Design Debate

With Graffiti I am divided. Some I would agree enhances the urban landscape, making a statement in an often overlooked place. But there is of course the kind that just soils the built environment.  I am impressed with Anna Garforth and her fresh look at age old graffiti. Anna uses moss to create typographic and visual statements. I love how clean her lines are, and how the dense green is living and actually adds to the surface it clings to.  The idea stemmed from a trip to a cemetery, seeing the tomb stones adorned with moss, and how the green sometimes followed the line of the written word, there by enhancing their meaning. In Anna's interview with blog Design Boom , she states her passion for working with organic materials, no toxins or bad perfumes are involved - a more positive mark on the landscape.    Anna's comment on handmade verses technology is something I can agree with "mixing technology with the handmade makes for a great synt...

I am in love with this concept! Yuri Suzuki is a Japanese designer who has created an art installation that plays beautiful music. When I filter through countless pages on the internet to find inspiration, more and more I am drawn to art installations. I think it is because there is something about seeing ideas come to life, how they raise questions and most importantly make me want to get involved.  Suzuki, like me, is dyslexic, and this has caused him to want to find another way to write music as he finds the traditional process very confusing. So he has created 'Looks Like Music', robots that respond to colour by  interpreting  it as sound. The robot follows a drawn black line and where ever there is a squiggle of colour this data is translated into music. I love the simplicity, and the scope!  My sister and I are both dyslexic, but she also has mild Synesthesia. This means that days of the week and numbers come with a very specific colour. Th...

Yet more proof that sustainable architecture can be cutting edge, subtle and statement making. This house 'Dutch Mountain' is by 5 year old Dutch architects DeNieuweGeneratie (meaning The New Generation). Nestled in a nature reserve, I love the how the house rises out of the landscape. This underground house looks so toastie dressed in snow.  There are some surprises to be had inside. A car in the living room? Why not, it does look as though it has just been parked by Batman. But I love the quiet confidence of the furnishings. Nothing is standard, every element is considered, some like the car are quite unnerving, yet there is a peace. I get the impression this state of the art house could really be a home.  What do you think? See more enticing details at  DeNieuweGeneratie 's site. I found the post on Bloesem , do check it out.   

After coming across these beautiful pencils from Caran d’Ache on the Pencil Talk blog I found myself looking at such a simple writing and drawing tool in a different way. When selecting a pencil it is often the precision and quality that becoming the deciding factors on your choice, but just like the choice between a modern production line sports car and vintage E-Type Jag, sometimes a few flaws give a whole new experience. Caran d’Ache have tested their ability to create something unique and challenging, producing a range of pencils from exotic wood species, Les crayons de la maison Caran d’Ache, made from Titanium Oak, Macassar Ebony, Lati Gray and American Walnut. Take a look at the original blog post on Pencil Talk where the reviewer goes into more detail their experience of the pencils, and Caran d'Ache's website here .