Main photo: DesignK's "Tea for one", bottom left: Morie Nishimura's "A quiet celebration"
With so many designers showing at Tent London, it was hard not to feel numb after hours of wandering around. Eco and handcrafted designs are the key trends now, so it seems that the boundary between craft and design is diminishing more than ever. At the show, there were some designs that were more memorable than others and here are some of my favourites:
DesignK - the UK based Korean designer just launched "Tea for one" table, inspired by the English afternoon tea time. Handcrafted with a ceramic plate and leather trimming, this cute table will bring smiles to all those solo dwellers who prefer to drink tea/ coffee alone!
Morie Nishimura - I am not a trend follower and at times I like products that have a nostalgic quality to them. I met Nishimura at Design Tide in Tokyo last year and I thought his range of "Furniture of Prayer" were intriguing and refreshing ( click here for my previous entry on his work). At Tent, he showed his "A Quiet Celebration" range of hinged brass mirrors and they left quite a strong impression on me. I like the simple, unpolished and 'old-fashioned' quality about them, their essence really match the title!
Left: Studio Inbetween, right: Tre:Form
Studio Inbetween- The eco-conscious "One Piece of Lamp", by Helsinki-based Korean designer Kiseung Lee attracted a lot of attention at both Tent and 100% design. It is light, flexible and can be flat-packed. I would love to see this being manufactured and available in stores soon.
Left to right: Huzi design, W & Q, Laszlo Tompa's Cube illusion
Huzi design - This Hong Kong-based company collaborates with international and local designers to create objects for children. Slightly pricey but interesting.
W & Q - The colourful and graphical bamboo handicrafts are designed by two Chinese designer/artist who studied in London. By merging new ideas with traditional techniques and materials gave birth to a range of contemporary and sustainable designs that we can all appreciate.
Laszlo Tompa - This Hungarian designer's range of wooden flower lamps are really beautiful but I also love her sculptural Cube illusion storage boxes. They remind me of simple wooden handicrafts from the past... very unusual!
Left: Orée's wooden keyboard, right: Koodform's "Curiosity table"
Orée - If I was asked what present to receive for this X'mas, I would go for this beautiful wireless wooden keyboard designed by the French brand, Orée. Simplicity at its best!
Koodform - Daniella Koós' "Curiosity tables" have seven different-sized compartments and four partitions. I think they are very functional and for someone who is always needing storage space but dislike clutter, this table would be perfect.
