This post is available in German only – in case of sincere interest, please use the translating service on bottom of the post.

Endlich ist es da – ein Regalsystem, auf das ich schon lange gewartet habe: es ist modular, flexibel kombinierbar und schaut nicht so gleichförmig aus, wie zum Beispiel ein 606 von Rams. CUBIT (so heißt das Regal, welches man im Übrigen aber auch zum Schreibtischbau verwenden kann) lässt sich so kombinieren, wie man es gerade will.

Erfunden haben es Malte, Minou und Thomas und liefern auch gleich die Geschichte dazu. Ein weiterer Clou, wie ich finde, ist, dass – obwohl das ganze System in Kombination eine hervorragende Ästhetik aufweist und obendrein dem modernen “Prosumer” genug Raum lässt, um sich selbst in seinem neuen Möbel gestalterisch zu verwirklichen – CUBIT nicht viel kostet: das kleine CD-Modul beispielsweise gibt es schon für 16 Euro.

Zusammen gehalten werden die scheinbar lose aufeinander stehenden Elemente übrigens mittels einer doppelwändigen Rückwand und einem patentierten Stecksystem. Und wenn man umzieht, nimmt man die Kästen samt Inhalt einfach mit. Supersache!

Foto: CUBIT

The design, architecture and contemporary creativity biennale is inviting individuals and groups to submit a twenty second video and get the chance to win special passes to this year’s ExperimentaDesign (EXD) in Lisbon.

For the introductory video competition, EXD is looking for daring creative work, unique visions that are both inspired, insightful, challenging and outside the box. Distinctive artistic statements in their own right, these video works must reflect the Biennale’s spirit and convey a particular vision of the theme for EXD’09: It’s About Time. Submitted work should have also considered the look and feel of the communication for EXD’09 Lisboa created by Creative Director, Ian Anderson.

The winning video will be featured as part of the EXD’09 communication campaign including EXD events internationally, in a variety of channels, including television, the web and street video displays. The author(s) of the winning video will be invited to attend EXD’09 in Lisbon during the Opening Week including accommodation and an all access pass. EXD will also shortlist 5 runners-up who will receive all access passes to the biennale.

The competition is open worldwide to professionals and students over 18 years of age and will be judged by Ian Anderson and members of the EXD communication team. Submission deadline is 10 July 2009. Detailed information for download: the competition rules and the design templates. There is also a section at Vimeo for the competition.

Airmail is an exhibition with new objects dealing with the idea of weight, or rather the absence of it, in design. Lightness has been often used to measure progress in society (e.g. aircrafts or architectural structures.), and its relation with mobility is as old as mankind. A relation that recently is leading to mobile devices where the convergence of functions suggest that we could, one day, have function without matter. Probably as a reaction to that, there is being an increase in the production of heavily crafted objects and the revival of pattern and decoration.

Between this progress-based idea of doing more with less, and the heavily handcrafted pieces “Airmail” finds its place. “Airmail” features experiments, interpretations, and developments on the idea of lightness in its broader meaning. Can an object be designed by weight? Does the fact of removing the brand of and object makes it culturally lighter? What If the same object was to be sold on two different weights, which one would you choose? Can an object perform the same with less material? Can we really do more with less?

The proposals will show a rather unusual combination of approaches and processes with projects ranging from jewellery to lighting and a varied use of production techniques, from printed textiles or ceramics, to sand casting and electroplating. Curated and designed by Parallel Projects, upon invitation from Goodd gallery/shop in Glasgow, Airmail will feature a group of young designers and cutting edge proposals, within a commercial setting. On show till June, 28th.

An antidote to the glamorous pictures in celebrity magazines – that is how Erik Mark Sandberg sees his illustrations or paintings. Today it is really hard to go beyond aesthetic boundaries as there are practically no limits. But I think the “Hairy Children” pictures are really disturbing.

Those can be seen at Johanssen Gallery in Berlin from 10th July to 30th August, 2009.

Picture Credit: Andrew Friend

One of the main topics in the debate about climate change is how to reduce carbon emmissions. That of course raises the question what the individual has to do to save the planet. How far do we have to go in that regard? Do we have to change our lifestyle to the extreme?

This question stands behind the short film APNEA made by Andrew Friend who is studying at Design Interactions at RCA. Friend puts the lens on individual enthusiasts that try to reduce their personal carbon footprint.  “Individuals engage in free-diving at home (facilitated by advances in synthetic biology) in an attempt to drop their basal metabolic rate, subsequently leading to a reduction in bodily CO2 emissions.”

When it comes to the point, the final scene might be a bit too short to understand without reading the footnotes. But still a very poetic approach to the question about the individual dedication to climate change.

How far would you go?

Apnea from andrew friend on Vimeo.

Photo Credit: Arch+

Im Umgang mit polyzentrischen Stadtregionen, klein- und großmaßstäblichen Polarisierungsprozessen oder informellen urbanen Entwicklungen werden vorherrschende Denkmodelle und Planungsinstrumente zunehmend in Frage gestellt. Um andere Wege in der Untersuchung und Gestaltung des Gegenstands Stadt zu gehen, bedarf es in Lehre, Forschung und Praxis des Urban Design programmatischer Perspektivwechsel und einer Überwindung disziplinärer Grenzen.

Das nicht-konsekutive Master of Science Programm Urban Design widmet sich der Untersuchung zeitgenössischer urbaner Beziehungsgefüge, um daraus zukunftsfähige Gestaltungsansätze zu entwickeln und in der gebauten Umwelt zu implementieren. Disziplinübergreifend angelegt, vermittelt der viersemestrige Masterstudiengang Methoden und Werkzeuge für eine Forschungs- und Gestaltungspraxis, die ihren Schwerpunkt auf konzeptionelle Arbeitsweisen, intensive Analysen, experimentelle Interventionsformate und prozessorientierte Planungsstrategien setzt.

Das Studienprogramm richtet sich an Theoretikerinnen und Theoretiker sowie Praktikerinnen und Praktiker, die sich für eine Weiterqualifizierung im Bereich der angewandten Stadtforschung und der Gestaltung städtischer Umwelt interessieren.

Weitere Informationen zum Master of Science Programm Urban Design, zu den Personen und den Zugangsvoraussetzungen gibt es auf der Homepage der HafenCity Universität. Bewerbungsschluss: 15. Juli 2009

This summer the V&A will explore the recent trend among European designers for limited edition pieces that push the boundaries between art and design. Telling Tales: Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design will bring together around 50 objects that share common themes such as fantasy, parody and a concern with mortality.

Especially interesting could be the final section: “Heaven and Hell” will display work by designers concerned with themes of mortality and the afterlife. The “Lovers rug” by Fredrikson Stallard comprises a pair of conjoined pools of poured red urethane representing the average quantity of blood in two people. This object will appear together with work by Dunne & Raby, Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe and Boym Partners.

Gareth Williams, the curator: “This exhibition aims to capture a way of designing that has been emerging in recent years. These objects have stories to tell and we wanted to present some of the most creative and innovative examples and explore common themes.”

Telling Tales: Fantasy and Fear in Contemporary Design is at the V&A from 14 July to 18 October 2009. Free Admission. Open daily 10.00 – 17.45 and until 22.00 every Friday.

Photo credit: The Lovers Rug by Frederikson Stallard

On April 25th, 2009, Jordan Seiler and PublicAdCampaign.com organized a massive takeover of billboards called NYSAT (New York Street Advertising Takeover): 126 billboards throughout the city were white washed by dozens of volunteers. Then, over 80 artists transformed the advertising space into their personal pieces of art. Here’s the work of Ji Lee.

Here’s a picture for the weekend: What if oil prices rise again and we just cannot afford to drive our cars anymore? What would we do with our streets? Here’s the answer…  (Photo credit: Logan5 at Pixdaus)