Ladies & Gentleman Studio forgo Black Friday for charitable alternative
(USA) - Ladies & Gentleman Studio to donate 50% of proceeds to three charities.
Half of the proceeds from sales of Lightscape Candle Light and Vignette Jewellery Collection will go towards three chosen organisations. The studio says: "In a year of so many moments of reflection, re-evaluation, and questioning reality, it only seems appropriate to approach this holiday season with a critical sense of creative reinvention. As the world shifts under our feet, our habits should as well.
"Instead of another year of Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday or whatever new angle marketing departments dream up to uphold an unsustainable cycle, we’re devoting ourselves to a more genuine cycle of giving that’s straightforward but intentional and meaningful. Our belief is that by doing this in a small way, we can create a ripple of impact instead of contributing to a destructive pattern of discounting to prop up more consumption.
"With the intention of giving our thanks, we decided from 26 November - 20 December, we will share half of the proceeds from all sales of Lightscape Candle Light and our Vignette Jewelry Collection, which will be donated to Soul Fire Farms, Heart of Dinner and Send Chinatown Love - three marvellous organisations we deeply believe in.
"These collections and all our products are responsibly made in the US and designed to be seasonless. Give them thoughtfully and help us support these amazing causes while we collectively advocate for a better-designed world year-round!"
Salone del Mobile.Milano announces new dates
(Italy) - Salone del Mobile.Milano 2021 will be held in September 2021.
The 60th edition of the Salone event will be held in 2021, not in April as is traditional, but from 5 - 10 September.
President of the Salone del Mobile, Claudio Luti, comments: “Being able to hold the Salone next year is an absolute priority for all those of us whose lives revolve around design. We have tried very hard over the last few weeks not to make proclamations or announcements that might subsequently have to be denied or revised in view of the evolving situation. Moving the dates of the Salone del Mobile is not just a matter of rejigging the calendar, it also has to consider the many days needed to set up and dismantle the various pavilions, which in turn have to fit in with the demands of many other fairs held in the Fiera Milano spaces. Now that we have achieved the best possible all-round solution, thanks to the collaboration of Fiera Milano, we are in a position to confirm the new date.
"We also believe that moving the fair to September will leave enough time for the ongoing acute phase of the pandemic to subside and that this will provide a real chance to kickstart design at global level. We all need the Salone in Milan. Over the last few months, clients and designers from all over the world, and the press that follows us at international level, have been asking us constantly to confirm the dates for this edition. We’ll be there, and we’ll be even more attractive and more motivated, just as motivated as the companies working to design and manufacture the best possible products. After such a lengthy period of physical and social distancing in every sphere, we would like to be able to see the Salone as an opportunity for actual meeting and discussion, and a chance for us all to share our excitement with a city buzzing with new ideas."
Kuulas - Cameron Design House
Exploring a fusion of sculpture and light, the Kuulas chandelier is the latest addition to London-based bespoke lighting company Cameron Design House’s collection of designs.
The piece was born from a vision by Creative Director Ian Cameron, who wanted to celebrate a union of glass, brass and light. “I have always enjoyed mixing materials together to create something truly special,” Cameron tells darc. “The Kuulas is a sculptural showcase of glass, metal and light working in synergy together.”
Cameron’s focus was to create a statement piece inspired by sculpture. He wanted the piece to look beautiful and dramatic whether on or off.
“The striking nature of this design draws attention in any space,” he continues. “We always say to our clients how important it is to consider the space first before choosing a piece. The Kuulas chandelier lends itself well to spaces with high ceilings, whether it be installed as a centrepiece in a beautiful entrance hall, or hung above a bar in an entertaining area, the Kuulas is bound to make a statement.”
The majority of Cameron Design House’s designs are made at its St John’s Wood studio, however the glass pearls are handblown by a team of artisans in the Czech Republic. Once the glass arrives in the Cameron Design House workshop, Cameron and his team of craftspeople work together to bring each piece to life.
Cameron Design House originally launched the piece around a year ago during London Design Festival in one configuration. However, the studio has now evolved the design into three different size variations; the Kuulas is now available with 25, 55 or 110 glass pearls.
The glass pearls are available in a curated selection of 14 colour finishes, including slate, cashmere, powder green, electric blue and plum, among others. Each glass pearl is individually handblown by artisans to the required size in the client’s chosen finish. Due to the handmade nature of manufacturing used to make these glass pearls, the colour varies depending on the sizing and illumination.
Coordinates - Flos
A dramatic lighting collection originally designed by Michael Anastassiades for New York’s legendary Four Seasons restaurant, Coordinates features a series of interlocking linear LED luminaires that take their formal inspiration from the mathematical precision of the Cartesian grid, illuminated and expanded to three brilliant dimensions.
Coordinates comes in a broad array of set configurations, including four suspended chandeliers of different sizes and three ceiling-mounted luminaires, available in two lengths to suit both standard and high ceilings. The collection also features a repeatable module that can be suspended or ceiling-mounted, ideally suited to impressive, large-scale installations as often featured in contract projects.
The range is completed by a vertical floor lamp model featuring a simple round base and two lighting bars, which can be set at the preferred beam angle during assembly.
Coordinates is made from extruded aluminium with a sophisticated anodised champagne finish, and an opal-white platinic silicone diffuser. Exact, elegant, and easily adaptable, this collection offers a flexible yet formally rigorous solution for a diverse range of indoor environments, providing maximum impact with a minimal touch.
“Coordinates is a lighting system consisting of horizontal and vertical strip lights that form illuminated grid-like structures of various complexities. The system can be easily adapted for different environments of varying scale,” says Michael Anastassiades.
“This design evolved from a commission for the feature lighting of the main dining area at New York City’s historic Four Seasons restaurant, which relocated and reopened in 2018 with the interiors designed by São Paolo-based architect Isay Weinfeld.
“In addition to the bespoke solutions, the Coordinates standard collection includes a series of pared down configurations of chandeliers that can be used in any setting.
“Something I like to explore in a lot of my Flos products, which started with String Lights, is that sense of the gesture of handing creativity back to the user. In the Coordinates, it’s this idea that you can actually create all these compositions by combining different elements and creating larger units that suit your own needs. This is what people like; the opportunity to personalise something to make it theirs.”
Tacoma - Astro Lighting
Consistent with Astro’s creative ethos – that good design demands simplicity – the latest AW20 collection delivers a curated selection of captivating luminaires.
Using innovative materials to convey light seamlessly within a space, the new collection celebrates UK design and Astro’s craftsmanship, blending precise and delicate detailing with desirable metallic finishes in a collection that is carefully considered and perfectly proportioned.
Tacoma, the latest design to launch as part of AW20, leads the British name in a more decorative direction. Taking inspiration from gothic-style architecture Tacoma, marries ribbed glass globes and a statuesque metal stem to deliver a dramatic wash of light within both contemporary and traditional settings.
Senior Designer Riley Sanders discusses the inspiration behind the Tacoma and his design influences with darc.
“When approaching new designs, myself and James our Design Director, take influence from the world around us, creating products we truly admire and would have in our own homes. With Tacoma, it was an opportunity to explore the playful nature of light and how it can create mood through the use of materials,” he says. “A balance of proportions, I focused heavily on the development of the glass, looking at caustics and the shadows each shade created to achieve equilibrium between decorative shadow and functional light. A hugely versatile design, Tacoma has a distinct mid-century influence characterised by its majestic metallic structure that stands proud within any space.”
Standard product development processes typically last around 12 months at Astro, from the preliminary brief to the concept stage to its final launch. Sanders’ explains further how the development evolved with Tacoma: “The process felt seamless. It was a design that organically came together in just three months and one that felt instantly established.
“However, often the simplest of designs can be the most difficult to achieve, so having a good understanding of the manufacturing and engineering processes is key in knowing if, and how a design can be achieved. With Tacoma, it was working with our talented glassblowers, having a solid understanding of the technique, and working closely with them to achieve the perfect aesthetics of the ribbed glass. It was a process of refinement, which could have impacted the timing of the product’s production, but we wanted to achieve well-defined scalloping of the glass while ensuring it created the perfect light pattern across the wall.
“At Astro, there is thoughtful design within every detail, and this is certainly reflected in the Tacoma. Soft edges and a crisp, well-defined corner radius give the range its unique aluminium die-cast body, a characteristic that can only be achieved through quality diecasting.”
The IP44 rated Tacoma is available on a variety of finishes including matt black, antique brass, and polished chrome. There is also an assortment of mouthblown glass finishes to choose from, including plain white, clear, ribbed, and smoked glass, to give the product modernity and versatility.
A conscious choice was made to use replaceable G9 LEDs to ensure the product has longevity. Should the light source fail, there is the option to replace the LED light source so the product lasts for many more years.
Sanders’ adds: “For me, Tacoma encapsulates visual elegance and modern engineering in a beautiful and certainly timeless design.
“Replaceable LED lamps continue to improve greatly in efficiency since they first arrived on the market and as a business, we have a particular focus on refining the electrical components used within all products, so they have a more efficient and extended lifetime,” says Sanders.
“We initially created Tacoma for hospitality and high-end residential bathrooms. However, throughout the development process, we quickly realised that the magic of Tacoma is its ability to sit comfortably within a variety of settings. Whether adorning a hotel guest room, reception area, dining space, or powder room, its combination of finishes and majestic stature make it a complementary icon within any space.
“When I consider the core elements of Tacoma’s design, the idea of a textured glass globe isn’t new, but Tacoma is a unique interpretation of a decorative wall light that elevates a classic design for the modern-day. Its presence has a timeless simplicity, retaining Astro’s distinctive charm and quality engineering in a beautiful and enduring design.”
Tekna - Kembleford Collection
Tekna's Kembleford collection has been expanded to create a full family of fixtures that bring a modern yet classic addition to the company's portfolio.
Belgium-based lighting manufacturer Tekna has expanded The Kembleford fixture, designed by Kevin De Koning, into a full family collection that includes a pendant, ceiling, wall fixture and table version that is due to come to the market soon. The Kembleford collection is a new, modern and more bold addition to Tekna’s lighting range but still holds true to the manufacturer's firmly held core values and materials seen in previous lines.
De Koning sat down with darc to discuss the design process and inspiration behind the collection. “The inspiration came partly from another of our fixtures, the Mercer. What inspired me was the way the light reflected from all the individual glass rods. I knew that I wanted to use this effect and started sketching until the Kembleford came to be. The design feels both new and familiar at the same time,” says the in-house designer.
Speaking of the concept behind the Kembleford collection, De Koning adds how he likes the “contrast between heavy and light” and was keen to use this in the design. “The main body of the pendant is constructed from a special glass tube. On each end are two brass caps. Instead of using stamped sheet metal for these caps, we had solid brass blocks machined,” he says. “This, combined with the glass, gives everything a qualitative, sturdy but also heavy look and feel. This was exactly what I wanted. To contrast the visual weight, I used thin hoops of brass in the middle that look very delicate.”
In order to create a seamless design, one of the main challenges De Koning faced was finding a way to hide all of the securing elements, such as screws and bolts.
“Everything would be a thousand times easier if they were visible. But not having any visible bolts makes the fixture look a million times better,” he says. “It’s this extra effort and attention to detail that I put in my designs that makes them impressive, both far away and close up.
“The materials used are mainly glass and brass. We work with skilled craftsmen and women that have been working with brass their whole lives. They have a passion that they put in their work and in many ways this passion can be felt in the finished piece. This is why I will always choose brass over any plastic.
“I would say the combination of glass and brass is a successful one. Both these materials work together nicely, they stand for quality and are made to last. Along the way, the design changed very little. Refinements were added but the fixture never strayed too much from the original sketch. Very often in cars the finished product only faintly resembles the original concept. Much of the magic gets lost when the concept has completed its journey to a production model – but not here. Design comes first; if a problem has to be solved, it is solved in a way that doesn’t affect the design. When it comes to technology, we have kept it simple. We design our lights to be timeless. By adding unnecessary technology, it would date this fixture enormously, think about how it would be 20 years from now? By keeping it simple we can ensure this fixture ages gracefully.”
Upon reflection, De Koning describes working with light as both “the single most difficult thing and the most rewarding thing I have ever done”.
“The Kembleford brings class, quality, elegance and of course a beautiful light to any room. It’s not out of place over a dining table, a desk or perhaps even a grand piano. But really the possibilities are limitless.
“Much of what makes this pendant light special is in the smallest of details you can only fully appreciate in real life.”
Last Order - Flos
Last Order is Flos’ latest product - a small, rechargable, cordless table lamp designed by Michael Anastassiades. The indoor version is available with a satin copper or brass top, and the outdoor version comes with a polished stainless steel or green opal top. Last Order was originally designed by Anastassiades for the tables in the Four Seasons restaurant in New York and is now part of Flos’ decorative collection.
Apex - Neoz
The body of Apex is precision-milled solid brass or aluminium alloy and joined via a clear acrylic machined tube to an internal injection moulded form. It features Neoz’s tried and tested cordless lamp control unit with a commercial-ready recharging docking system. The lamps are fitted with custom-made slim profile disc LEDs to provide dimmable 2600K, 94+ CRI, 100 Lumens and illumination, and are designed to give a direct, glare-free downlight and soft glow on the internal metallic cone. “The Apex cordless lamp has been designed to provide warm ambient task lighting for hospitality and home environments. Its compact size is important for restaurant tables where space is at a premium and the lamp is the central source of illumination,” explain designers Peter Ellis and Gabriel Tam.
Task - Faro
Task is an outdoor portable light with LED technology. It has a fun design that is reminiscent of a mushroom and has a leather handle to facilitate its transportation. The light, which is projected indirectly, is warm and can be regulated in three intensities. As it is portable, it is recharged with a mini USB cable.
Hazel - J. Adams & Co.
Originally in the form of a pendant, the Hazel floor lamp now comes as a portable LED light source. Inspired by a traditional candlelit lantern, the Hazel is made in brass by hand by a team of craftspeople at its factory based in Birmingham. It has a lithium ion battery, USB charging port, touch control, and warm white LED module. In combination with the traditional making techniques that the team use, they utilised their CNC milling machines to create the aluminium heatsink and housings for the light source and battery. As well as the clear glass version, a reeded glass and a frosted glass version are available.
Luna Take Away - In-es.artdesign
Luna Take Away is a fun yet elegant product featuring a carry handle, available in different colours (white, silver, gold, bronze, magenta, blue, orange, red, and turquoise). This rechargeable battery-powered lamp may be carried around either indoors or outdoors and has three different brightness settings. Luna Take Away is made from a material called Nebulite by the designer, which is a mix of resin and fibers, created to resemble the moon and its infinite mysteries by reproducing its luminescent and irregular surface.
The lamp resembles a miniature moon (35cm diameter), and with its romantic allure means it is perfect for creating a poetic and romantic atmosphere.
Etat-des-Lieux - Studio d'Armes
Designed by Alexandre Joncas and Gildas Le Bars in their Canadian-based Studio d’Armes, Etat-des-Lieux is a playful new product for interior architects and designers that allows them to create an infinite variety of configurations by playing with geometry and tension.
“The intentions behind État-des-Lieux is an unconventional and timeless product that can be used as a tool for designers and architects to convey their own personalised skills and solutions. It had to be a modular system that could be configured and modified to adapt to any space,” explains the design duo.
“Etat-des-Lieux is the only lighting system that we know of to feature a wide, flexible, conductive cable. Elegantly finished in matte black, the cable's flexibility enables the spatial designer to create an infinite variety of configurations by playing with geometry and tension.”
They continue: “The design process started around the idea of a strap that would serve as a conductor but also as the suspension system, which presented in itself many challenges with the extrusion uniformity. The solution laid by pushing the boundaries of process making and by finding just the right amount of tension for the size of the extrusion with our sight set on functionality and aesthetics.”
Each component has been designed and crafted in the studio, with the wide conductive strap at its core. “[The strap] supports the light modules while supplying them with power, but above all, it allows Etat-des-Lieux to be configured according to the demands of any space it inhabits.
“The glass globe, handblown in Québec into a hand-carved mould, is inspired by the scenic mountains and their reflections in nearby waters.”
The globes are available in clear or frosted finishes and in four colours: transparent, pink, grey and amber, and house the light module made of anodised aluminium and frosted glass.
“The light module is totally versatile: light direction, light temperature (from 2700K to 4000K), lumens and dim-to-warm can be configured. The shape of the glass globe was conceived with geometry on a rotating axis following a pulse line, which gives an organic impression of mountains mirrored on a lake. It is with an automated process of working the scientific glass and working closely with local artisans that we found precision solutions. All the components have been designed and tailored to fit one another to create not only a harmonious device but also an efficient assembly line.
“Etat-des-Lieux can be repaired and adapted to another space by easily replacing or adding components as most of it is locally made with durable materials.”
The fixture, taking 20 months to complete its design journey, is an avant-garde and timeless product that, as described by Joncas and Le Bars, is a “polyvalent” light that brings “fascination and innovation” together. “État-des-Lieux really embodies the view we wanted to share by bringing quality of light and where components were individually developed with versatility in mind. Thus, resulting in an almost organically organised assembly giving way to an efficient system allowing all contributors to express their craft throughout the delivery of the end result: a light emitting object fixed in space.”
Alexandre Joncas and Gildas Le Bars set up their design studio in Canada to create enigmatic and modern light structures with a singular poetic approach. Nestled in the lush landscape of Canada’s mountains, d’Armes boasts a tight-knit team of professionals, designers and craftspeople thoughtfully weaving in tandem refined, distinct and timeless designs. Extensive research, fine engineering and experimentation in materiality, tension, light and space deliver illuminated sculptural pieces featuring disparate elements that inspire unique emotional responses.
