Zero - Curve Crown
Zero's original Curve was designed for the renovation of the Nationalmuseum in Sweden and its library in 2018.
This year, it has evolved to include a large pendant. Various models can be put together to create a fixture of any size. Shades are available in diameters of 150, 200 or 300mm. Incorporated LED module dimmable 230V or with DALI option also available.
Holloways of Ludlow opens new showroom
(UK) - British lighting and furniture retailer Holloways of Ludlow has opened its largest store yet in Bath, building on the success of its established showroom network in London and Kent.
Located on Milsom Street in one of the city’s busiest shopping districts, the new store brings together some of the best European and Scandinavian modern designs, spanning 20th Century iconic pieces to future classics.
Set over two floors of a former bank measuring over 4,000sqft, and complete with the high-ceilings and original plasterwork typical of Bath’s Georgian buildings, the new outpost from Holloways of Ludlow provides a striking backdrop for a curated selection of contemporary lighting and furniture. International brands featured range from Northern, B&B Italia, Cassina, Carl Hansen & Søn, Gubi, Hay, &Tradition and Finn Juhl among others.
While lighting installations from the likes of Bocci and Moooi are dispersed throughout the building, the ground floor of the store also sees a dedicated lighting area showcasing both established and independent manufacturers; from Flos and Louis Poulsen to Buster + Punch and Tala.
A new design destination for Bath and neighbouring regions in the southwest of England, this latest store from Holloways of Ludlow offers local customers the opportunity to browse its comprehensive collections in person and seek advice from its experienced showroom team. The Bath opening also coincides with the relaunch of Holloways of Ludlow’s website later this Spring. The revamped site – designed to deliver an enhanced shopping experience – will feature an online shop for consumers, and a new dedicated platform with improved tools and functionality for interior designers, design studios, architects and specifiers.
As part of its Bath launch, Holloways of Ludlow has introduced a whole host of new furniture, home accessories and lighting in-store. Showcased in the UK for the first time, the 2022 collections feature brands including Carl Hansen & Søn, Hay and Northern, in line with the British retailer’s long-standing commitment to championing design innovation from Scandinavia and the Nordic countries.
Meanwhile, the showroom is also playing host to the first UK showcase of contemporary works by Danish artist Carsten Beck. Represented internationally in Milan and New York, Beck’s work is characterised by bold geometric colour and monumental works in black and white, drawing inspiration from concrete art – a form based on a simple non-figurative idiom and clean lines and popularised in the mid-20th Century. Oil paintings by the artist, created exclusively for Holloways of Ludlow, are on display in the unique setting of the store among its extensive range of furniture and home accessories. The displayed works are limited-edition and available to buy via the retailer only.
Mark Holloway comments: “Our digital platform has been an important part of our business for almost 20 years. We continue to invest in it significantly, including our soon-to-be-relaunched website. However, we believe hugely in showrooms and know that our customers still want to touch and feel our products and interact with our team of experts in person.”
He adds: “One thing that we’ve increasingly noticed among customers is the desire to shop locally. Most of the UK has been underserved with high-end design furniture; our approach is about bringing great design closer to home. With our Bath store opening, we see the opportunity to connect with a growing customer base in the area and around Bristol, the southwest and the Cotswolds.
“Ultimately, we want to offer our customers multiple touchpoints and make it easier for them to shop with us – whenever and wherever they want. We’re delighted to bring our unique brand experience to Bath.”
Artist Carsten Beck comments: “I’m excited to be bringing my works to Holloways of Ludlow this Spring. Being part of the interactive experience between art and design is something that fascinates me. For me, exploring simplicity in concrete art and in furniture design are not that far from each other – it’s all about the simple details, form and function.”
Beck adds: “I’m interested in interacting with shapes and enabling them to interact closely with movement and composition of the elements. And if you look at design, it is the same movement too.”
On 2 March, 2022, darc's Editor Sarah Cullen was invited to the official press launch of the showroom, which included a guided walk through of some of the outstanding pieces on display by CEO Mark Holloway, as well as comments from Daniel Kring Belert, COO of Northern, and Ove Rogne, CEO of Northern.
When asked how the business has weathered the last couple of years during the international pandemic, Holloway comments: "Like all businesses, things have been tough. Fortunately, we already had a comprehensive website and so, when we had to close our stores, customers were still able to shop online.
"We were also fortunate to be in the interiors sector. With everyone working from home many customers used the opportunity to update their living spaces, home offices and gardens. It would, of course, have been preferable to keep our stores open but things could have been worse.
"It is, however, a huge relief to be back open. We passionately believe in the value of real stores where customers can touch, feel and try products before buying. Customers can also look to our well trained staff for design advice, whether it be a technical lighting query or fabric advice for a sofa."
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Daniel Kring Belert, COO, Northern -
Mark Holloway, CEO, Holloways of Ludlow
With regards to the UK's national lockdowns, darc asked if Holloway had witnessed a change in customer behaviours? "Definitely. Our customers are craving in-person interaction having spent so much time at home over the past of years. I believe that if you’re making a big purchase, like a sofa, you want to try it, see fabric samples and ask our staff questions in person. My approach is always about having great design closer to home.
"Previously, if you lived in Bath, you would have to travel to London to see top brands such as Flos, Bocci, B&B Italia and Carl Hansen & Son. Now these, plus over 400 other leading brands and designers, are available in the centre of Bath. In my view, this is better for the customer and better for the environment."
During his walkthrough of the new showroom, Holloway mentioned the importance of selecting the right products for the new showroom's location. He says: "For us, understanding our customers is crucial to our success. For instance, in Bath, we know that there’s a strong appetite for high-end Scandinavian designs having seen the success of our predecessor, the HAY store – whose full range is still available in our Bath showroom. The local Georgian architecture, with high ceilings and the pared down aesthetic perfected by the likes of Nash and Wood, also provides the perfect setting for minimalistic, modern designs. Our Bath customer is design savvy and well-travelled, hence we have introduced brands such as David Trubridge from New Zealand, Nuura from Denmark, Marset from Spain, and Northern from Norway.
"All of our brands are available in every store, but we allow the local architecture and customers to help shape what we display and how the showroom looks.
"Our new store in Winchester is a far cry from the Georgian elegance of Bath. A 1960s building, it is much more industrial with concrete columns and a steel staircase. It's going to look amazing when it opens in April 2022. Whilst the core range remains the same, the showroom will also feature more industrial-looking pieces from brands including Buster & Punch, Jielde and Vitra."
Louis Poulsen – 50th Anniversary of Panthella
In spring 2021, Louis Poulsen released a revamped version of the Panthella table lamp in a new medium size and brass metallised finish to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Verner Panton’s iconic and timeless design.
Louis Poulsen - Panthella
To celebrate 50 years of Danish Architect Verner Panton's iconic Panthella lamp, in 2021 Louis Poulsen introduced the new Panthella 320 table lamp in medium size to suit contemporary spaces.
The Panthella has been recognised worldwide as one of Verner Panton’s most popular designs. Its non-glaring light and soft geometric mushroom silhouette continues to serve as a beautiful example of his fantastic sense of atmospheric illumination and timelessly appealing design.
Speaking of the design process, the Louis Poulsen team says: “Working with design heritage such as the Panthella family is a continuing process. We always explore the possibilities of updating or further developing the design both in terms of technical innovation but also the design itself, such as size and materials, to keep the design alive and relevant today.
“With the 50th anniversary of the product we thought it was perfect timing for updating and expanding this beloved family of lamps.”
The new Panthella Table 320 joins the existing Panthella Mini and Panthella Table 400 to create a range of intriguing table lamps that seamlessly accommodate the functional requirements of a variety of spaces. With the Panthella Table in three sizes, the perfect dimensions are available to provide any surface with beautiful, soft light in an iconic design.
Panthella 320 is a medium size table lamp that meets the functional requirements of contemporary spaces. The size is perfect for smaller homes as a city apartment or a modern family house.
It was important the team took care and paid close attention to the original design when working on the new size for Panthella 320. “The Panthella design is simple and logical, yet up and downscaling the product must be done with great care and humility to the original design,” says the team. “The proportions must be right, and the materials are carefully chosen to emit the light perfectly.
“The most challenging aspect of developing the Panthella 320, along with the other new Panthella family members, is to preserve an authentic expression of the design while improving the quality according to the technical possibilities that we have today. The shade is harmoniously balanced on top of the foot without any undesirable shadows from the light source.”
The new medium sized Panthella 320 is initially launched with a white opal acrylic shade and metal shade in high-lustre chrome, just as Panton’s original design was. It, along with the new Mini version, is available in a new brass metallised finish featuring a metal shade. All metal options come with white inner sides for optimum light reflection, while the opal acrylic version produces a diffuse comfortable light through its translucent shade.
The brass metallised finish brings warmth and reflections to the surrounding space. Made of metal with a mirrored quality, the new finish references Panton’s fascination with new materials and vibrant colours that add to the distinctive playfulness of interiors. The metallic finish allows Panthella to expand its functionality and create eclectic reflections and depth, while amplifying its organic shape.
The medium Panthella is available with a 320mm diameter shade and an E14 light source.
The Panthella 320 is an adaptable table lamp. It can be placed low on side tables in a lounge area giving ambient light, or it can be placed higher on a shelf emitting soft light and yet bringing a decorative element in the interior.
The Panthella 320 is also very suitable for repetitive use or grand scale projects in a hospitality environment such as restaurants, lobby areas or hotel rooms. The lamp brings character and ambience to any interior.
Designers Mind launches Designers Mind Academy
(Online) – As part of its ongoing mission to prioritise wellbeing in the design industry, Designers Mind has launched a brand new wellbeing coaching platform, Designers Mind Academy.
An online community and learning platform, the Designers Mind Academy offers members group coaching workshops and one to one wellbeing sessions in a supportive, safe environment.
Covering topics such as: physical and mental health, stress, productivity, healthy habits, goal setting, energy, optimising time, and working smarter, over the course of a month members will have exclusive access a series of 30-minute sessions.
After an initial welcome session, members will have a wellbeing session diving into a specific wellbeing topic; a check-in session offering accountability and support; and a work session diving into a particular work skill, such as focus or structuring your day. Intended as live sessions, the Designers Mind Academy will also include a Replay Library, where members can catch up on sessions if they’re unable to attend live.
The online community, built on Circle with a desktop and app version, will also have places to share wins, challenges, and general chat, allowing members to engage with each other and the community. As it grows, guest speakers, mental health check-ins and more features will be added in line with the community’s needs.
Kaye Preston, Designers Mind Founder, Interior Designer and Holistic Health Coach, said: “My own experience with burnout led me to found Designers Mind, a community that raises awareness about the mental health and wellbeing of designers in the workplace through sharing, talks and workshops.
“Designers Mind Academy feels like the natural next step to take this community from talking and raising awareness to true transformation and change.
“My goal with the Academy is to work with organisations and individuals as a supportive coach and mentor, to help them develop practices that enhance their wellbeing. Shifting mindsets and behaviours towards healthier habits so they can create sustainable lifestyle changes, a sense of balance in their hectic lives, increase their energy and reduce overwhelm and burnout.
“I’ll be leading your monthly sessions and cannot wait to go on this wellness journey with you.”
Membership to the Designers Mind Academy is £15 per month. More information can be found on the Designers Mind website.
www.designers-mind.com/academy
align boosts creative team with new designer appointments
(UK) - Boutique design practice align has boosted its creative London team with two new appointments – Senior Designer Ben Pressley and Junior Designer Amy Roberts.
Yorkshire-born Interior Designer Ben Pressley brings with him well over a decade’s experience of working across workplace, residential design, mixed-use and hospitality design for companies such as Dexter Moren Associates, Richmond International and WAM Design. A seasoned all-rounder and project runner, Pressley has worked on schemes ranging from the Four Seasons Hotel in Lagos to Fulham Football Club’s new Fulham Pier and hotels in Tuscany and Casablanca. He is looking forward to the hands-on possibilities of his new role, including seeing projects through from brief and concept to development, detailing and on-site completion.
Ben Pressley comments: "I’m particularly looking forward to the number of mixed-use projects currently on the books at align. I thrive on variety, so the broader the better for me. Plus, it’ll be great to be involved in every stage of a job, as is only possible at a smaller practice."
align is also delighted to announce a second appointment - new Junior Designer Amy Roberts. This is Roberts' first professional, full-time design role outside work placements during her Interior Architecture degree from Northumbria University. In addition to getting involved in a number of workspace and hospitality projects currently in the studio, Roberts will also serve as the practice’s new Sustainability Researcher, laying the groundwork for align to become a net zero company and expanding the practice’s sustainability product knowledge and library.
Amy Roberts comments: "I was very attracted to all the exciting projects in align’s portfolio when I applied, knowing I’d be working alongside a talented and insightful team, with good opportunities for being mentored and growing as a designer. I’m also passionate about sustainability, so that aspect of the role is incredibly exciting for me personally."
Nigel Tresise, Director and Owner of align, says on the new appointments: "It’s always a real boost for the team when fresh talent comes into the studio – on this occasion at both ends of the experience spectrum. Amy’s passion for sustainability will help take us forward on our mission to achieve net zero emissions, whilst Ben’s seniority and breadth and depth of experience will be a great boost in the leadership of the projects currently on the drawing board, from major-name hotel F&B to urban regeneration sites in London and workplaces of the future."
Arredoluce appoints new Creative Director
(Italy) - Arredoluce, the lighting brand forming the Auralis group alongside Penta and Castaldi, has appointed Giulio Cappellini to the role of Creative Director.
Giulio Cappellini is appointed Creative Director with the aim of promoting the brand's projects by the great masters of the past and integrating them with proposals by contemporary designers.
Founded in Monza in 1943 by the entrepreneur and designer Angelo Lelii, the company has made a significant contribution to the history of lighting in Italy through projects designed by great masters of the calibre of Gio Ponti, Ettore Sottsass, Nanda Vigo, the Castiglioni brothers and, indeed, Lelii himself.
Arredoluce has now brought its extensive archive into Auralis, Italy’s first lighting hub headed by CEO Andrea Citterio and set up with a view to promoting this precious heritage. The brand is embarking on a new phase of its life and is looking to the future with Cappellini, who’s remit is to give new impetus to works by the masters of the past while integrating them with new products by contemporary designers.
On the one hand, the new creative director will work on reinterpreting historical projects from a philological standpoint, so as to create objects that are as consistent as possible with the originals, both stylistically and in terms of their technical and design content; on the other hand, he will be drawing on his renowned skill as a talent scout to discover names and proposals that can uphold Arredoluce's philosophy and values, projecting the brand into the contemporary world.
Return of Surface Design Show a success
(UK) - Surface Design Show 2022 took place at the Business Design Centre between 8-10 February with the huge response from both visitors and exhibitors claiming "it’s great to be back".
After a year of virtual events the appetite from visitors to engage, network and be updated on the latest surface materials and designs was clearly visible.
“It has been great to be back seeing people and their new and upcoming projects, over the last two years we have really missed the interaction within the industry,” says Josh Stance, Mundy Veneer.
More than 160 exhibitors showcased the best in surface design, with almost 5000 architects, designers and specifiers visiting over the two and a half days.
84% of visitors worked in the architecture and design sector and 73% have direct purchasing authority. Reflecting the cancellation or postponement of exhibitions over the last 24-months; 69% of the audience came to source new products and 50% were looking to discover new design trends.
The overriding theme of the show Sense of Place, which looked at putting humanity and the planet’s wellbeing at the heart of all decision making, was first introduced at The Opening Night Debate.
Held in partnership with RIBA, Climate Change and Future Proofing featured a line up of industry experts. The session, hosted by Simon Sturgis, Founder of Targeting Zero, brought together a younger generation of architects, designers and clients. They not only explored the issues around the future durability and adaptability of current projects, but also how we ensure that the commercial value of projects can be future proofed against climate change.
“ Really interesting talks on sustainability within our industry and the responsibility all designers have to change thinking and behaviours,” says Matthew Ward, Director and Co-founder at Copper & Ash.
Carrying on with the theme Sense of Place, many of the exhibitors brought new products to the show, which were both innovative and sustainable. The Good Plastic Company showcased sustainable panels from 100% recycled plastic, Wonderwall Studios had stunning wall panels made from salvaged wood, whilst Armourcoat launched its new natural clay lime plaster, Clime.
One of the standout trends of the show, Bio Magic, looked at how biodegradable ingredients continue to offer sustainable solutions with developments in colour dyeing and recycling processes, bringing new alternatives to the table using food waste.
Wildman & Bugby brought ecology leather to the show, which uses Olivenleder, a biodegradable tanning agent made using the fallen leaves of the Mediterranean olive harvest. Meanwhile Johnson Tan, one of 32 New Talents at the Show, created surfaces using food waste including eggshells and coffee to achieve delicate, subtle and translucent materials.
Indeed, one of the most visited and exciting areas of the show was the New Talent section. Surface Design Show is committed to supporting and promoting up and coming designers in the materials sector. Sponsored by Canon UK and curated by Jennifer Castoldi, the 2022 show saw over 30 participants display a range of sophisticated and innovative designs from textile designs to augmented reality to 3D tiles. A recurring theme among many participants this year was the use of natural materials and dyes.
“I have found New Talent really helpful in terms of making new contacts. The organisation of the show has been great and really easy as a recent graduate to understand,” comments Rebecca Robinson, Surface Designer.
Amongst the 160 exhibitors the Italian Trade Agency in conjunction with Confindustria Marmomacchine presented a pavilion of 28 companies representing the Italian stone industry. Showcasing new, innovative and luxury materials including stunning white marble from Elite Stone, Limestone from Fato Stone and porphyry natural stone from Avisio Porfidi Srl representing the best of Made in Italy.
There was also a comprehensive talks programme, which included over 50 speakers from a range of design backgrounds. New for 2022 was the Legends Live sessions, which saw industry leaders interviewing someone in or connected to the industry. The pairings included lighting designer Sally Storey being interviewed by Theresa Dowling, editor of FX Magazine, Conran and Partners’ Tina Norden in conversation with Hamish Kilburn, editor of Hotel Designs and AHMM’s Paul Monaghan talking to Phil Coffey of Coffey Architects as the interviewees discussed their illustrious careers to date.
Winners of the 2022 Surface Design Awards were announced at a breakfast ceremony on the last day of the Show, where the BAFTA headquarters in London by Benedetti Architects took not only the award for Public Building Interior category but was also selected as the Supreme Winner.
The judges were impressed by the sensitive reconfiguration and repositioning of the original Victorian plasterwork and reuse of oak flooring whilst also introducing future facing solutions including Eyrise TM s350 Licrivision liquid crystal rooflight ‘smart’ insulated glass, which removes up to 80% of harmful rays.
Other winners included Maggie’s Southampton by AL_A, which won Light + Surface Exterior and Public Building Exterior and the Peacock Cellar restaurant in Shanghai which took the top honours in the Light + Surface Interior category.
"I left Surface Design Show feeling inspired and encouraged by the variety of innovative new ways companies and designers are looking at materials and their uses," says Phoebe Train, BCFA.
Surface Design Show 2023 will take place at The Business Design Centre 7-9 February 2023.
Maison&Objet Designer of the Year named
(France) - Maison&Objet names its Designer of the Year, Franklin Azzi.
At each edition, Maison&Objet names a Designer of the Year, celebrating the work of the most outstanding talents on the
international design and decoration scene. Having been unable to present his installation on receiving the accolade in September 2020, Franklin Azzi will now take centre stage at the March 2022 edition with Retro Futur, an immersive exploration of his creative process.
Working out of his Parisian agency created in 2006, Azzi develops a cross-disciplinary approach that draws on a potpourri of perspectives and disciplines. By relentlessly sparking a dialogue between architecture, interior design, design and modern art with the backing of his dedicated endowment fund, he hones a talent for design and creation that embraces all scales and all spaces.
From the kind of urban microarchitecture embodied by the Eiffel Kiosque and its prefabricated structure to towers in Dubai and
Paris, not forgetting the refurbishment of existing structures such as the Alstom warehouses in Nantes, his work is underpinned by a quest for sustainability tailored to meet users’ needs. Turning his back on formal style, Azzi develops architecture that is both minimalist in its aesthetic and maximalist in its multi-faceted functionality and environmental quality, resolutely advocating a return to ‘common sense’. He walks firmly in the footsteps of philosopher and urban planner Paul Virilio, the exploratory thinker and creator of whom he was once a student.
Franklin Azzi’s agency boasts more than sixty talented members of staff, and by combining their expertise with a research and innovation laboratory, he asserts a deep-rooted desire to blaze a new trail. Closely focusing on people and their environment, he queries, examines, analyses and explores contexts, production methods and materials prior to breathing life into each space. The agency’s creative process begins by focusing on the flexible use of a space and transforming what is already there with a view to tackling the modern-day goal of creating future-proof cities. As well as rising to the challenge of being of high environmental quality, the Daumesnil building, which he is currently developing in a brand-new neighbourhood in Paris’s 12th arrondissement, flies the flag for flexibility, having been specifically designed so that its offices can be turned into residential spaces.
Azzi’s commitment as a designer-creator infiltrates every aspect of his work, from the largest scale projects to the tiniest manufacturing details, permeating public and private commissions alike, both in France and overseas. He breathes new life into built heritage, invents the living and working spaces of the future (The Bureau, Be In for LVMH), designs urban environments that sit sympathetically in their surroundings (Beaupassage for Emerige), and devises dismantlable and removable structures (the pavilion on the roof of the Galeries Lafayette department store).
Emblematic in its capacity to create and innovate through re -use, the new Montparnasse Tower, planned for 2024, seeks to summarise its vision of the vertical city, low in energy use, open and resilient. Convinced of the strength of collective intelligence to meet the challenges of our time, Franklin Azzi has been working on this major project since 2017 with Nouvelle AOM – a collective that he initiated for the international Demain Montparnasse competition – teaming up with practices Chartier Dalix Architectes and Hardel Le Bihan Architectes. All these spaces shape a brand-new landscape of possibilities, serving up sustainable and contemporary solutions designed to benefit their users.
Retro Futur is an artistic installation that explores the creative processes of the future using tools from the past, echoing the way in which Azzi approaches his work as an architect. The immersive Retro Futur installation stages the architect’s day-to-day activities via a digital, modular and pared-back table in black lacquered metal: it diffuses, across a series of screens, a selection of basic and traditional tools specific to the trade (set square, rotring pen, tracing paper, light table, etc.) as well as the various items required each day when developing a project: architectural models, materials, sketches, etc.
Static and moving images appear in succession, showcasing the manual techniques the architect employs in conjunction with his latest creations. Strapping made from strips of up-cycled industrial felt separates the object from the rest of the lounge. As Joseph Beuys (1921-1986) was keen to convey, felt is an outstanding natural material that can help retain heat, a source of energy that served as a veritable creative driver for the German artist’s work.
The space itself is entirely upholstered with felt, including the ceiling, creating an acoustic bubble that fosters concentration. The slatted curtain, meanwhile, invites visitors to enter and exit the installation at will. The durable and natural felt, which is manufactured in France by Le Feutre, imbues the space with an intimate, calming vibe. The installation resolutely embraces the retro futurism trend that is sweeping through the creative arts, and is one of the sources of inspiration underpinning the agency’s overall approach. It is characterised by a fusion of imagery that sees progress and science-fiction pictured in the past with a view to seeing all futuristic aspects of the present become retro-futuristic over time.
Caroline Fiers new CEO of the Biennale Interieur
(Belgium) - Caroline Fiers takes over at the helm of the Biennale Interieur, the largest design event in Belgium.
The new CEO succeeds Jo Libeer, who is winding down his professional activities after a full and rewarding career. After a few turbulent years for the entire sector, and with the next Biennale in the offing this autumn, Fiers is excited about the opportunity to drive change.
Fiers joined the Interieur team in 2019 as Commercial Director. In 2021, she already took on a lead role managing the event Please, Have a Seat. "After the cancellation of the Biennale in 2020, we were not just looking for a way to maintain our existing relationships. We were looking for opportunities, exploring new avenues. The event was a great success despite the uncertainty of the pandemic, and I am confident that our team is well positioned for the period ahead.
"Please, Have a Seat was a first step in the search for something new and refreshing while remaining true to the core values of the Biennale. We work together with many different partners, stakeholders and target groups, and collaboration is key. That means we have to listen and understand the changing needs among the various players in the design world. I expect to be supplementing my team with people who can help me come up with new ideas and insights, think outside the box. There will be many exiting things to look forward to for our partners and visitors!
"The crisis put many efforts in our sector in jeopardy, but it also has forced us to be more innovative. We want to continue on that path now, looking for ways to continue to inspire and bring people together. I am more convinced than ever that being together in person, creating conversation on design topics that matter, and driving a sense of community around shared goals must be core parts of our added value."
Interieur 22 takes place from 20 to 24 October 2022.
Ingo Maurer launches app for smart lighting control
(Germany) – Ingo Maurer has launched Ingo Maurer Digital, its app for smart lighting control for iOS and Android devices.
Through the app, users can reproduce different lighting settings and colour sequences at a defined speed, allowing the option of 14 different lighting moods, from relaxing to invigorating colour sequences. Brightness can also be individually regulated via the app.
The first fixture that can be operated via the app is the Moodmoon model, designed by Sebastian Hepting – the light is distinctive because of its characteristic interplay of the finest Japanese paper and innovative LED technology. The special structure of the Japanese paper creates a light effect that gives Moodmoon a unique, lively surface.
David Engelhorn, designer at Ingo Maurer, said: “The app allows users to bring their lighting to life. The atmosphere in the room can be effortlessly changed using a smartphone or tablet. No matter whether you want a place to relax or a focused work environment, the lighting can be adapted to suit individual needs thanks to the versatile tool.”
The Ingo Maurer team is constantly developing the app to ensure that it will also offer a wide range of possible applications for individual lighting control in future products and projects. They are hopeful that it will become possible to link several lights, even across different rooms, via WiFi in order to combine colour sequences simultaneously or with a variable dynamic.
Inaugural Silhouette Awards winners announced
(Global) – The winners of the inaugural Silhouette Awards were announced in an online ceremony last week.
The awards, curated by Archifos and Parrot PR & Marketing, aim to shine a light on emerging talent within the lighting industry, honouring young designers who have the vision and ambition to steer and lead the lighting industry in the coming years.
A judging panel of 20 influential senior lighting designers selected the 20 winning entrants – each has been paired with a mentor from the panel of judges.
Entries were received from candidates around the world, spanning 25 countries, all demonstrating varying levels of experience. With an unexpected percentage of female entrants (79%), the judging panel, who reviewed the entries independently, were all aligned with the final selection showcasing the very best of the industry’s talent with an outstanding all-female winners line-up.
Successful candidates will now be individually supported by one of the programme’s 20 mentors for the next six months and beyond as they progress in their careers. With the support of the Silhouette Awards’ array of sponsors and supporters, the winners have been rewarded with the opportunity to enhance their skillset, pursue their career ambitions and add value to the creativity of the industry, raising the bar for talent around the world.
The 2022 winners and their mentor partnerships are:
- Valeriya Gorelova (Mentor: Anna Sbokou)
- Rosa Alvarez de Arcaya (Mentor: Beata Denton)
- Francesca Feltrin (Mentor: Dario Nunez Salazar)
- Dipali Shirsat (Mentor: David Gilbey)
- Laura Arroyo Rocha (Mentor: Fernando Mazzetti)
- Alessandra de Martino (Mentor: Jonathan Rush)
- Swathi Madhi (Mentor: Lara Elbaz)
- Elsa Sawma (Mentor: Linus Lopez)
- Momena Saleem (Mentor: Marci Song)
- Frankie Boyle (Mentor: Marcus Steffen)
- Qistina Ahmad Ali (Mentor: Martin Klaasen)
- Beatrice Bertolini (Mentor: Melissa Mak)
- Elena Volpi (Mentor: Michael Grubb)
- Africa Sabé Dausà (Mentor: Monica Luz Lobo)
- Iris Molendijk (Mentor: Rouzana Kopti)
- Janice Lu (Mentor: Ruth Kelly Waskett)
- Gabi Korac (Mentor: Sam Koerbel)
- Doreen Colling (Mentor: Star Davis)
- Rebecca Mintz (Mentor: Suzan Tillotson)
- Cristina Gil Venegas (Mentor: Victor Palacio)
Eve Gaut, Co-Founder, Parrot PR & Marketing commented: “The Silhouette Awards was set up to recognise the future leaders of the lighting industry and showcase the very best of the best. The calibre of entries has far surpassed our expectations, and we were so proud to receive submissions from all over the world, clearly demonstrating the inclusivity of the industry and the appetite for this type of initiative.
“We are immensely grateful to all supporters, sponsors and mentors who have not only given up their time on the judging panel, but also committed to a further six months guiding these young professionals and helping them to advance on their individual career paths.”
Katia Kolovea, Co-Founder, Archifos, added: “From the initial conception of the Silhouette Awards, it was essential for both Parrot and Archifos to not only recognise the talent of the industry’s rising stars, but to offer guidance and support to the winners on their future careers.
“We were surprised to realise that, despite the judging panel individually reviewing each entry, all 20 winners of the first Silhouette Awards are female. We are very much looking forward to seeing what’s in store for the next edition of this awards programme, and I would personally like to thank everyone that has been involved so far in helping us to achieve our longstanding ambition to showcase the talent of the future.
The journey is really only just beginning as we look forward and support these twenty new mentor-mentee relationships as they flourish and achieve great things together.”
