Pretty Damn Fine

I think the students from Design For Life could learn a lot by looking at the work of Kibardindesign.

His studio is based in Prague and has been described by Wallpaper magazine as one of 40 designers that will change the world. And, I can see why.

I just love his Black and White clock -it’s a digital clock made only of the actual numbers – it has no case and each figure has its own power supply and independent control. And the wonderful bit is that the figures are white in the dark time of day and black at daytime. Clever hey? No horrible wires, no clutter on your bedside table to knock off in the night and no hideous red digital displays….ahhhh.

I once heard someone say that a furniture maker makes a beautiful chair and does not assess if the market needs a new chair, a marketeer will look at the market and see what is required and then make it. Vadim Kibardin, proves that product designers can do both  - which is what Philippe Starck has been banging on about, albeit in a very random sort of way, so think on students and start listening.

Shaun Ryder was not the first to call them the rats of the skies but he might have been the first and only person to have poisoned 3,000 of Manchester’s pigeons with crack cocaine. Although that was never proven.

Never the less, it appears that these little beauties who have for goodness knows how long,  been depositing their presents atop of Nelsons head in Trafalgur Square have provided one designer with some fine inspiration.

Originally designed by Ed Carpenter when he was studying product design at London’s Royal College of Art, the Pigeon Light was exhibited at his degree show in summer 2001. Granted this was some time ago, however, it has now gone into production with Thorsten Van Elten and is for sale throughout Europe in a selection of bright colours with contrasting electrical flexes. Yipppeeee.

Whilst some have pigeon phobias (my best friend included), I happen to think these vacuum-formed Acrylic are pretty cooooooooooool (insert own pigeon impression).

The great British summer has had me in a spin of late. One minute it’s hot and I am walking through town without a care in the world sniffing out the fabulous, pondering a Pims or a G&T…the next….well, I’m a drowned rat with my hair plastered to my head. Oh curse you, for making me look a fool! So how do you predict the weather?

Simple. With a hunk of wood.

And no, I’m not talking about the cast of Hollyoaks. 

Sébastien Wallet, has managed to design a funky gadget that can wake you up, tell the time, predict weather details 12-24 hours ahead, give barometric pressure measurements, indoor temperature and hygrometry information…are you still with me?

It also has a movement sensor built in so to activate it you wave your hand in front of the bit of wood and the display is lit. And here’s the best bit, as a piece of design it’s a corker: ergonomic, tactile, a thing of real beauty. 

So there we have it, buy it here and stop looking out the window in a morning pondering long or short sleeves. Let’s face it, is clearly the most attractive weather diviner since Wincey Willis (did I really just say that??)

Designer Henry Allen proves that being organised can be a beautiful thing. Taking typical desk items he has designed a pencil tray, a paper weight and a business card holder. Hoorah to an end to dreary desk spaces, I say. Go on, get organised here

Well it appears that my last post sparked an intense debate nationwide – given the amount of mail I received from it – the nations favourite drink clearly hits a nerve with  most folk. But none so much as the lovely people at Elmwood who sent me a pack of tea along with a lovely handwritten note (complete with brew stainage) this morning in the post. Imagine my utter delight!

I don’t mind admitting that I have the greatest respect for Elmwood and now I love them even more – I trust I can rely on them in court if I have to draft them in as an expert witness in the case of ‘Builders V Milky Rubbish’

So, many thanks guys you have made my Monday, keep up the good work and you can bet your builder’s ass, that when most folk are sweating and quaffing pints of water in this searing heat, yours truly has her hands wrapped tightly round a hot builder(s).

I’m no stranger to pantone references but i never thought of using them to solve the great tea debate. In our house I am builders and my other half only likes the tea bag shown to a milky, watery, liquid for a nano second thus producing something altogether a little more insipid (thankfully he has relinquished the cardinal sin of adding a sugar on health grounds).This causes huge issues as neither manages to get it right for the other, but hurrah, it appears we are not going to be in the divorce courts fighting over custody of the kettle because these lovely mugs are an answer to all my problems. 

So fear not Britain, we can all go to work on our favourite drink, just my cuppa tea. Buy them at Suck.