Gatherings: Are 70's aesthetics stronger than us?

In picture above, the space contains (clockwise and from top to bottom): 

Air purifier PuriCare and video wall-commercial monitor by LG, Discovery Space lighting system by Artemide, Kartell wall hooks-coat hanger by Olaf Von Bohr, woolen coat by Esprit, Nokia 7.1 android mobile, VITAXFLY (neck) 

and MAJALOTTA cushions by IKEA, TATONKA isothermal blanket, retractable-anatomical bed by DiaMedical USA.

Bellow: Interior design and decoration for cosy country house attic, 1974-75, Encyclopedia of Interiors and Architecture- Do It Your Self (Kissos Publishers, Athens, GR).

Youth culture, accumulation and re-use, collectivity and collectability, environmental movement, women's rights, anti-war riots, pop-art, ethnic (and actual) patchwork. From the Earth Day Poster on 22/4/1970 by Robert Leydenfrost (in picture bellow) and the grid pattern of Quaderna Table by Superstudio Zanotta , from the Noce lamp by Achille Castiglioni in 1972- to the primary colours of Ernö Rubik Rubik's Cube in 1974, the New Ethnic bracelets by Charles Loloma (1975) to the Proust Chair pre-digital haiku by Alessandro Mendini in 1978: the 70's are more relevant than ever, marking the design stories of today and tomorrow. The system of values of the 70's era returns, (not that it was ever absent as it proves to be the case), raising the same questions, only this time, under the emergency status of the current situation of climate change and post-disaster scenarios. The fact of being also interconnected and almost entirely digitally implemented as a society, translates the 70's design in its most intense - and visually exciting - version, made-to-measure to the communities' multiple needs and the challenging times the planet is facing in terms of resources and socio-economical complications. The Seventies launched the process of (design) detox, liberating spirit, unexpected combinations and Futuralia not just Futurama: a statement about the home interiors especially that favoured comfort, color, re-thinking and re-directing the house utilities and objects 360 degrees - and finally, trully contemplating on nature, food, materials, social engineering and a good life expectancy - not just hope for survival. 

The exercise to translate our contemporary interiors and design in general, out of the 70's Manual appears to be a safe bet to become (more) argumentative and innovative on the solutions we provide on a human scale and beyond that. The attempt is promising to say the least and it does not just create a continuation legacy but an re-evaluation of our living standard through the perpective of 70's design; the result is more than interesting, it is life-changing. 

All the Best😊

A4D-D4A

NEXT: Web Summit 2019 is approaching and we are ready to rock with it! Stay tuned for our first post regarding our schedule at the event, towards the end of the month!!!!

Opening season 2019: FALL Back' News outline!

In image above: 4 sales 4 filmes, sketch by José Lopes, 2008, Courtesy of ©Bebeteca De Lisboa, Futuros de Lisboa exhibition, Lisbon, Portugal, 2018.

Here comes the list of important news and updates this Fall 2019, regading all the exceptional design organisations we follow and appreciate - plus some extras that you might find intriguing:

1. Salone del Mobile Moscow 2019 Master Classes and Work Talk: The key-event of the industry visits the birthplace of european avant-garde and a new round of important lectures and presentations is coming up, alongside to the fair. The synergy of great minds form Italy and Russia on a series of talks about the future of design, including the actual facts and figures of the planet-Design right now.

2. Among the ever so exciting topics in Web Summit 2019, all to be revealed in future posts , the new expanding fintech track Money Conf has seriouly incredible features and speakers to present in the upcoming version of the WS this November. Design for money (or not!), life, apps, feelings, change and every possible aspect regarding the digital era. Stay alert and keep watching. 

3. It is not about starting something, it is about keeping up with it. Another municipality in Lisbon, Portugal is undertaking an annual program strategy on Science and Technology. Oeiras, an area in the western part of Lisbon metropolitan area, and subregion of Greater Lisbon, revealed the project in its total scale, together with an annual investment of 1.8 millions in euro for this cause. An initiative, a decision and a plan in the making. May others follow asap.

4. Kartell's presence in London Design Festival 2019 marked the fair with the exhibition launch of Smart Wood series by Philippe Starck inside the fair. The company's initiative the last couple of years to strive for the natural materials and adjust its iconic design aesthetics on the properties on the one-and-only, sustainable Wood story. Smart Wood is here to stay in th UK too, starting from Brompton Design District. Cool K-vibes.

5. Lightmorphing, from sign to scenery, a journey in the lighting designs of Migliore & Servetto in Seoul, South Korea - is the exhibition to travel you beyond architecture but to a space of pure poetry. If you did n't catch it while in the country, stay tuned for the catalogue, just a whimsical piece of work.

6. In case you have not noticed yet their updated brochure since last April, have a look on Mineheart's grandiose new additions. Design obsession and acute perfectionism, it is just them. 

7.  Artemide collection 2019 shined through last April in Euroluce, Salone del Mobile and once more in LDF this September. Just ahead of its time, the legendary house of lights re-invents design non-stop, by embracing new technologies and intelligent solutions. 

8. A much anticipated event, SHARE ARCHITECTS organisation is visiting the Benaki Museum in Athens, Greece late November 2019 for a cycle of public discussions, around pivotal architectural and social issues. The International Forum is a groundbreaking initiative of leading professionals and associates from a number of firms in countries all around Europe and the world - for tickets and program please check here.

Good to know:

MUT, the Spanish design studio is curating and re-designing Das Haus 2020 space-and-project inside the IMM-International Furniture Fair, in Cologne, Germany. Trendy, warm and interesting, the bold designs by the duo of Alberto Sánchez and Eduardo Villalón are expected to give another dimension to the Das Haus dominant feature.

Next post: Gatherings; is 70's aesthetics stronger than Us? 

Love & Design 4 All

REMINDER: Have you checked our Pinterest and FCBK page lately?

Red, green, turquoise and coral Ideas - Residences, homes, houses, and shelters - Bags, totes and sacs - Faves, jewellery, clothes, eyewear, swimwear - Cities, towns, islands, plans, landmarks and landscapes - Xmas, decor, fun, objects - AI, smart, sustainable, virtual, educational, beyond digital, avant-garde, design-savvy ....Get on with it and find the right one to Pin for you!

For more design-related information, events, stories, videos, links, extra photos showreel, exclusive news and future posts announcements - don't forget to regularly visit and like our FCBK page! It is a whole other experience! 

A4D-D4A

😄💙💚🙌

Planet Lovers 2019 (Summer): The LIST!

In photo above: Day Glove ReKnit, the recycled, ultra pretty ballerina shoe by Everlane. It is made from renewed plastic bottles - 8 per pair, to be exact, under the company's policy for No New Plastic use. Check it out here:
https://www.everlane.com/products/womens-reknit-day-glove-red?collection=womens-flats

Here is our list for this summer of sustainable brands and independent houses, raising social awareness and ecological consciousness - apart from also producing extra-stunning designs of high quality and aesthetics.

1. Everlane

An ethical clothing company with corporate transparency and radical environmental policies, that are changing the game in fashion retail. Lovely designs and understated casual minimalism to dress up all ages and sizes. 

2. TheOne8

Fashion and social vision can be a real-life combination, and not a corporate trick to some extent by some brands. The most beautiful bags of the year are launching late August 2019, but that's not all there is in this organisation. Please check their wonderful endeavours, their community work and their new projects to come! Fascinating stuff.

3. Green People and Drunk Elephant 

A4D-D4A supports the ethical, fair-trade and organic cosmetic industry, (check our older post about sustainable brands including references on Urtekram here: http://all4design-design4all.blogspot.com/2014/08/fair-square-a4d-d4a-means-to-support.html). Both brands above - the one completing almost 20 year in the organic remedies trade, the other launched in 2012 - are just fantastic examples of great skin care that respects the planet and its individuals: animals and people.  

4. Kartell and Stella McCartney
The two design giants' commitment to eco-materials such as bio-plastic and Parley Ocean Plastic in scale production but also to projects serving as a niche for eco-awareness and awakening - is a strive strategy nowadays. The allure of a great house does not mean a harmful environmental impact anymore.

5. Helsinki
The Finnish capital is to be the first EU city to deliver a Sustainability Report and it will also be the first European city delivering its Sustainable Development Report to the UN at the conference on July 18th, 2019.
It seems that politics in some countries do honour the meaning of the word. Let's hope other cities with engage with the same seriousness and determination. 

We could n't help it: we have to give you a list of people we discovered lately, having that feel, you know. That honest gaze that they care about you, the Earth and everything in between. Graceful designers and makers, if you are in that mood of changing something in your house before changing something in You - take a look:

Modular By Mensah
The excellent furniture of British born Ghanaian designer, based in London, Kusheda Mensah will take you back to the days that everything was cosy, personal and warm.

The Whole Elements
Anna Bera creates incredible handcrafted furniture in Poland, focussing on wood as her primary material. Her inspiration comes from observing the relationship between humans and nature in a biological, cultural and spiritual context.

Para
Orakarn Sayatanan created Para to value the resources available in Thailand in order to make products that are environmentally friendly, yet designful. "I do not design a product but a life cycle she says". Great moto and great items in a fully reusable packaging .

Mika Tsutai
Fun, food and ideology: welcome to the brainy and unexpected universe of the Japanese designer Mika Tsutai. Attention to his bread furniture! It just rocks.

Last but not least, our faves for the season from Etsy: Erin Flett (Maine, USA) and Little Crow Design (Sydney, Australia). Just these glorious prints in home decor, textiles and soft furnishings you cannot take your eyes from... 

That's all for now, but more to come next month: museums, collections, houses, islands, innovations and design revolutions. Just stay tuned and follow the trail!

Love, design and summer
A4D-D4A <3😎

SERVE THE CAUSE: DIAGRAMS TO SMART UP THE DAY AFTER IN & OUT THE CITY.

On the diagram above: the arborization of all sectors involved in the Intelligent City Futurama, created by the Municipality of Vila Nova de Famalicão, in Portugal and powered by Smart Cities Summit 2019, Lisbon, PT.

Smart up, not (just) Start up: Humanism, Feminism, Pride, Ecolution, Well-being, HandicapNot, avoid extinction as it seems in the Intelligent City of Tomorrow, soon getting ready to host an urban population ravaged by hardship and the catastrophic but yet present condition of climate change. The clock is ticking for a new strategy, incorporating smart systems to public administration, in order to facilitate academic education, identity, internationalism, circular economy, lifelong learning, accessibility, mobility, sport, tourism and culture- all that plus more, under the umbrella of sustainable/renewable energy sources. This exemplary diagram above made as a metro map, intersects all the lines/services in key knots, creating synergies and choreographing a new urban model of governance, that it is truly adopted to the principal of digital technology turned into an intellectual form of capital for the future.

The model is scalable and it can be adjusted to every town or city, village or metropolis, local community or extra-large municipality/county and it is worth examining for its complete efficiency, its debth and its rather fast and simple comprehension. Mayors, MPs, ministers and presidents of all sorts, feast your eyes on this and study hard to make it happen. It is your duty to the next generations and to the planet we all live in.

Take care for now 🙌💙
Best Regards
A4D-D4A

ATHENS JEWELRY WEEK 2019: IS CONTEMPORARY JEWELRY AN ART FORM? AN ART-VERSUS-DESIGN DEBATE.

In photo above: Donuts by Cedric Chevalley, three bracelets as a sculpture (upcycled wood, rubber, steel, magnet). Athens Jewelry Week 2019 at the Benaki Museum, Pireos avenue annex.

In the iconic publication on Gijs Bakker by Arnoldsche Publishers, Ida van Zijl refers in her preface to the pivotal moments in the evolution of the great master's work, but at the same time she describes through his background the captivating history of avant-garde jewelry the last 60 years. 

From the Objects to Wear exhibition in 1969 to the Object to Use in 2000 and in between the Medium is the Message approach in 1976 (nowadays to be: the Message is Somewhere inside the Medium) and the Profile Brooch in 1983 (: I Am An Individual manifestation), plus Reconciliation (aka: Soul) and Virtuosity (aka: Design) from 1985 and onwards, the author is going through the great Dutch jeweller's pathway but at the same time she explores the intellectual challenges of contemporary jewelry as a hybrid of Art and Design these last decades.

The fact that we had to judge contemporary jewelry in the same way as we do with other fine art disciplines, created the past years an affiliation to this exact methodology by many establishments not allowing enough the subject of contemporary jewelry to tip towards design, (by fear that thus would degrade its importance as a creative form, or "Art" form.)

Design, being nowadays an area of intense experimentation, ideas and technologies for the future far more than Fine Arts - it seems to create a stronger liaison with that "glimpse at the Future" with the essential, avant-garde jewelry and what it is promoting right now on an intellectual and technical level.


"Now that Jewelry is no longer at the centre of attention as developments in the field* are not considered sufficiently interesting**, discussion of these questions has dried up as design Jewelry has once again become trapped in the narrow niche to which art critics*** have consigned it. That is a great pity, as an intense theoretical debate would provide an excellent stimulus to designs and to the field a s whole."

*/** Digital/Smart technologies, ECOlution, Sustainability
***and art curators

The representations from which a jeweller draws inspiration, provide a source o influence and a kick to his/her imagination. That process does not constitute avant-garde Jewelry as an Art form, with the absolution of the term as we know it up to now - but as a Manifesto of its own, in terms of creative expression and combined manufacturing techniques. It is about time to perceive contemporary jewelry as a complete, separate entity and provide the attention and the theoretical-technical knowhow needed to serve & support it.

Enjoy the works of AJW 2019 strongly overmining that general feeling of an independant discipline once more, from top to bottom: Cross My Heart brooch - object by Artemis Valsamaki. Brooches Zmei #6, #7, #8 by Teodor Siminic. Pieces by Guest Artist Attai Chen. My God Does Not Judge pendant by Vicky Kanellopoulos. Picking up the Pieces brooches by Liana Pattihis. Moments brooch by Panagiotis Petroulakis. Perseverance #2 pendant by Constantinos Papadoukas. Orchid brooch by Sophia Mann. Gage necklace by Zoe Siu Yu. GOD2 pendant & object by Invited Artist Edu Tarin.

Next on A4D-D4A, the Part B of Smart Cities Summit in Lisbon, PT and some other news and thoughts ...

Stay tuned and stay well:-)

A4D-D4A

<3 <3 <3

SMART CITIES SUMMIT 2019: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE, (DIRECTLY FROM LISBON, PORTUGAL).

In photo above: One of the most exciting highlights of the Smart Cities Summit 2019 Congress and Fair, the Smart City Platform created under the initiative (one of many) of the super-progressive Municipality of the town of Águeda, near Porto. An amazing tool made as an elaborate app, mapping the city into a grid out of a system of sensors connecting phones, households, services and public administrations and it gives 24/7 the metrics, signals and alerts for all sorts of events happening inside the plan of a city. From an improvised pantomime festival to the weather and day-night temperatures, the level of humidity, the rise of water during abbot and tide and even in the case of a post-earthquake tsunami. 

Is really a Smart City a place where swinging Robots entertain frivolously dusty tourists and corporate interests eagerly searching for their next big job? In the turbulent, severely disfunctional and heavily polluted city of the near Present, the challenges seem to be far more complexe and the solutions not that far away. That is the big revelation in Smart Cities Summit, one of the most promising exhibitions and congresses on the planet right now, regarding intelligent systems and urban living from now on. The host capital of Lisbon already known to be an advanced-technologies-leader in the continent with events like Web Summit- is showcasing people, companies, technologies, materials, organizations and academic institutions that are determined to flip the coin in the Post-Disaster era. It is not about Survival in a city that cannot handle something different than that anymore, it is about preventing more damage, evaluating resources, use sustainability to the max, safekeep and renew energy, abolish danger factors and protect habitat for species and humans. It is not possible, it is viable, manageable, approachable, affordable therefore profitable.

Here is the first group of noteworthy companies and startups dealing with these hot topics and bringing global solutions and technologies, about to change your life in your big city or small town. Are you Smart enough to adopt?

1. Power banks for you to charge your mobile in public spaces, parks, museums, and restaurants - one of the gems of the exhibitors area; www.charging.pt

2. myAqua is a free application for smartphones by Epal(:the Portuguese Company of Water Management), that allows the customer to check and manage their contract date, check water bills and consumption, send in readings in accordance with their preferences and much more.

3. Civil protection, intelligent systems and emergency plans:

www.municipia.pt

4. Another town is giving the example of an avant-garde public administration using intelligent systems and green energy on public transport to increase the quality of every day life and balance life and work. Welcome to the Municipality of the city of Coimbra close to Aveiro.

5. E-mobility and lightability experts, Schreder create urban lighting with incorporated chargers for their electric cars. 

6. European mobility week is coming up on the 16-22/9/2019 and Ecokart Portugal is organizing a number of manifestations with its active presence.

7. Qualification and inspection of smart grids, the future of smart homes and buildings by edp labelec:

8. Sewer inspection autonomous robot and paper solar recycle bin and compressor:

9. Free sponsored electric vehicle charging by wingsys.

10. Empower your business through proximity awareness with Smart marketing by www.six-factor.com

11. Check out all relevant portals by the University of Aveiro in the City Of Aveiro (Transform your City Digital Project):

http://www.ua.pt/ptaltapressao

Also don't forget to visit:

www.famalicao.pt

www.altitude.com

Publications to follow: smartplanet.pt

More insights on Smart Cities Summit 2019 next weekend! In the meantime get ready to debate: is Contemporary Jewelry an Art form? Directly from Athens Jewelry Week 2019.

Until then-stay Well:-)

A4D-D4A