Salone del Mobile 2016, Milan, Italy: THE MEETING POINT

The Salone del Mobile Events this year present a particular interest: Beauty, Power, Society, Future are more than ever, the four pillars of Salone 2016 Current edition,  about to happen next week- a unique and fascinating osmosis of different and new movements, technologies, people, ideas. Everything will get illuminated regarding the design industry, by profession and vocation- once again. A4D-D4A intends to cover the major exhibitions thrown inside the fair and parallely to it- but also it will juxtapose the presence of fundamental countries in the design manufacturing and innovation sector (including references to the next generation of designers, possible interviews and articles directly related to our Residences et al feature). For a first glimpse, please visit:

https://www.salonemilano.it/en/manifestazioni/eventi-appuntamenti/lista-eventi-del-salone.html

Until our next post, around the 18th of April, (the first of a series dedicated to the most important design fair of the planet)- we sing our praises to Milan and from it, hoping to deliver some exciting and deep design thinking. Stay connected!

Warm regards;-)))
A4D-D4A

FUN4All;-))- An Eugenides Foundation Library Exhibition: Games, educational material , everyday objects and other recreational material and support - for visually impaired citizens : NORMAL VERSION

Image above: Backgammon (board, pawns and dice-made "in relief" to facilitate the navigation and recognition of elements, during the game between players with low or no vision)

A capsular exhibition  at the Eugenides Foundation-within the framework of the recent convention  "Vision Or See-ing the World" that took place on the 7th of March 2016, under the support of the Hellenic Association of Neurosciences and Dana Alliance for the Brain Int. Organization- exploring a range of objects: toys, books, instruments, daily equipment and manuals that are designed to meet the needs of people with low vision or lack of it.
This condensed, fascinating collection works as an evidence for many aspects-issues  evoked during the congress such as: a)The physics of sight , eye physiology, optics and visual impairment: problems and cures
b)The access to education of people with visual impairment through the human rights spectrum, introduced by Pwlina Papanikolaou, Lawyer-Criminologist/Researcher/ Human Rights activist
c)The professional orientation: the  transition from school to society, rehabilitation and employment of partially/non-sighted citizens by Panagiota Leotsakou, Social Psychologist- Sociologist, KEAT Greece  President-Director (who also contributed to the exhibition with loans of many of the objects presented).

In the photographs bellow you see everything from embossed "in relief" architecture manuals, printed on Braille AND conventional type- pill boxes and cards with enlarged typeface, Braille typewriters for beginners, paper bills Braille markers, colour identification buttons and Braille metro map, a game of chess, white sticks, type alignment grids-between many more!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The exhibition is a revelation and a debut to-one-of-a-kind , related educational activities, that will follow up in the premises of the Eugenides Foundation Library ( ex. the launch of Life-Long Computer Literacy Workshops conceived and designed for Adults with Visual Impairment, about to start soon). It is worth exploring it, as it is on only until the end of March. For more information about the Eugenides Foundation , its library facilities for visually impaired citizens, but also about the professionals  and the institutions in Europe , supporting people who live with a disabling visual impairment (blind or WHO: people with low vision)-please check the following links:

www.icevi-europe.org

www.keat.gr

http://anthrwpokentrika.wordpress.com (Pwlina’s  Papanikolaou Blog)

 

http://www.visionawareness.co.uk/

www.eugenfound.edu.gr

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&node=5

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&node=120

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&node=5

 

 www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=NODE&node=400

“….At all stages of life, you are presented with new , everyday things that you want or need to master to actively participate in the world around you.  Success is by no means automatic…Everyone with a visual impairment tries in their own way to live , learn and work as independently as possible.” (from the introduction chapter in the ICEVI-Europe publication). 

 

Enjoy!!! 

A4D-D4A;-))        

 

 

 

 

 

FUN4All;-))- An Eugenides Foundation Library Exhibition: Games, educational material , everyday objects and other recreational material and support - for visually impaired citizens: XXLARGE VERSION

Image above: Backgammon (board, pawns and dice- made "in relief" to facilitate the navigation and recognition of elements, during the game between players with low or no vision)

A capsular exhibition  at the Eugenides Foundation-within the framework of the recent convention "Vision Or See-ing the World", that took place on the 7th of March 2016, under the support of the Hellenic Association of Neurosciences and Dana Alliance for the Brain Int. Organization- exploring a range of objects: toys, books, instruments, daily equipment and manuals that are designed to meet the needs of people with low vision or lack of it.
This condensed, fascinating collection works as an evidence for many aspects-issues  evoked during the congress such as: a)The physics of sight , eye physiology, optics and visual impairment: problems and cures
b)The access to education of people with visual impairment through the human rights spectrum, introduced by Pwlina Papanikolaou, Lawyer-Criminologist/ Researcher/ Human Rights activist
c)The professional orientation: the  transition from school to society, rehabilitation and employment of partially/non-sighted citizens by Panagiota Leotsakou, Social Psychologist- Sociologist, KEAT Greece  President-Director (who also contributed to the exhibition with loans of many of the objects presented). In the exhibition  you can see everything from embossed "in relief" architecture manuals, printed on Braille AND conventional type- children’s books, pill boxes and cards with enlarged typeface, Braille typewriters for beginners, paper bills Braille markers, colour identification buttons, a game of chess, white sticks, type alignment  grids-between many more!


The exhibition is a revelation and a debut to-one-of-a-kind , related educational activities, that will follow up in the premises of the Eugenides Foundation Library (ex. the launch of Life-Long Computer Literacy Workshops conceived and designed for Adults with Visual Impairment , about to start soon). It is worth exploring it, as it is on only until the end of March.

For more information about the Eugenides Foundation , its library facilities for visually impaired citizens, but also about the professionals  and the institutions in Europe, supporting people who live with a disabling visual impairment (blind or WHO: people with low vision)-please check the following links:

www.icevi-europe.org

www.keat.gr

http://anthrwpokentrika.wordpress.com (Pwlina’s  Papanikolaou Blog)

http://www.visionawareness.co.uk

www.eugenfound.edu.gr

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&node=5

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&node=120

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=node&node=5

www.eugenfound.edu.gr/frontoffice/portal.asp?cpage=NODE&node=400

“….At all stages of life, you are presented with new , everyday things that you want or need to master to actively participate in the world around you.  Success is by no means automatic…Everyone with a visual impairment tries in their own way to live , learn and work as independently as possible.” (from the introduction chapter in the ICEVI-Europe publication). 

Enjoy!!!

A4D-D4A;-))       

XX DESIGN PIONEERS or HOW GRACE, CLAIRE, CHARLOTTE AND REI WOULD REACT TO CURRENT DESIGN NORMS AND TRENDS…

Image above: a compilation of the publications (clockwise from the top): Grace Hopper and the Invention of the Information Age by Kurt Beyer, The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England. Comme Des Garçons, Fashion Memoir by France Grand, Thames and Hudson, London, WC1B 3QP. Charlotte Perriand, Cassina CP (mini catalog: art direction by Byung Soo Zocchi, photo Santi Caleca, Federico Cedrone, Tomasso Sartori, Nicola Zocchi )
www.cassina.com , www.iccollection.cassina.com 
Women Designers in the USA 1900-2000, Diversity and Difference, by Pat Kirkham ed., BGC Yale. 

Brilliant mathematician  and computer scientist, admiral Grace Murray Hopper ( best known as “Amazing Grace” , one of her many nicknames due to her accomplishments)- said she could still remember December 7, 1941, the day of the Pearl Harbor bombing announcement. A decade that scores one of the highest rates in PHD female graduates in the USA- no wonder because of the fact that the male, active population was in the war. Women very quickly emerged to high ranks as professionals, not without a struggle, but for the simple reason that there was nobody else to do the job- “male” or not. 
College professor in her beginnings, naval officer, inventor, computer programmer, business executive, convention organizer, spokeswoman/ PR and wife- there was a “pirate” in the Admiral: an unceasing fire of creativity. In the amazing book by Kurt Beyer, a must-read for every Hypermedia architect , Multimedia designer or IT Engineer -the story of Grace and the evolution of computing architecture and independent programming languages during post-war America, resembles today’s crisis in many ways. 
The invention, design, construction, operation and application of personal computers against the odds of the times – to facilitate data mastering, manipulation and processing, in times that research in the laboratory was far more expensive that today, certifies the need to repeat history.  THEN is again NOW- at a state of emergency  (deflation, poverty, war) ,we experience again the absolute necessity to support research in computation innovative technologies.

They are many anecdotes spread by the senior historians of the Parisian design scene at the early 20th century -about Charlotte’s Perriand  “recruitment day” back in 1927 at  Le Corbusier’s  architectural studio…It is said that the response of Le Corbusier ,”Vous allez broder des coussins ailleurs , on fait pas ça ici” (:You try to go and find somewhere else to embroider cushions, we don’t do that here), made the young interior designer to run outside in tears, dropping a roll of sketches the ones Le Corbusier’s partner, Pierre Jeanneret  picked and opened to see…running behind her to lose her around the corner eventually, and finding her again later as an exhibitor at the Paris Salon d’Automne….In the Cassina  Charlotte Perriand  mini catalog- the Italian manufacture who is in charge of reproducing CP signature furniture – is mentioned  this year:
“…and so Charlotte Perriand becomes a cornerstone in the reformation project promoted by the architect, adding a distinct dimension of innovative humaneness to the often cold rationalism of Le Corbusier.” Perriand  designed all the furniture for the civilian apartments of the monumental Cité Radieuse, Le Corbusier colossal residential unit in Marseille and along that she created  modern everyday living comfort for the city population, after the huge post-war influx of the masses to the urban centers. ….Wondering  how her huge sense of people's need to feel better at home- with home furniture, could enhance solutions for current urban crisis with new large populations encrusting to the existing social map….A role-model of a designer , and a talented woman anxious to help. That may be a/the solution to the/a problem.

She declared a dislike to feminism, ambition, fame, anti-establishment, high heals. She is characterized as enigmatic , iconoclast, visionary, shy, ideas generator. Her first show in Paris in the 70’s created quite a stir, and gained a tag back then as the “Hiroshima Chic” collection . Last year she attended the show of Russian “enfant terrible” Gocha Rubchinskiy, one of the designers you can find in the Dover Street Market concept fashion store- a rare appearance. The truth is that Rei Kawakubo is a self-driven vehicle with an inexplicable energy  source , that fuels  an almost unearthly ability to question nobody but her self- a fact that leads her to new creative paths allover again. It is immense to create garments that do not remind of anything or anybody else but they have your personal stigma, after all these years. It is immense times like these, where the industry is facing a multiple crisis of credibility, financing, work ethics, environmental repercussions and humanitarian call for action- to continue to be the REI of the Star Wars of Fashion AND the Mad Max of it- all in one package. To follow immediately…
   
Claire McCardell revolutionized ready-made female “casual-smart wear” (actually the term was invented for her in “The American Look, 2 May 1955: 85). While many contemporary fashion designers are focusing on one element, preoccupied with the question of style- McCardell combined in perfect harmony the worker, the mother, the princess, the athlete, the pioneer and the super-heroine – in her dress designs.  Polymorphic or multitask clothing is NOT a mash-up, nor a mix-n-match - but a garment with flowing, transparent functionalities , ready to answer the challenges of a woman’s demanding life…Claire knew that and she passed it on to the next generations- her fashion being more topical and popular than ever…

Happy XX design reading +thinking…
A4D-D4A?-))

SALONE DEL MOBILE 2016, MILAN, ITALY: ITINERARIES AND COORDINATES.

Image above: Duilio Forte – Ursus:   https://www.dropbox.com/sh/794ts32m8s15kne/AABoZQ5CzJfDV9_Lt2h8fCwRa/ROOMS .%20Novel%20Living%20Concepts?dl=0&preview=ROOMS_Forte+(2).jpg 

An extract of one of the projects briefs- in the “ROOMS. Novel Living Concepts” exhibition (title in Italian “STANZE. Altre filosofie dell’abitare”)- Curator: Beppe Finessi, Layout: Gianni Filindeu, Graphics: Leonardo Sonnoli. XXI Triennale International ExhibitionPalazzo dell’Arte, Milan 2 April – 12 September 2016. 

“…DUILIO FORTE sees architecture primarily as a highly skilled and imaginative practice. His house, which grew over the years like a termite mound of original and wacky objects and solutions, all built with his own hands, is the synthesis of his creative fantasy. His project absolutely had to be associated with the books that have re-evaluated the craftsmanship aspect of homo faber, even from a highly technological perspective, such as 3D printing which enables all kinds of products to be designed and manufactured at a distance: Richard Sennet, The Craftsman (2008) – and also Stefano Micelli, Futuro Artigiano (2011); and Chris Anderson, Makers: The New Industrial Revolution (2012).
 
This project comes under the heading of “domestic landscape” according to the principles of the ArkiZoic manifesto.“On 12th February 2009, the 200thanniversary of Darwin's birth, AtelierFORTE laid down the principles of ArkiZoic style in a manifesto based on a set of seven rules inspired by the geological eras, thus underscoring temporal continuity with the Phanerozoic era, the aeon in which life on earth was explosively affirmed.” There are five particular fundamental points:
 I. Put your soul into your work
 II. Use natural and traditional shapes
III. Use drawing as an emotional sketch
IV. Adopt heuristic methods
V. Leave room for chance, error and the incomplete 

The design is a proposal for contemporary living, made possible by the speeding up of communication today. The size of the social group is determined by the ability to maintain personal connections. Monkeys, for example, manage to make up groups of up to 30 individuals. Language has enabled social groups of up to 150 people to be formed. 

In partnership with Rimadesio….” 

The fascinating 2016 edition of the Salone del Mobile in Milan traces a trigonal graph, in order to re-define the current way of design thinking, as predicted. Three major events are about to get explored by the connoisseurs , the entrepreneurial  locomotive and the general public- three paths  that will attract the attention and they will boldly create the navigational coordinates of the fair, this April.

The excitement hits the roof as always- because of the flawless pre-meditation and the execution of the central idea- in the exhibitions “ROOMS. Novel Living Concepts” and “21st Century. Design after Design”. 
In the first case , 11 ROOMS designed by 11 architects for different functions and projected uses, referencing Philosophical  horizons chosen ad hoc from themes explored by contemporary writers- a concept that we have never witnessed in such an in-depth manipulation and originality. 
At the “21st Century. Design after Design”,(the pivotal event to this year’s XXI Triennale International Exhibition manifestations at the Palazzo dell’Arte), we are expecting the usual key-point of the fair: an avalanche of cracking new design concepts and beyond- and their impact  on the society now, as the latter evolves throughout exceptional political circumstances and economic standards.

The SaloneSatellite- the third important axis is where  the fair endeavors the support and promotion of young designers. An impressive catalog 2016 –a showcase of promising, new design blood, under the credible mentoring of the Salone, in its spacious premises.

We are so looking forward to embrace every aspect of the three mentioned above…The exploration is soon about to begin! 

For additional details concerning, not only those three exhibitions but other ventures this year- plus exhibitors lists  and visitor orientation, please check: 

http://www.salonemilano.it/en/manifestazioni/salone-internazionale-del-mobile.html

http://www.salonemilano.it/en/espositori/catalogo-espositori.html

http://www.salonemilano.it/en/media/comunicati-stampa.html

http://www.salonemilano.it/en/manifestazioni/salone-satellite.html

Warm regards;-))

 A4D-D4A?-))  

Can’t see the Forest for the Trees….in Design and Applied Arts Higher Education? SAKIS BITIS sharply explains.

Picture above by Yiorgos Markozanis, https://www.facebook.com/yiorgos.markozanis

Athanasios (Sakis) Bitis is a Forester and Environmental expert with a Masters of Science in Educational Management and Administration . As the Vice Principal of  the legendary Diplareios School in Athens ,(Vocational Institute for Tourism Administration  and Computing /IT nowadays)- a landmark in 20th century Athenian Educational History of Applied Arts, also characterized by design historians as the hellenic “Bauhaus”-he also runs the Life-long Learning center of the school, creating short courses like the unique Marquetry art and craft workshop. Mr Bitis answers basic questions regarding education in Applied Arts and Crafts today… Quick-mode, wood-axe type replies -revealing bare, essential aspects and concerns.

All4design-design4all: What do you believe to be, from your experience , the most important /global problem in Applied Arts Higher Education today?

Sakis Bitis: I will focus mainly on Greece, where our educational system does not have the privilege to organize a well planned infrastructure  of Professional Counseling, like in countries with High Economic Growth Rate (ex. Austria, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Ireland).
The result of this policy is that talented citizens remained un-promoted, along with the fact that gifted youth will never exploit their fluencies and tendencies towards specific sectors. 

A4D-D4A: How an educator perceives in society today, the design vocation and profession?

S.B.: The design profession has many different fields and specializations, for instance  industrial design, furniture, interiors, fashion etc.
A designer conceives, designs and makes products , based on his/her original prototypes. He/she tries to combine creativity and technical knowledge in order to provide solutions  for a specific use, functional and with distinctive aesthetics . A professional designer starts from a concept, creates some original first droughts, compares and suggest alternatives to the customer-commissioner, alters  and readjusts the ideas according to the brief, until he/she renders  the final, complete prototype, ready for (mass or limited) production. It is a personal process, as well as team work. Adequate communication and mutual understanding with others-fellow designers and technicians- are fundamental in order to complete a project and deliver the outcome on time.

A4D-D4A: Why there is such a time- lapse or even a deep gap , between the Applied Arts educational system and the actual, design working world- in many countries today? 

S.B.: “Connecting academic studies with the job market”: a huge chapter, various positions have been registered on this. I read somewhere that it is almost considered disgraceful to liaise science with production necessities or  academia to production standards. I clearly claim for academic curriculum and work  to get interconnected, with no exclusion  whatsoever of local culture: thus, meaning the Traditional Arts and Crafts. Education here in Greece  was extremely theoretical  and quite dated in many areas of study. The Schools, Institutes and Technical Universities  of Applied Arts and Crafts that could eventually create new groups of professionals and thriving new markets – also related with the Tourism industry in the country- were driven to a downfall, with no significant role anymore.  The educational system, the academic curriculum, the teaching staff, the students individual profiles and the particularities of the market – are the key factors to guarantee the transition from the academic environment to the job search and territory.

A4D-D4A: Sensorial Trend Analyst  Zuzanna Skalska (www.360inspiration.nl), referred in  her recent  lecture  under  the title “Awareness of change: 5 Trends that are changing our Living & Working Landscape”(The Stage, IMM 2016, Cologne )- “to a person being rich in the future, as the one person who can make something”. How do you react to this approach?

S.B.: My personal view is identifying somehow with Zuzanna Skalska, in the following clause:

“…The citizen we will recruit at the high ranks of administration in the future, other than his academic or professional skills, he should master the craft of making something or repairing something….”

A4D-D4A: A student , who has fulfilled his/her studies in Finance- announces  to you that he/she decides to change professional orientation to become a  carpenter/furniture maker. What piece of advice would you give him/her?

S.B.: Follow your heart….. !!!

Thanks a million dear Sakis Bitis!

For more information on Sakis Bitis and Diplareios School in Athens- news, ventures, workshops and programs, please check:

https://sakisbitis.wordpress.com

www.diplareios.edu.gr

A4D-D4A:-))
 

RESIDENCES ET AL: CHAPTER 2 (EPILOG). THE IMM AFTER EFFECTS-THE SMART HOME EXHIBITION (by LivingInteriors)

The UK “Sunday Times”, on the article about digital television signed by M. Bore, back in October 1998- clearly stated that we are heading “to the future online,(with a common server at home),  but we must remember that converting from analogue to  digital (transmission) is simply a switch in the delivery mechanism and without some other changes is going to be unnoticed”.

Almost 20 years later, in the IMM fair in Cologne this year the Smart Home special event  reflects the evolution on the principal above, launching  a new domesticity era. Homes and apartments are becoming intelligent , through a series of devices, interfaces and applications, embracing the individual needs of the contemporary citizen’s lifestyle. “Automatic for the people” attitude, renewable and sustainable energy efficiency (electricity, gas, water), personal entertainment space,  ergonomic comfort in a flexibly navigated surface, design and planning for the care of seniors or handicapped – the new HOME is designed cleverly as a hub of energy saving (therefore economically affordable), social care , creative preoccupation (time-saver) and maximum security against intruders.

The whole project is thriving with innovative ideas and solutions in lighting, heating and cross-platform programming in the home area, kitchen and bathroom utilities,- with companies involved such as Berling LED Vertriebs GmbH, BMW AG (except automobiles the company is a leader in renewable Biomass energy), Grohe, hfh Solutions/ lemon light Gmbh & Co. KG, Marentec Antriebs, Steuerungstechnik GmbH & Co. KG, MENNEKES Elektrotechnik GmbH & Co. KG, Miele & Cie. KG, Nolte Küchen GmbH & Co. KG, Paperflow, Rheinenergie AG, snom technology AG and Vodafone.

The whole attempt  in the Smart Home niche can be proved  a bit of a risk though for local industry, (despite patents/copyright strict protection laws in EU ), through the fact that IMM remains a trade fair essentially, with competition in the area of “smart technology", from  its Asian rivals - India or China for example- the latter intensifying its commercial presence in the show this year.

For more information , videos and details on the presentations in Smart Home area-please check (or leave a message on the blog for further orientation):

www.letsbesmart.de

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=F4BXlf-sb3w

http://www.imm-cologne.com/imm/trade-fair/events/Exhibitions-more/SmartHome/index.php

Enjoy!-)))
A4D-D4A