Showtime
The sun is out and so is school, which means it's the time of the year when we can feast our eyes on new works from design school graduates, whose boundless enthusiasm and endless creativity is always a joy to see. Here is our selection of what inspired us most.
Desks are usually flat and boring, but not the Ripple desk from Nottingham Trent University graduate Molly McDowell. The ripple details of the desk are not only decorative but also functional, the grooves being perfect resting places for desktop detritus such as pens and paperclips. The walnut and ash table also incorporates a writing pad in Corian, which adds a touch of luxury to this very well crafted table.
The young designers at Kingston University presented a number of eye-catching furniture pieces, including this stool-cum-storage-bin by Georgia Risley. Inspired by the process of bead rolling, the colourful stool resembles mutant oil drums and would make a wonderful addition to an industrial or quirky style interior.
Korean designer Jihyeon Hwang, another Kingston University graduate, designed Ambiguous, a coffee table with a metal frame and glass top. Fitted inside the box-like table are six unusually shaped upholstered foam cushions which can be used as a headrest, book stand or even as a floor seat. Versatile, fun and perfectly in tune with the multifunctional way we use our living rooms these days.
London-based Spanish ceramicist Elena Gomez Valcarcel focuses on the emotional links created by the interactions with products. A recent graduate of Central St Martins, her Familia series of colourful ceramic containers are designed to encourage children to express their emotions. Each set of the different animal-shaped containers comes in multiple units, each painted with a different face showing a different emotion, such as happy, angry or sad. Children are encouraged to mix and match the different units to create their unique animals which show how they feel.
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Product Inspiration
We love new ideas and surprising designs in furniture, such as the Luna cabinet from Coedition, the Toadstool sofa from Missana and the Fingers rug from Seletti.
Lighting can be unexpected and creative too, just look at the Maman suspension light from Seletti, the Twee T. suspension light from Casamania and the Moto wall light from Moustache.
Surprising and slightly surreal accessories are wonderful gift ideas. Try the Donut necklace from Tadam, the Concrete Cloud toilet paper shelf from Lyon Beton and the App wall hanger from Incipit.
