Aquariva by Marc Newson

Australian designer Marc Newson has designed a speed boat in collaboration with Officina Italiana Design for Italian boat brand Riva.
Called Aquariva by Marc Newson, the design is a reinterpretation of the Aquariva boat design that incorporates anodized aluminium and a textile-based laminate with the appearance of wood. The design will be available in an edition of 22 through Gagosian Gallery.

The London 2012 Olympic Torch Design

The East London-based design studio BarberOsgerby was chosen for the historic task through a competitive tender run by LOCOG and the Design Council.

The design, engineering and manufacture of the Torch celebrates the best of British talent, with the designers working in partnership with Basildon based product engineers Tecosim and Coventry based manufacturers The Premier Group. Together they have developed the prototypes on show today and the processes for the mass production of the Torches that will start later this year.

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London 2012 Olympic Torch  

The Torch, which stands 800mm high and weighs 800g is made up of four key pieces - an inner and an outer aluminium alloy skin perforated by 8,000 circles that are held in place by a cast top piece and base.

Representing the inspirational stories of the 8,000 Torchbearers who will carry the Olympic Flame, the circles which run the length of the body of the Torch also offer a unique level of transparency - allowing people to see right to the heart of the Torch and view the burner system which will keep the Olympic Flame alive. The circles also help ensure heat is quickly dissipated without being conducted down the handle and providing extra grip.

Responding to a call in the brief to recognise the fact that more than half of the London 2012 Torchbearers are expected to be young people aged between 12 and 24, several design features have been implemented to produce what will be one of the lighter Olympic Torches. Crafted from an aluminium alloy, developed for the aerospace and automotive industry that is lightweight whilst having good tensile strength and excellent heat resistance, the 8,000 circles also reduce the weight of the final design whilst ensuring strength isn't compromised.

The torch will be carried by 8,000 inspirational Torchbearers on a 70-day Olympic Torch Relay, which will take the Olympic Flame on an 8,000 mile journey across the UK next summer. From the start point of the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay at Land's End on 19 May 2012 an average of 110 people a day will take centre stage by carrying the Olympic Flame on its journey around the UK before it arrives at the Olympic Stadium on 27 July 2012 for the lighting of the cauldron at the Opening Ceremony, signifying the start of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

"This is a great example of how government procurement and design can come together - not just to create a beautiful, iconic example of design excellence, but to provide real business opportunities and to show the world that Britain is a leader in design-led innovation and manufacturing," said David Kester, Chief Executive of the Design Council. "I am sure the whole of the UK design industry will join us in congratulating Barber Osgerby on what is a huge achievement."

'dressed' collection by marcel wanders for alessi

asked about whether the form and aesthetics of the pieces or their functional needs were the starting point for his design process,
wanders underscores the interconnectedness of the two. 'function is not the reason we love things,' he reflects: 'function is where
we start. [but] decorations play a role in understanding the object' and so the engravings and delicate profiles of the 'dressed'
collection, for example, are designed to suggest the objects' use in more ceremonial, special occasions.

in fact most of wanders's design process involves writing and conceptualizing, not sketching. only after developing the ideas
and design elements that he wants to include in a piece does he go to his studio to make drawings, seeing the object for the first time.


part of the 'dressed' collection by marcel wanders for alessi
image © marcel wanders



additional pieces from the 'dressed collection'
image © marcel wanders



close view of mug, saucer, and spoon
image © marcel wanders

marcel wanders:

'as a kid, I loved making gifts: finding the right thing, packaging them... and by doing so I learned that a good gift
has two very important qualities. one is that when you open it, and you see what you got, you think, 'of course;
I didn't even know that I needed this, but this is so [perfect for] me; this is something I would love to have.'
the other [thought] that happens at the same time is, 'oh yes, of course, this is something I can only get from this person.'
so in fact a good gift celebrates the relationship between two people: celebrates the relationship between someone
who gives something and someone who receives something. design for me is the same thing. in all the products
you have both parts, and they work together.'

full view of the silverware pieces
image courtesy of alessi



full view of the silver tray
image courtesy of alessi

closing up the conversation, wanders admits that one of his creative dreams is to design a mosque.
asked what would be inside, he responds:

'there would be people inside! objects have a story; they speak, and I think we all in our own way
are sensitive to their words. and that's a beautiful thing about design: it speaks about the normal things
in life. so you find it everywhere; everybody relates to it.

I think design is able to show the identity of people, but also how people can live together, share together;
how people can be brought together without problems. it's able to speak about life in a really simple and nearby way,
and therefore to pour a different light on things like different cultures who have blended together.  

I think it is important that design plays that role, that [designers] are able to show our respect for people by what we do.'

marcel wanders at alessi during new york design week 2011

New AOL Office at Palo Alto by Studio O+A

AOL launched a company-wide initiative to adapt to changes in online culture-which the company had been instrumental in creating in the first place. As part of this effort, AOL moved its West Coast headquarters to a new corporate space in Palo Alto and brought in Studio O+A to give the office a fresh design.




The existing space retained a distinctly 1980s corporate aesthetic: drop ceilings hanging over every office, high cubicles separating employees into tightly defined workstations, dark finishes, and oblique lines. O+A restored the space to a clean, white canvas-exposing the ceilings, stripping the walls to reveal the structure, and generally creating a spatial equivalent to the transparency that AOL was bringing to every aspect of its business.







Key to this approach is the concept of "honest materiality" - the embrace of materials and processes that originate in the construction industry and that increasingly provide the finish motifs for modern workplace design. At AOL, for example, oriented strand board (OSB), typically used by contractors to separate spaces on construction sites, was sanded, shaped, and finished to serve as a contemporary accent throughout the complex. Exposed ceilings, concrete floors, expansive sightlines, and modern furniture all contribute to the industrial look. The result is a space that communicates what it is made of and how it was built.

In keeping with this theme of transparency, O+A's floor plan emphasizes collaborative space-a change from segregated private offices to open workstations and the collegiality of shared environments. Two features of the AOL design highlight this concept. The first is a series of circular pods positioned throughout the main work areas as impromptu meeting rooms. Constructed of OSB and translucent fiberglass, these cozy silos provide a space for informal collaboration and spontaneous creativity. To encourage that spontaneity, the pods are open to all employees and cannot be reserved.







An even more prominent feature is the large, bright, collaborative space AOL has dubbed the Town Hall. Part kitchen, part play space, part kick-back area, the Town Hall also functions as an all-hands common area (Ariana Huffington spoke there when AOL acquired the Huffington Post), modeled after late-night eateries in San Francisco's Mission District. The kitchen's bench-seating, ample light, and bursts of color against a white palette go well with the game and relaxation area. Centrally located to bring together staff from departments that might not otherwise interact, the Town Hall is designed to foster the kind of creative cross-pollination for which tech companies like AOL are renowned.




And then there are graphics. AOL's new logo-the company's initials in a simple white font-can be placed effectively on any colorful background. Those playful backgrounds vary throughout the headquarters and include both abstract patterns and imagery drawn from nature and pop culture. All wall coverings in the space are custom designed.



The design embodies the elements of the new AOL-transparency, collaboration, creativity, and playfulness-to create a stimulating environment for the firm's staff.

Photos: Jasper Sanidad

Bluarch Designs New York's Omonia Bakery

Designed by Antonio Di Oronzo, principal of bluarch, Omonia Bakery is a brand new project for the family that behind the renowned Omonia brand famous for its Greek pastries. It sells pastries and breads prepared on premises in the see-through kitchen.




The design of this store celebrates indulgence, the suspension of one's everyday grind through the consumption of a sweet delight. The space is soft, warm, sexy and decadent... as chocolate.

Much like the physiognomy of a pastry, the design offers the exciting anticipation of a pastry in-fieri... the liquid concoction, the minced ingredients. The space shifts organically with the narrative of flavors as patrons taste the succulent delicacies.





The main feature of the 1,000SF interior space is a fluid surface, which covers the ceiling and the side walls to different heights. This surface warps in bubbles and negotiates a system of 6-inch tubular incandescent light bulbs and an arrangement of red cedar wood spheres. The epoxy flooring continues to the walls via filleted corners. A shelf and LED strips navigate the transition with the chocolate surface.



The kitchen is exhibited to the public, as it sits simply within a tempered glass box. Therefore, the exquisite level of craftsmanship of the project - with its unforgiving alignments and complex details - is paralleled with the refined artisanship of Omonia's pastries.

Swatch Air Tube Watch by Laurence Dawes

Swatch has built a reputation on creating ultra-simple, trend setting watches – offering literally thousands of designs to suit everybody. This Swatch looks at moving the company's brand into the future by modernizing its range of digital watches. Based on air tube you find in most bicycle pumps, it juxtaposes two existing products in a contemporary fashion to create a very sleek and minimal bracelet watch – aligning itself with a current trend in wristband fashion.





Designer: Laurence Dawes

Moonboot Watches

Uber Hi-tech And Just For Women Too

The stereotypical hi-tech watch is a very masculine item but the "i/o" concept emphasizes the watch as a fashion accessory for women. It's designed like a cuff bracelet with a hidden digital clock. Its body features a glossy mirror surface finish that only allows light through from underneath. When not in use it shows just a dot. After touching the dot, the time magically appears!




Designer:Robin Bigio - Oliviero Zanon

HUG CHAIR

The "HUG CHAIR" is an exclusive furniture design which combines the original spiral shape and the values of a hug.
A unique uni-body circular structure connects both seats together allowing two people to sit face-to-face and thus creating an immediate intimate interaction.Through this physical connection, you feel socially and emotionally connected with the person sitting on the other side. The upper "half-pipe" which bends above the heads creates a highway of thoughts and a chain of emotions. In this way you are interconnected in the same circle and the focus is always on the other person, exactly what a hug is about.
The Hug Chair is a unique eye catching design with high comfort factor, contemporary features, emotional appearance, practicability, durability and sustainable quality. Its face-to-face interaction allows you to break away instantly from the crowd. The exceptional shape of the Hug Chair creates, even in large and crowded rooms or halls, an immediate, safe and intimate ambience for those who desire space for a private moment.
Foremost, the chair is a beautiful masterpiece. Its remarkable aesthetics make it a desired item. Consumers are not simply buying a chair. They are buying a statement where design and intimacy come together.

Infinity Bath by Aleksander Mukomelov

The Infinity Bath by designer Aleksander Mukomelov takes spa bathrooms to a whole new level. Not only does it resemble a tulip, but it is sleek and modern, while also being perfect for a relaxing candle-lit bubble bath.
It is designed with a remote control system and a mini-computer mounted on the side panel through which can easily adjust the water temperature, feed rate, modes of hydro-massage jets, select music, choose oil or perfume for aromatherapy. Remote connected to the Internet and intelligent home system, through which you can pre-enable the desired mode.
According to the designer, this bathtub is equipped with a mini-computer control system of innovation to this never used in the bathrooms – the system consists of a removable cartridge with the various components (components may vary from pine oils to sea salt, or perfume), cartridges may be purchased in specialty stores with products for bath.
The future is now, people. Get this into production!