Core77

Luxury Design as Theater and Digital Craft at the 2016 New York Design Week Satellite Shows

By Core Jr - May 24, 2016

View of Collective Influence: Nendo at Collective Design Each year, Collective highlights the career and work of a single designer or studio. This year, Tokyo-based nendo is front and center with an installation of lighting and cabinets located in the entrance to the fair. The exhibit highlights the studio's iterative process with several dozen variations of cabinets that translate a sense of movement through an abstract notation of the way drawers swing open and close. Core77 1 of 65

CW&T and A/D/O present Roto-Jam at Collective Design Art and design studio CW&T was on site, working on their process piece, Roto-Jam. Their material exploration has led them to a process of particle jamming, to produce thin-shelled casts out of re-usable, dynamic molds. Core77 2 of 65

Danh Circled the World by Austin Swick at Collective Design This sinuous bench made of solid white oak was shown as part of an exhibition put on by Cranbrook Academy of Art's 3D design department, entitled Fine Design for the End of the World. Each student responded to apocalyptic ideas in a series of critical, reflective design objects. The form is inspired by the mythology of snake-god Danh, who circled the world like a belt "binding it and preventing it from flying apart in splinters." Core77 3 of 65

Drift Sofa by Fernando Mastrangelo Studio at Collective Design The Brooklyn-based designer has extended his Drift series with this sand and cement sofa, upholstered in silk velvet. Core77 4 of 65

Ian Stell at Patrick Parrish Gallery's booth during Collective Design Ian Stell is showcasing the latest works in his spellbinding series of transforming pieces, painstakingly crafted out of wood and brass pivots. The latest evolution of the work features the use of color laminate, a move that further complicates the way we read the surface of each piece as it contracts and expands in its various incarnations. Core77 5 of 65

Studio Proba x Bower for Sight Unseen at Collective Design Studio Proba and Bower teamed up to explore forms, materials, textures, and colors in an immersive, multi-sensory exhibit. With recurring themes of water and reflection, the collection included their Nirvana rug, Waterline chair, Water mirrors, and the ever-present tranquil sounds of the Pivot fountain. Core77 6 of 65

Chris Wolston for Sight Unseen at Collective Design The Brooklyn and Medellín-based designer expands on his trademark technique of aluminum sand-casting in this new collection, shown against a bespoke wallpaper he collaborated on with Designtex. Wolston applies the technique to aluminum foam sheeting most commonly found in architectural sound-proofing to create a discordant collection of tables, lighting, seating and tabletop objects. Core77 7 of 65

Fort Standard booth at Collective Design The Brooklyn-based studio showed their latest collection, Qualities of Materials. Instead of pursuing new materials, the duo decided to experiment with the most traditional, natural materials—wood, stone and leather—and find new structural and expressive potentials within them. The collection includes a chair made of layered and rolled leather, a dining table and bench set made up of hundreds of thin maple wood slats assembled into structural triangular tubes, and a stone cabinet. Core77 8 of 65

Material samples at Fort Standard's booth at Collective Design Core77 9 of 65

Lamp Show at the 99¢ Plus Gallery booth at Collective Design An exhibition of objects made by over 30 contemporary artists and designers. Ranging from "designed," functional works to conceptual explorations of the function of light, the show aimed to provide a platform for designers and artists to expand their practice and challenge definitions of art, design, and functionality. Core77 10 of 65

Jack Craig for Johnson Trading Gallery at Collective Design The Detroit-based designer showed new pieces in his bronze and concrete series, created by spontaneously covering a concrete armature with bronze splatters. Core77 11 of 65

View of Jen Lewin's The Pool installation at the Design Pavilion in Astor Square The inaugural Design Pavilion aimed to bring the power of design to the masses through curated exhibitions and daily programming. Lewin's installation featured a "pool" created out of concentric circles that were programmed to light up and interact with users as they stepped on them. Core77 12 of 65

View of American Design Club's Growth Exhibition at Design Pavilion Housed in a tent with greenhouse vibes, AmDC showcased over 50 designs and prototypes submitted to their open call for functional objects that promote and sustain growth. The resulting show brought together a lot of young, up-and-coming designers with very different takes on the typical planter. Between sculptural air plant holders, zen garden arrangements and modular wall-hanging pieces, we noticed a trend of organic shaped vessels—playing nicely with the concept of natural versus man-made. Core77 13 of 65

Display at American Design Club's Growth Exhibition at Design Pavilion Core77 14 of 65

Display at American Design Club's Growth Exhibition at Design Pavilion Core77 15 of 65

Ecovative at Design Pavilion Ecovative showcased various designs for acoustic panels using their signature MycoBoard material, an engineered wood made out of mycelium. The distinctive Wall Flower module really exemplified the material's ability to be molded into a wide variety of shapes. Each "flower" shape absorbs sound by funneling it toward the cork center. Core77 16 of 65

BKLYN Designs 2016 BKLYN Designs, a design fair dedicated to local Brooklyn designers, took place May 6-8 at the Brooklyn Expo Center Core77 17 of 65

David Rockwell at BKLYN Designs The event space is filled with exhibitor booths along with plenty of fun installations and pop-ups—this playspace by David Rockwell is soft and modular, and is meant to encourage children to take part in "unstructured free play" and inspire their inner architect. Core77 18 of 65

Talbot & Yoon at BKLYN Designs Plenty of ambitious works by small design teams are sprinkled within the show, like this complex modular vase above, made by Talbot & Yoon, which was casted from concrete and resin to give an almost leather-like consistency. Core77 19 of 65

Peg Woodworking at BKLYN Designs A nice curved bench by Peg Woodworking made out of woven rope and wood. Core77 20 of 65

Den of Thieves at BKLYN Designs These beautiful, all-natural cutting boards by Den of Thieves are made using different wood species from Africa—the studio also makes knives built using exotic woods and damascus steel. Core77 21 of 65

Come Out to the Coast for BKLYN Designs These planters by designer Serena Chang for her studio Come Out to the Coast are made by creating a mold of plastic wrap and styrofoam, which are are then filled and casted using gypsum concrete and resin. Core77 22 of 65

Come Out to the Coast for BKLYN Designs In person, the styrofoam planters are uncannily similar to the original material while the bubble planters remind me of a comfy down blanket. Core77 23 of 65

Sawkill Lumber x Louis Lim for BKLYN Designs Reclaimed wood company Sawkill Lumber Co. teamed up this year with designer Louis Lim to create this awesome "Rocking PacMan" furniture work, made from reclaimed white oak wooden barrels sourced from an old distillery in Queens. Core77 24 of 65

Sawkill at BKLYN Designs Designer Lim utilized building techniques similar to traditional boat builders to create the piece. Core77 25 of 65

Smash Industries x Legion Lighting for BKLYN Designs A Brooklyn design event wouldn't be complete without an homage to the city's Style Wars! These lighting pieces are all handmade, one-of-a-kind works customized by Brooklyn artists for Smash Industries and Legion Lighting. Core77 26 of 65

Robert Wilson for Hermès Home The American theater director Robert Wilson collaborated with Hermès Home for a theatrical presentation during New York Design Week. Like much of Wilson's work, actors executed a slow and precise choreography of repeating movements in a dream-like world of domestic objects. Core77 27 of 65

Robert Wilson for Hermès Home A multifaceted tunnel welcomed guests at the entrance of the venue. Core77 28 of 65

Robert Wilson for Hermès Home Furniture was suspended precariously, floating in mid-air, and staged in unexpected angles. Core77 29 of 65

Robert Wilson for Hermès Home The installation, "Here, Elsewhere" created a context for visitors to experience the imagery—cheetahs, tropical birds, pattern play—that was the source of inspiration for the collection. Core77 30 of 65

Robert Wilson for Hermès Home The Mattress Day Bed designed by RDAI Core77 31 of 65

Robert Wilson for Hermès Home A elfish "host" guided visitors through three experiential rooms—the last being a small room with pink wallpaper and bubble machines. Core77 32 of 65

Broom Off Broome British designer Lee Broom is storming New York City's Broome Street with a one-month pop-up store showcasing over 50 products from his range of lighting, tabletop and interior furniture designs. Core77 33 of 65

Broom Off Broome For the occasion, Broom is debuting the Mini Crescent light, a smaller version of his popular Crescent Light globe sliced in half by a brushed brass fascia, as a pendant and desk lamp. The product is currently exclusive to the US market and it celebrates Broom's first store in the United States. Core77 34 of 65

Brad Ascalon for OTHR OTHR is a new brand of homewares manufactured with 3D printed ceramics and metals. Core77 35 of 65

OTHR Juicer by Everything Elevated and Metal Box from Todd Bracher. Core77 36 of 65

OTHR Creamer and Sugar set by Todd Bracher Core77 37 of 65

WeWork co-working area at designjunction + Dwell on Design designjunction + Dwell on Design aimed to create a community hub for design and architecture during NYCxDesign. To that end, WeWork brought a pop-up workspace to the ArtBeam venue with free wifi, and furnishings by Muuto, a brand known for offering fresh perspectives on Scandinavian design. Core77 38 of 65

Home textiles by Iota Project at designjunction + Dwell on Design A new home products brand focused on soft furnishing and accessories made out of traditional crochet techniques and bespoke yarns, Iota also has a refreshing social mission. Iota works with communities that have high rates of unemployment, offering training programs that allow people to create the pieces in their collection, and enter an empowering community. Core77 39 of 65

Arch Collection by Daniel Schofield at designjunction + Dwell on Design The sleek pieces in this collection—ranging from side tables, bookshelves and mirrors—are tied together by the simple arch motif, inspired by traditional Indian architecture. Core77 40 of 65

Exocet Chair by Designarium at designjunction + Dwell on Design This wooden chair presents an interesting take on transforming furniture. Lead designer Stephane Leathead created a structure around a massive central hinge, allowing users to swivel the piece into a wide variety of seating positions—from the lounge chair configuration pictured here, to a fully laid out bench. Core77 41 of 65

Swag from Traces: The Unofficial Meal at designjunction + Dwell on Design To celebrate National Hummus Day, Sabra partnered with food artist and designer Emilie Baltz to create an interactive eating experience, titled Traces: The Unofficial Meal. Baltz set the scene for the "eatstallation" by setting up various ingredients, then asking participants to create "paintings" with them, and, of course, eat in the process. We were able to take away this little book filled with hummus tips and recipes. Core77 42 of 65

Christopher Stuart's "Constructs & Glitches" Collection at Future Perfect The Future Perfect's exhibition featured Christopher Stuart's "Constructs & Glitches" furniture collection, a series of objects in metal and glass inspired by program errors Stuart came across when designing his furniture in CAD. Core77 43 of 65

Christopher Stuart's "Constructs & Glitches" Collection at Future Perfect Stuart says, "These [CAD] "glitches are things I have encountered many times, but usually fix by finding workarounds. This time I decided to embrace and exploit these glitches as they were the automatic version of constructs. Together, the works represent both intentional and unintentional distortion in functional and nonfunctional forms." Core77 44 of 65

"Equalizer" by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio x John Hogan for Future Perfect The Equalizer series for the Future Perfect show by Ladies & Gentlemen Studio and glass artist John Hogan included a metal lighting framework that could be customized with illuminated glass sculpture. Core77 45 of 65

Ladies & Gentlemen Studio x John Hogan at Future Perfect The collection included glass pieces, a chandelier and tables embedded with light fixtures. Core77 46 of 65

John Hogan for Future Perfect Works in glass by John Hogan Core77 47 of 65

John Hogan for Future Perfect Works in glass by John Hogan Core77 48 of 65

Ladies & Gentlemen Studio x John Hogan at Future Perfect The Future Perfect show will be on display through July 2016. Core77 49 of 65

Ladies & Gentlemen Studio at Anthom An impromptu collaboration between Ladies & Gentlemen Studio and the Noho shop Anthom resulted in dazzling mobile installations in metal and pastels. Core77 50 of 65

"If It's a Chair" at Patrick Parrish Gallery Patrick Parrish's design week exhibition "If It's a Chair" curated by Henriette Noermark included pieces from Danish designers such as Kasper Kjeldgaard, Pettersen & Hein and Maria Bruun & Anne Dorthe Vester—each object in the exhibition explores the fine line between art/design and function/non function. Pieces pictured here include mobiles by Kjeldgaard as well as furniture and a sculpture in metal by Bruun & Dorthe Vester. Core77 52 of 65

Pettersen & Hein Mirrors at Patrick Parrish Gallery Mirrors in marbled concrete by Pettersen & Hein Core77 53 of 65

Pettersen & Hein Mirrors at Patrick Parrish Gallery Mirrors in marbled concrete by Pettersen & Hein Core77 54 of 65

Patrick Parrish "If It's a Chair" is on display at Patrick Parrish until June 6th. Core77 55 of 65

COLONY Co-Op The COLONY Co-Op organized a show around the color pink for their Design Week event. Core77 56 of 65

COLONY for Tribeca Design District Ceramics by Brooklyn based Poritz & Studio Core77 57 of 65

COLONY for Tribeca Design District Core77 58 of 65

COLONY for Tribeca Design District Core77 59 of 65

Hiroko Takeda at COLONY Takeda is a textile artist known for her innovative 3D woven works. Core77 60 of 65

COLONY for Tribeca Design District Another view of the airy co-op space. Core77 61 of 65

OTTO by David Weeks Studio David Weeks Studio debuted their OTTO Collection during Soho Design Night, a web of LED chandelier lighting made from tubular brass. Core77 62 of 65

Stools by David Weeks Studio Wooden stools raw or embellished in silver by David Weeks Studios Core77 63 of 65

Jose Zanine at R & Company R & Company presented a retrospective collection of works by Brazilian artist, designer and architect Jose Zanine. Core77 64 of 65

Jose Zanine at R & Company Originally working in architectural scale modelling and plywood production, his later years in life were dedicated to creating furniture and architectural works that promoted Brazilian forest conservation—whenever possible, Zanine would either create works from trees that had already fallen or would plant one tree for each one he used. Core77 65 of 65

This year's New York Design Week lineup proved the week of festivities have much more to offer than the go-to design fairs. Whether you scoured Brooklyn, downtown, or even way uptown, there were a wide number of shows from designers big and small to enjoy. On top of several small shows, we also saw collaborations from unlikely partners—take for one, how fashion label Hermés and theater director Robert Wilson came together to create a refined furniture collection (presented in an avant-garde and highly theatrical setting). All in all, the landscape of presentations were diverse enough to satisfy every kind of design enthusiast.