of Light and Lighting; Christopher 'Kit' Cuttle (New Zealand), lighting designer, author and academic; Naama Steigman (Israel), a partner at Studio Twilight; and musson+retallick (UK), artists who regularly use the medium of light in their work.
“The panel is a mixture of experienced and up-and-coming designers, academics and representatatives from our key associations,” anounced darc awards director and publishing editor pf mondo*arc and darc magazines Paul James. “They are from the UK, Europe and Asia so they will be able to give a well-rounded view on what should go forward. I'm also delighted to say that six out of the nine judges are women.”
There were over 400 entries for the darc awards, an amazing response to an inaugural competition and proof, says James, that designers are looking for something new and refreshing.
“Of course we had a good idea that the awards would be well-received by the lighting design community but we have been blown away by the amount of entries that have been submitted. There is certainly a big buzz about the awards and I can't wait for the public vote on July 13th.”
Once the judging panel has chosen their shortlists for the project categories, the voting is then opened up to all independent architectural lighting designers making this the only peer-to-peer lighting design awards in the world.
Product categories go straight to the public vote so that lighting designers can genuinely vote for their favourite products from the last three years.
Votes will be cast on the darc awards website, www.darcawards.com, from July 13th with the awards event, darc night, taking place in London on September 24th during London Design Festival.
All independent lighting designers that vote will be able to attend darc night free of charge (manufacturers will be subject to a charge) turning the traditional awards ceremony protocol on its head. The awards evening iteslf will be completely different with free streetfood and drinks all night, lighting installations by lighting designers who have teamed up with the manufacturer partners, and a completely different format for presenting the evening.
Manufacturer partners are Concord (who are teaming up with Speirs + Major); Cooledge (Light Bureau); Griven (Paul Nulty Lighting Design); Innermost (Elektra); KKDC (dpa); L&L Luce&Light (LDI); LSE Lighting (Troup Bywaters + Anders); Lucent (Michael Grubb Studio); Lumino (Electrolight); Megaman (Design In progress); Reggiani (BDP); and Zumtobel (Arup). Technical partner is XL Video and the event is part of the the International Year of Light 2015 programme.
ByBeau introduces Dimple
(Portugal) – Dimple is a modular chandelier system designed to allow a number of configurations and made from the highest quality handblown glass with a unique two way mirror-coated finish.
A darc awards entrant in the 'Lighting Designers' Favourite Decorative Lighting Product' category, Dimple is available in both chrome and a bronze finish, unveiling the extra interior glass ball when it's on and offers a flexible modular chandelier system to suit interiors of all sizes, starting from a single pendant through to multiple pendant configurations.
Every drop of the chandelier can be configured with a RGBW LED chip, with a combination of natural whites or a single warm white LED. Each drop can be individually controlled via DMX to offer a variety of possibilities. The system is designed to work with its own control system or already installed control systems like Lutron or Crestron.
During the day the chandelier works like an organic sculpture with the mirror coating reflecting the natural light and its surroundings. At night it becomes an exquisite light show that can adapt to the moment.
Decorative design directory launches
(Worldwide) Launching in mid July 2015, 3d, the first ever annual decorative design directory for the interiors market is to be produced by darc magazine.
The ultimate reference and specifier tool for the interior design and architecture industries will feature a comprehensive listing of decorative lighting manufacturers, as well as their subsidiaries and distributors from around the world.
The directory will be distributed to darc’s 12,000 strong international circulation - over 55% of which is dedicated to Europe - including leading interior designers and architects with specification power. It will also benefit from distribution alongside darc magazine at all design tradeshows that the title participates in throughout 2015 and 2016 - London, UK (designjunction, TENT, Clerkenwell Design Week, 100% design, May Design Series); Sweden (Stockholm Furniture Fair); New York, USA (ICFF), Maison et Objet – Paris/Miami/Singapore; Kortrijk, Belgium (Interieur) and more!
For advertising, enhanced entries and/or product submissions, please contact John-Paul Etchells: 3d@darcmagazine.com
Moooi appoints new CEO
(The Netherlands) – After driving Moooi for fourteen years, co-founder Casper Vissers steps back from CEO position.
Marcel Wanders and Casper Vissers have appointed Robin Bevers as the new CEO of Moooi, active from September 1st 2015. Vissers will stay onboard until July 1st 2016 to guarantee a smooth transition. Marcel will continue his role as Art Director.
“14 years ago Marcel Wanders and myself founded Moooi. Two people who believe the world needs exciting, inspiring and beautiful environments. The collaboration between Marcel and myself has been an exciting, warm and successful relationship to date, which will continue for a lifetime,” said Vissers.
With the appointment of Robin Bevers Moooi comes an experienced and dedicated new driver for the company. He will oversee and initiate the existing business and new business activities of Moooi.
“We believe the success of our brand and of course the highly important culture and values of Moooi are guaranteed to continue with Robin,” said Vissers.
London tech scene moves to the states
(UK) – In honour of NYCxDESIGN, MoMA Design Store launches London Tech City, an innovative assortment of the best and brightest products documenting the London tech scene.
The MoMA Design Store handpicked the Original Plumen 001, along with over 20 other products created by designers based in London as part of the assortment. The Plumen 001 was first integrated to the MoMA permanent design collection in 2010 and has been selling to MoMA Design Store ever since. The Design Store celebrates the maker movement happening in London right now and recognises Plumen as one of its most active members.
A rich mix of designers handpicked for the occasion from invention kits to musical instruments, clothing to children’s toys, each product was conceptualised by the designers to fill a need in their own lives. As with all products in the MoMA Design Store, London Tech City is also approved by The Museum of Modern Art curators. The new line will be available in stores and online beginning May 15th. London Tech City includes new products from Bare Conductive, Bleep Bleeps, Flexson, Kano, Paul Cocksedge Studio, Primo and Visijax. The assortment also includes products that are in the MoMA Collection, such as the Ototo Music Invention Kit, Plumen Bulb and Technology Will Save Us DIY Kits.
Nicolas Roope - Plumen Co-Founder, Creative Director and Designer said: “A new community of makers are burgeoning because the ease by which mass production can be accessed is opening the doors to more innovative and interesting producers. Combine new attitudes and values with new routes to global markets afforded by digital channels and you’ve got a potent mix.”
“Plumen and Hulger have been going a decade and yet we work in the East London area with a craft legacy running back hundreds of years. There is certainly something in the air conducive to the maker and now it’s awash with tech practices. Why wouldn’t we also consider how our produce might work better and smarter with an injection of connectivity."
Emmanuel Plat - Founder, Director of Merchandising for MoMA retail said: “London has provided us with countless inspirational ideas when sourcing for the Design Store. We noticed a trend in our last visit that many of the most interesting tech items were being designed and produced in London. The passion and commitment to accessible technological products is what drove the MoMA Design Store to celebrate these designs this spring.”
String Light
London based, Greek-Cypriot designer, Michael Anastassiades' designs for Flos draw inspiration from everyday life. String Light for example provides a novel approach to the persistent problem of where to plug in your wires. Minimal yet stylish, the light is available in either black conical or spherical pendants, fitted with LED sources.
designjunction relocates for London Design Festival 2015
(UK) - designjunction announces this year’s flagship show will be held at two stunning new central London locations - The College and Victoria House. The College – formerly known as Central Saint Martins - will house designjunction 2015’s leading trade-focused design brands while across the road Victoria House will present the show’s largest-ever offering of premium retail design brands.
Known for taking on challenging industrial spaces at venues across the globe, designjunction 2015 is set to transform London’s design scene with a major collaborative show. “This exciting move is the next step in our nomadic evolution as we continue to challenge ourselves and our exhibitors in raw, character-filled buildings,’ said designjunction managing director and founder Deborah Spencer. “Following our hugely successful three-year association with the Sorting Office, the time is right for us to raise the bar again.”
designjunction 2015 will host more than 180 cutting-edge design brands, 35 design-led pop-up shops, the largest ever edition of lightjunction, a seminar programme, interactive flash factories and a wealth of culinary delights across the two venues.
The College has been largely disused since the design school moved to Kings Cross in 2011 and will present a new and exciting challenge for designjunction’s team. The College stands at the very heart of London’s vibrant design scene with an extensive list of alumni including Sir Terence Conran, James Dyson, Stella McCartney, Rodney Fitch CBE, Michael Marriot, and designjunction’s own creative director Michael Sodeau.
“The College is steeped in history and you can feel the energy as you walk through the building,” said Sodeau, who has been designjunction’s creative director since its inception in 2011. “The move will continue designjunction’s growth and maintain our principle of breaking the mould of the traditional trade show, creating a show for the industry by the industry.” Cutting-edge design will create a striking contrast to the College’s characterful classrooms, where some of the world’s leading designers learned their craft. Hand-blown pendants will light up ceilings, delicate ceramics will decorate the rough work benches and iconic furniture will sit in the very rooms they were once studied. designjunction2015 looks to revive the iconic design school, breathing a new lease of life into the historic walls.
A two minute walk from the College sits Victoria House - a stunning exhibition space across four open plan levels. Victoria House will accommodate designjunction’s largest ever retail offering with an impressive 2,000 sq metres of exhibition space. This year designjunction partners with online retailer Nest across the show. Previously home to designjunction 2011, this multi-purpose venue boasts industrial features and glazed brickwork throughout. As designjunction 2015’s official retail destination, Victoria House will be London’s most exclusive shopping destination, offering the finest design and premium brands during the Festival. More than 35 retail outlets will set up shops across the entire space to provide design-savvy visitors with a unique shopping experience. “The move signifies a turning point in our retail offering, as we now have the space to add more shops than would be possible at the Sorting Office,” said Deborah Spencer. “Because designjunction launched at Victoria House the venue already forms part of our history.” Key retail brands include: Outline Editions, Punkt, Native Union, HAM, Retro Maps, and Artful Projects.
This year’s line-up will see the return of a host of brands and designjunction partners including Modus, Mitab, Orsjo, Channels, James Burleigh, TON, Objekten, Dare Studio, and String.
www.thedesignjunction.co.uk/london
Chelsom appoints new Head of Marine Sales
(UK) - John Hadley has been promoted to Head of Marine Sales at Chelsom as the company consolidates its position as a leading designer, manufacturer and supplier of decorative lighting to the international hospitality and marine markets.
Chelsom has made substantial progress in the marine sector over recent years making themselves well known to most of the world’s shipyards, marine designers, cruise operators and marine outfitters. Chelsom's recent notable projects include: the custom centrepiece fittings created for the public areas of Hapag- Lloyd Cruises five-star plus MS Europa2, custom designed fittings onboard P&O Cruises Aurora and Britannia, custom made designed pendants for Crystal Serenity, a trio of Tui Cruises projects supplying products for the cabins of Mein Schiff three, four & five along with the extensive refurbishment programme of Windstar Cruises ships Wind Star and Star Pride and two of Pullmantur’s most prestigious liners Monarch and Zenith.
With a professional background in the contract market spanning more than eighteen years, John Hadley has been a key member of the sales team at Chelsom for four years and during this time has played an integral part in developing the marine division of the business. Reporting to the Sales Director, he will oversee the strategy and growth of this division and will be responsible for all aspects of marine project delivery from sales through to quoting, manufacturing and delivery. John will be supported by both sales specialists out in the field and by a strong internal team.
Director Will Chelsom said: “I am absolutely delighted to announce John’s promotion to Head of Marine Sales. As our reputation within the international marine sector grows and we tackle bigger and more complex projects we have recognised the need to strengthen our sales team with this new position. John has proved an invaluable asset to the company since joining us and brings to the new role a vast experience of both the marine industry and an extensive understanding of the Chelsom brand, products and capabilities; a combination we hope that will contribute to furthering our successes within this extremely challenging and exciting marketplace.”
Moooi arrives in New York
(USA) - Moooi crosses the ocean and lands in New York to open its first Showroom and Brand Store in the US, introducing a new world of design opportunities in Manhattan’s Nomad area. Moooi, New York will open its doors to the public on the 14th of May, in time to celebrate NY Design Week.
"New York is the capital of the US and Manhattan is the place to be for an upscale design brand. We need to have a clear first hand representation of who we are and what we stand for," said Moooi’s CEO and Founder Casper Vissers.
Art Director, Marcel Wanders said: "Moooi as a company has grown beyond a furniture or lighting brand. It offers high end luxury products within a lifestyle concept that is really inspiring. My generation is just not happy anymore with expensive luxury products without a meaning. It’s looking for the real thing: a beautiful design that is also interesting, creative, exciting, fun, provocative, challenging. A product that lives in a complete cultural context."
The 3.875 sqft interior is defined by a characteristic raw concrete structure and flooring, which englobes an eclectic mix of designs and acts as a creative platform to showcase products, designers and lifestyle ideas for inspirational homes.
