The ‘New Simplicity‘ exhibition presents a range of simplistic ‘no frills’ products designed by both emerging and established international designers. Showcased at this Brompton gallery location are classic designs alongside new innovations utilising the latest Rapid Manufacturing technologies.

NEW SIMPLICITY

24th July-8th August 2010

203 Brompton Road, SW3 1LA (07808 722 962)

With reference to current economic conditions, ‘New simplicity’ reflects the current trend of frugality and a ‘return to basics’ within design. Everyday items (both the classics, new renditions of the past and the latest prototypes) are all highlighted in terms of their simplicity, practicality and affordability.

The most recently unveiled of those products on display are enhanced by improvements in Rapid Manufacturing Technologies, which allow designers to create objects using the minimum number of pieces as possible, thus accenting the notion of simplicity.

The exhibition curator and design critic Nuno Coelho has brought together a range of designers including Alex Hulme and his self assembly torch; Min-Kyu Choi and his award winning folding plug; and David Sutton’s minimal wallet formed in one piece with no moving parts.

Alternative products by differing designers are also unified in the exhibition by their collective belief in simplicity. These designers include: Industrial Facility (Sam Hect and Kim Colin), Jasper Morrison, Oscar Diaz, Jochem Faudet, Jon Harrison, Luka Stepan, Mathias Hahn and Thomas Wagner.

Combining specially commissioned pieces alongside films and drawings, the exhibition features a simultaneous webcast and website.

Images, from top: Branca Chair by Industrial Facility for Mattiazzi; Basel Chair by Jasper Morrison for Vitra; Self-Assembly Torch by Alex Hulme; Minimal Wallet by David Sutton; UV Floor Lamp by Jon Harrison for Habitat; I-phone/ I-pod Cable Manager by Jochem Faudet.

This summer KesselsKramer’s London office, KK Outlet, is welcoming the famous Parisian store colette to their Hoxton Square space. For the first time colette are venturing onto UK soil and bringing with them specially selected products, books, music and art work.

SHOPSWAP, 2nd July-28th August 2010

KK OUTLET

42 Hoxton Square, London N1 6PB (020 7033 7680)

colette is taking over KK Outlet in a style of its own, and KK Outlet is returning the gesture in Paris.

Alongside exclusive colette endorsed products, books and music, KK Outlet is hosting two high profile exhibitions from renowned graffiti writer Monsieur Andre (above) and illustrator Darcel (below). Both artists are showing the best picks from their recent colette shows, including new works and specially created pieces.

In return, KK Outlet is taking over colette (28th June-31st July), installing a unique showcase of products, books, and artwork which best reflects the multi-faceted nature of the company and its output.

colette is a famous destination store – it stocks the hardest to find and coolest products, gadgets, trainers, books, music and fashion. colette regularly collaborate with the likes of BAPE, Chloe Sevigny, Lou Reed, Terry Richardson and Lomography.

KesselsKramer is an independent communications agency located in Amsterdam and London, and has created communication for clients such as Vitra, citizenM, J&B whisky and Diesel. KesselsKramer’s output can encompass many disciplines – from a documentary about the world’s two lowest-ranked football teams (The Other Final) to a book about the worst hotel in the world (Hans Brinker Budget Hotel). KesselsKramer is also a publishing house, producing many titles, often featuring images from the private collections of agency founder, Erik Kessels.

New Designers exhibition is the leading showcase of graduate design talent as they emerge from the UK’s design courses, presenting everything from architecture to animation, furniture to fashion, graphics to glass. Hosted under one roof at Islington’s Business Design Centre (BDC), visitors can access over 3,500 new talents across the two-part event.

NEW DESIGNERS 2010

PART 1: 1st-4th July 2010 >>> Textiles; Fashion & Accessories; contemporary Applied Arts; Ceramics & Glass; Jewellery & Precious Metalwork.

PART 2: 8th-11th July 2010 >>> Product Design; Furniture; Visual Communications (including Graphic Design & Illustration); Spatial Design.

BUSINESS DESIGN CENTRE

52 Upper Street, London N1 0QH (08448 480 139)

Due to the sheer volume of work being exhibited, New Designers is split across two shows with each show focussing on the creative disciplines listed above.

2010 is a landmark for New Designers, which will have been running for 25 successful years. To mark this anniversary, ‘Where are you now’ celebrates the success of a number of New Designer’s alumni with work displayed (and for sale) near the upper café.

Alongside the graduates’ exhibits is a special showcase of design entrepreneurs entitled ‘One Year On.’ As the name suggests, it presents a selected showcase of designers whose work has matured and progressed in their first year in business. Thorsten van Elten curates the 40 contributors.

An extensive talks and seminars programme adds further interest with sessions offering advice for professional development and insights into some of the key issues of the day.

We will be selling copies of LONDON DESIGN GUIDE at New Designers Part Two.

The Royal College of Art’s talent pool of 2010 is on show within the college galleries in Kensington. This end of year showcase is an important time for talent scouts to pick up on the latest postgraduate talent and their challenging ideas.

RCA SHOW PART TWO, 25th June-4th July 2010

ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART

Kensington Gore, London SW7 2EU

Part Two is dedicated to graduating students from Animation, Architecture, Communication Art & Design, Design Products, Design Interactions, Fashion Footwear and Accessories, History of Design, Innovation Design Engineering, Textiles and Vehicle Design.

This year is Tord Boontje’s first show as Head of Design Products. His students have taken over a whole floor of the Stevens Building, just a short walk from the main galleries across Jay Mews. This gives the department a unique space to exhibit and interact with visitors so be sure to pop over the road to see it.

For the first time at the RCA Show, a group of students from several departments are exhibiting collectively in the central courtyard of the Darwin building, under the banner Department 21. They are hosting a series of public events with guests speakers.

Furthermore, Painting and Sculpture students are exhibiting simultaneously at the RCA’s new Battersea campus (Howie Street, SW11 4AS). Hop on board a Routemaster bus for a free ride between the two Shows, running every half hour on weekends throughout Show Two dates.

Free Range presents the work of thousands of graduates from art and design universities around the UK, in several distinct categories over 8 weeks. The event takes place in the Old Truman Brewery in London’s East End.

FREE RANGE 2010, 4th June-26th July 2010

THE OLD TRUMAN BREWERY

91 Brick Lane, London E1 6QL

The event embraces all the creative disciplines, from art, graphics and photography to architecture, interiors (including product and furniture design) and textiles. Furthermore, educational charity D&AD are bringing ‘New Blood‘, their creative talent show, to Free Range for the first time.

Free Range was originally conceived over 10 years ago as a regeneration project for The Old Truman Brewery, alongside 93 Feet East and Fashion East, a successful millennium strategy that has brought people and businesses into the area and established it as a creative hub in London.

For the full programme of exhibiting colleges, visit the Free Range website.

Please note, the exhibitors change weekly. As a result, the exhibition open days during this period are Fridays to Mondays, 10am-7pm.

In case you didn’t make it to the infamous Milan Furniture Fair in April, fear not. Having trudged around the immense fair and countless city installations, leading design store twentytwentyone has handpicked the best products and is featuring them at their showroom in Islington.

HIGHLIGHTS OF MILAN, 19th-29th May 2010

TWENTYTWENTYONE showroom

18c River Street, London EC1R 1XN (020 7837 1900)

Highlights of Milan embraces a range of technologies, materials, forms and thought processes. Designs include a make-your-own chair by Enzo Mari, a knitted rug by Patricia Urquiola, a CNC-milled timber chair by Sam Hecht, a paper task light from Claesson Koivisto Rune and a new sofa family from Jasper Morrison.

On show are designs from Naoto Fukasawa, Thomas Heatherwick, Barber Osgerby, Patricia Urquiola, Konstantin Grcic, Tom Dixon, Sam Hecht, Jasper Morrison, Michael Sodeau, David Chipperfield, Franz Volhard, Inge Sempe, Enzo Mari, Michael Young, Raw Edges, Todd Bracher, Claesson Koivisto Rune, Marina Baultier, Constance Guisset and PearsonLloyd.

The Milan Salone is the most important event in the design calendar acting as a key influence upon interiors in the year ahead. The exhibits comprise of both prototypes and designs that are ready for production, with orders being available for immediate dispatch.

At Vessel Gallery, Italian designer Luca Nichetto is showing his collection of vases, bowls, candles holders and small interior objects from the Essence collection. This body of work celebrates the processes and tools employed in artisanal glass and ceramic craftsmanship.

ESSENCE COLLECTION BY LUCA NICHETTO, 29th April – 30th May 2010

VESSEL GALLERY

114 Kensington Park Road, London W11 2PW (020 7727 8001)

Essence was born of Luca Nichettoʼs desire to share the knowledge of processes of artisanal production that he inherited when he was just a young boy growing up in Venice. Every one of the objects in the collection makes reference to one of the tools the uninitiated never see, for the designer wanted to bring these to the fore and transform their function in the process.

The result of his efforts is a group of products in which the materials employed – glass, ceramic, wood and metal – are aligned with the designerʼs Venetian roots, thereby reflecting what has always characterized his approach to design: a constant dialogue with the people involved in the physical process of production.

Bosa is responsible for Essenceʼs ceramic parts and distribution and Venini to assist in the realization of glass elements.

The collection travels from Venice to Paris and London with the goal of showcasing the artisanal quality of a typically Italian product by making reference to its origins and the techniques used in its production.

At 5pm on 28th April, auction house Phillips de Pury & Company is staging its spring DESIGN sale in its London showroom. The sale focusses on rare and important pieces from celebrated 20th and 21st Century designers.

‘DESIGN’ auction, 28th April 2010, 5pm

PHILLIPS DE PURY & COMPANY

Howick Place, London SW1P 1BB (020 7318 4010)

Top: ‘Unique three-arm ceiling lamp’ by Serge Mouille (c.1955): estimate £70,000-100,000.

Above: ‘Mexique’ bookcase by Charlotte Perriand and Atelier Jean Prouvé (1953): estimate £80,000-140,000.

167 lots are offered in this curated sale, with estimates totaling £1,490,400 (low) and £2,137,900 (high). PAGE UPDATE: SALES TOTALED £1,822,075.

Above: ‘Totem’ floor lamp by Serge Mouille (c.1962): estimate £80,000-120,000.

A large collection of important midcentury French works by Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand, and Serge Mouille features alongside property from the apartment of Laurence and Patrick Seguin, Paris.

Above: ‘Willow’ sculpture by Harry Bertoia (c.1970): estimate £35,000-45,000.

Other significant works include designs by Ettore Sottsass, Harry Bertoia, Shiro Kuramata, and Atelier Van Lieshout.

Above: ‘Fisherman’s House’ by Atelier Van Lieshout (2000): estimate £35,000-55,000.

All lots can be viewed in person at Phillips de Pury from 21st-27th April 2010 or via their online catalogue.

Above: ‘Exceptional large wall light’ by Poul Henningsen for the Concert Hall, Scala Theater, Arhus, Denmark (1955): estimate £15,000-20,000.

All images courtesy of Phillips de Pury & Company.

This summer, Darkroom is going colourful with their latest in-store event, titled Into Africa. Kicking off in April, the showcase explores modernist interpretations of indigenous Africa textiles, jewellery and art.

INTO AFRICA, launches 22nd April 2010

DARKROOM

52 Lamb’s Conduit Street, London WC1N 3LL (020 7831 7244)

Darkroom owners Rhonda Drakeford and Lulu Roper-Calderbeck have handpicked a selection of designs and showpieces by various talented designers, which are displayed alongside pieces from Darkroom’s own collections.

Designs include a limited edition range of laptop and pouch bags by Harris Elliott, a range of hats made from vibrant Africa cotton by Noel Stewart, limited edition prints from David David’s archive of bold geometric patterns, jewellery pieces by Florian and Corrie Williamson, as well as a range of leather wallets in vibrant colours by menswear designer Kenneth MacKenzie of 6876.

Darkroom is also extending their self-designed ranges to include slouch bags, leather purses and sculptural cushions.

Successful Brighton design store The Lollipop Shoppe has opened its first London outlet within Old Spitalfields Market, selling a diverse portfolio of products from watches to furniture and cushions to lighting.

THE LOLLIPOP SHOPPE

10 Lamb Street, Old Spitalfields Market, London E1 6EA (020 7655 4540)

The product selection at this store tends to favour the quality design classics from big reputable brands such as Vitra, Knoll, Artek, Cassina, and Fritz Hansen.

The 150-square-metre space, arranged over two floors, has been designed by architects Found Associates. The interior has been stripped back to the original brickwork to reveal the Victorian pillars of Old Spitalfields Market.

While exposing the space’s former textures and characteristics, the architects have provided a contrast by installing slick black display units for the edited product selection.

In case you’re wondering about the shop name, it was chosen by the owners Marco and Siobhan Di Rienzo after the 1960s psychedelic garage rock band from Portland, Oregan.

EDITOR’S COMMENTS:

As is policy at LONDON DESIGN GUIDE, I turned up to this store unannounced and hopefully anonymous. My ‘hello-and-a-smile’ radar went on and was thankfully satisfied within seconds of arrival.

Immediate impressions of the space are favourable. Displays are clean and free from clutter as one would expect from a store that was only days old on my visit. Every product is displayed with exhibition-like emphasis which I felt was a bit uptight, particularly in a relatively small space. I would quite like to see more stock choices but I suspect this evolve as the owners grow into their new environment.

I felt rather disappointed that such a high proportion of the stock is comprised of design classics. Nobody questions the virtues of these timeless creations by the likes of Eames, Saarinen, Panton, Bertoia, Jacobsen, Kjaerholm et al. The only problem is London’s design retailers are already awash with the same offerings.

I certainly appreciate the aesthetic style they have opted for at The Lollipop Shoppe, but I can’t help thinking they could be more adventurous with the stock and introduce some items that are not sold elsewhere.

There was an objet on display that indicated that they may be open to such an approach. The laminated cast acrylic sculptures from Vasa Studio (pictured below) were a welcome addition, and I later found out that they are an exclusive to the store. Now we’re talking.