Metaform

The Wallace Collection - What's On - Current Exhibitions

2009-10-13T22:35:00.000+01:00

The Wallace Collection - What's On - Current Exhibitions

Check out Damien Hirst's painting at The Wallace Collection

Despoke | 100% Design London's new blog#more-349

2009-09-26T23:13:00.000+01:00

Despoke 100% Design London's new blog#more-349

Objectified: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit

2009-09-26T17:46:00.000+01:00

Objectified: A Documentary Film by Gary Hustwit

METAFORM on twitter

2009-09-11T15:31:00.003+01:00

You can now follow, leave comments or feedback on the METAFORMdesign twitter page. Go to the link on the home page of the website or alternatively you can type in http://twitter.com/metaformdesign

National Concert Hall - Ludovico Einaudi - The Solo Concert

2009-09-09T13:01:00.001+01:00

National Concert Hall - Ludovico Einaudi - The Solo Concert

If you're a fan of Ludovico Einaudi as I am.....perhaps you might like to see him in concert at The National Concert Hall on October 15th. Check out the link attached.

OBJECTIFIED at the IFI Dublin on 18th June

2009-06-05T11:18:00.002+01:00

Director Gary Hustwit’s follow up to the hugely successful Helvetica, Objectified examines our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism and sustainability. Through verité footage and in-depth conversations, the film documents the creative processes of some of the world’s most influential product designers including Apple’s Jonathan Ive, Dieter Rams of Braun, and Smart Design founders Davin Stowell and Dan Formosa, and looks at how the things they make impact our lives. What can we learn about who we are, and who we want to be, from the objects with which we surround ourselves?

Brit Insurance Designs of the Year 2009 » Graphics

2009-03-25T14:44:00.001Z

The design was chosen from the seven category winners as the most innovative forward thinking design from the past 12 months.

Brit Insurance Designs of the Year 2009 » Graphics

Art Gallery in your Living Room - New York Times

2009-03-11T09:21:00.001Z

There are drawbacks to putting an art gallery in one’s living room, among them having to keep the floors spotless and hide dirty socks. But there are definite benefits, too: no overhead, for one, which comes in handy if the art market, in keeping with most other markets these days, happens to sputter to a halt.
In Bushwick, Brooklyn, galleries owned and run by artists have sprouted over the past few years in living rooms as well as in storefronts and factory spaces. Unlike gallery owners in Chelsea or SoHo, many of these artists-slash-gallerists have an extra layer of insulation against the spiraling recession. Most have full-time jobs and said their motive for showing art was just that: to show art.“I never set out to do this for commercial gain, so I’m not dealing with the same kind of commercial pressures as Manhattan,” said Jason Irwin, who runs a gallery called Privateer in his small studio apartment, off Flushing Avenue. Mr. Irwin, an artist himself who has a paid job working for the conceptual artist Fred Wilson, most recently showed work by Ellie Murphy, whose eight-foot-tall macramé-like yarn hanging one could imagine in a museum but probably would not expect to buy, or sell. He opened the gallery in October, showing his own sculptural pieces as well as work by other artists from as far away as Los Angeles.“Out here, it’s really about art and about artists,” he explained. “It’s more of a grass-roots kind of thing, of getting back to the basics, of finding good work and putting it up, without the ulterior agenda of selling it.”Being indifferent about whether art sells is a curious stance for a gallerist, especially given the buying frenzy that has swept New York’s art world in recent years. Certainly not every gallery in Bushwick takes such a position: The director of the Ad Hoc gallery, Andrew Michael Ford, said he was deeply concerned, and likened the rate of sales lately to “dropping off a cliff.” (Ad Hoc’s owner, Garrison Buxton, said he would be encouraging artists to produce smaller pieces — which he can sell at lower prices. “We would be foolish not to,” Mr. Buxton said.)Yet many artists say they moved to Bushwick not only for its cheap rent and abundant empty studio spaces but also for a respite from the feverish Manhattan art scene. The community is punctuated by lower-key events like a recent gallery walk in which about 150 people trudged through a blustery night among seven spots, two of them in people’s homes. Since many of the gallery owners have day jobs, some of the spaces are open only on weekends or by appointment. Jason Andrew, who organized the walk, escorted visitors through his apartment, where spotlights glinted off the white walls and the spotless honey-colored wood floors, and into his bedrooms, where oil paintings by a young artist, Brook Moyse, hung.“If you think about the old days, this is how galleries used to work,” said Mr. Andrew, who runs a nonprofit arts organization, Norte Maar, and began showing work at home about two years ago. “Nobody had any money. Nobody was buying art. They were all looking at art.” Among the art-for-art’s-sake gallerists of Bushwick are Ali Ha and Ad DeVille, a couple who opened Factory Fresh in an old bodega on Flushing Avenue last June. The pair had run the Orchard Street Gallery out of their living room on the Lower East Side for four years, until their building was converted to condominiums in 2006.They bought a building in Bushwick, showing their own and other people’s art in the bodega and living in the same building. Mr. DeVille sells his prints, paintings, silk-screens and graphic designs, and Ms. Ha works full time at a graphic design firm in SoHo.“We’re not really running it as a business where we need to profit. It’s not all about the final sale,” Mr. DeVille said. “The main focus of any gallery should be to show art as opposed to selling it.”When people ask whether the gallery is hurting because of the economy, his answer, almost invariably, is no.“We never really sold that much stuff before, and we’re not selling that much stuff now,” he said. “People always brag about selling art. To us, that doesn’t seem like such an accomplishment.”In many ways, several artists and gallerists said, Bushwick has become the sort of vibrant and scruffy artist community that SoHo and the East Village were in decades past. It is unclear how long that will last — newcomers and locals are already wary of what gentrification and further development portend — but the economic downturn could slow that change, too. For now, they are enjoying a little art world that is defined by the artists.“The marketplace wasn’t about artists, it was about the money,” said Austin Thomas, an artist who owns Pocket Utopia, a gallery that occupies an old storefront on Flushing Avenue. “I opened an artists’ space to put artists back into the equation.” Though Bushwick’s recent gallery walk was considered a success — people came, they saw art — Mr. Andrew said he was not sure when he would organize another one. “We don’t want to be another Williamsburg, where every Thursday or Friday you know you can go,” he said. “We’re not into the whole hype. We do it for ourselves.”

Farrow & Ball - Eco Paint

2009-03-02T19:30:00.002Z

A Greener View from Farrow & Ball

The Farrow & Ball paint range is now even better for you, your family, your home and the environment because our new eco-friendly formulations have been created without any compromise on performance or the quality of the ingredients we use.By significantly reducing the solvent in our products, over 90% of paint within the Farrow & Ball range is now classified as having either a low, minimal or zero* VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) content, and this is denoted by the symbol featured on the tin.VOCs are present in many household products. In paint the VOCs are solvents, such as white spirit, which evaporate into the atmosphere while paint is drying. These VOCs pollute the environment and potentially have a detrimental effect on health.
The exceptional new Farrow & Ball finishes are listed below:
Eco Exterior Eggshell
Eco Dead Flat
Eco Full Gloss
Eco Floor Paint
Eco Exterior Primer & Undercoat
Eco Interior Wood Primer & Undercoat
Eco Wall / Ceiling Primer & Undercoat
Eco Metal Primer
Eco Stain Block Primer
Eco Eggshell Varnish
Eco Dead Flat Varnish
They combine the environmental qualities of a water-based system with the performance benefits of the traditional oil-based system. As a result, they have comparable performance to their oil-based counterparts but with reduced drying and recoat time and no odour.There is no change to our policy of using naturally occurring pigments including iron oxides and umbers, as well as other natural ingredients such as china clay, lime putty and linseed oil. The purity of these ingredients is at the root of achieving the unmistakable look of Farrow & Ball. And, just like before, we don’t use harmful ingredients such as ammonia and formaldehyde.Our environmental effort extends throughout the manufacturing process and has been recognised by the award of ISO 14001:2004 certification. At every stage of our work, from raw materials to energy use, waste management and distribution, we do our best to act in an environmentally responsible manner.We continue to resist the industry-wide move to plastic containers and remain faithful to our traditional tin packaging, which has a high recycled content and is easily recyclable. Look out for the new Eco Friendly label on our tins.For customers still preferring to use traditional oil-based formulations, these will be available to order until 2010, subject to availability.*zero VOC as tested to US environmental protection agency standards

FURNITURE PARIS at Maison De Object 2009

2009-01-06T15:11:00.003Z

http://www.maison-objet.com/

If you are thinking of attending Meubles Paris this January 23-27 , dont forget to book in advance before Jan 14th for a better price! Flights with Aerlingus were free plus taxes!

Hussein Chalayan - DESIGN MUSEUM LONDON

2009-01-06T14:59:00.002Z

22 January – 17 May 2009
Leading the forefront of contemporary fashion design, the twice named 'British Designer of the Year,' Hussein Chalayan, is renowned for his innovative use of materials, meticulous pattern cutting and progressive attitudes to new technology.
This exhibition will be the first comprehensive presentation of Hussein Chalayan’s work in the UK. Spanning fifteen years of experimental projects, the exhibition explores Hussein Chalayan's creative approach, his inspirations and the many themes which influence his work such as cultural identity, displacement and migration.
Exhibits will include ‘Afterwords’ which explores the notion of ‘wearable, portable architecture’ in which furniture literally transforms itself into garments; ‘Airborne’ bringing the latest LED technology to fashion design with a spectacular dress consisting of Swarovski crystals and over 15,000 flickering LED lights; ‘Before Minus Now’ a dress made of materials used in aircraft construction which changes shape by remote control and ‘Readings’ a dress comprising of over 200 moving lasers presenting an extraordinary spectacle of light.

Metaform: Current Exhibitions | Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

2008-12-08T17:39:00.001Z

http://video.cooperhewitt.org/the-business-of-design-2008

Check this out for anyone interested in the business of Design. This link questions design and its role in the current climate and what might lie in the future. As we are aware design is present all around us and is a fundamental part of our lives. Do influential companies listen to consumer needs?

A Century of Chairs

2008-11-20T12:19:00.000Z

www.designmuseum.org/exhibitions/online/a-century-of-chairs/2000s

This link provides an introduction to chair design and its relationship to cultural and economical environments of the times. I hope you enjoy the link as much as i did.

Irish Museum of Modern Art

2008-11-20T11:35:00.000Z

The Irish Museum of Modern Art is Ireland's leading national institution for the collection and presentation of modern and contemporary art.

www.modernart.ie

Sustainable Energy Ireland - Building Energy Rating

2008-11-08T16:34:00.003Z

A BER is similar to the energy label for a household electrical appliance like your fridge. The label has a scale of A-G. A-rated homes are the most energy efficient and G the least efficient.
A BER certificate will be compulsory for almost all new homes by mid 2008. If you are buying or renting a new house or apartment now, you may already be entitled to a BER - so do ask the seller/landlord or their agent for it.
From the 1st of January 2009 a BER certificate will be compulsory for all homes being sold or rented.

www.sei.ie

two columbus circle

2008-11-07T22:36:00.001Z

two columbus circle

The new Museum of Arts and Design at 2 Columbus Circle will open to the public in September 2008. Located at the southwest corner of Central Park, where four subway lines and seven bus lines intersect, the Museum's new home is well-positioned to serve over 500,000 visitors annually.

Patricia Urquiola - Purely Porcelain

2008-11-07T22:30:00.002Z

Patricia Urquiola - Purely Porcelain

One of the most active and exciting designers working today, Spanish born Patricia Urquiola exhibits Landscape, her recent porcelain range for the ceramic manufacturers Rosenthal. From dinnerware to tea sets as well as cutlery and glass, this exquisite design, which took over four years to develop, combines smooth simplicity with richly textured surface pattern.
Patricia Urquiola – Purely Porcelain presents the whole process from concept, through the process of manufacture, to finished product. See the complex, experimental and collaborative stages that transform a vision into a finished usable product.

Duncan Stewart on the environment

2008-06-22T11:34:00.000+01:00

http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=6uJsRWAjDT0

Turn over a new leaf !

2008-06-18T14:01:00.003+01:00

Worldchanging: A Users Guide for the 21st Century is a groundbreaking compendium of the most innovative solutions, ideas and inventions emerging today for building a sustainable, livable, prosperous future.

Hidden Dublin - Victorian Floor Tiles

2008-06-18T12:56:00.001+01:00

Multiple Choice: From Sample to Product | Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

2008-06-18T11:45:00.004+01:00

Multiple Choice: From Sample to Product Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum

Glossary

block printing One of the earliest textile and wallcovering printing processes, in which wooden blocks carved in relief are used for each individual color application. The size of the pattern repeat is limited to the dimensions of the block.

broadclothAn especially fine and smooth plain- or twill-weave woolen textile.

calicoA plain-weave, lightweight cotton fabric, usually with a small, allover printed pattern. The term derives from the name of the Indian city Calcutta, where the fabric was originally created. By the eighteenth century, European manufacturers began creating stylized calicoes based on original Indian motifs of trees, flowers, animals, and birds.

chocolatesA nineteenth-century term developed by the textile industry to describe fashionable dark-hued calicoes appropriate for half-mourning.

colorwaysA group of variations of the color choices available for a specific pattern.

crêpeA woven fabric with a crinkled surface caused by using overtwisted yarns or yarns with both clockwise and counter-clockwise twists.

delainesA lightweight, fine fabric of wool or wool mixed with other fibers used for printed textiles. The term derives from the French for mousseline de laine, or muslin of wool.

duvetynA soft fabric traditionally made of wool that takes its name from the French word duvet, meaning down. It is characterized by a soft, downy nap.

earthenwareA type of pottery that is not highly fired and therefore porous if not protected with a glaze.

fullingA finishing process for woolen textiles that uses heat, friction, moisture, and pressure to shrink the textile enough to obscure the weave structure and produce a felt-like appearance.

glazeA coating for ceramics that may be clear or colored. It is used to seal a porous clay material, such as earthenware, and to give a smooth and shiny appearance to nonporous ceramics, such as porcelain.

londrinsA French and English fulled woolen fabric exported to the eastern Mediterranean and South America.

mordantA chemical compound made of metallic salts or other naturally occurring substances. Mordants form chemical bonds between dyestuffs and textile fibers that would not otherwise have a natural affinity. They promote the absorption of dye while preventing fading and bleeding, and are used to alter and enhance natural dye colors.

natural dyeA soluble coloring compound derived from natural sources. Common natural dyes derived from plant and animal sources include indigo, madder, weld, cochineal, and logwood. Mineral dyes, derived from inorganic minerals found in nature, were developed in the first quarter of the nineteenth century. They include chrome yellow, chrome orange, Prussian blue, manganese brown, iron buff, and antimony orange.

neatsAn allover printed pattern of small floral or geometric shapes, usually made up of one or two colors on a white background. Neats were used for inexpensive printed cottons. The small scale of the repeat meant that less yardage was needed to match up the pattern in dressmaking.

needle laceOne of two predominant types of lace (the other being bobbin lace), it is constructed using a needle and without a woven foundation. The process begins by affixing a foundation cord with stitches to firm paper, following a predetermined pattern. Tiny loops and buttonhole stitches are used to attach and fill in the space surrounding the foundation cord. After completion of the design, the stitches connecting the cord to the paper are cut, releasing the piece of lace.

percaleA smooth, firmly woven cotton fabric with a balanced plain-weave construction, which is either printed or piece-dyed.

porcelainA type of highly fired ceramic ware that is impervious to liquids and translucent when viewed through light.

punto-in-ariaFrom the Italian meaning "a stitch in the air," this was the first true type of lace to be created without a woven foundation. Originating from cutwork (in which stitches were placed on a fabric background that was then cut away to reveal the pattern), punto-in-aria developed in the sixteenth century as a type of needle lace characterized by geometric and organic motifs.

roller printingA method of printing on textiles and wallcoverings by passing an engraved copper cylinder over the surface. This type of printing is suited for long lengths of fabric. The pattern repeat is limited to the circumference of the cylinder.

silkscreen printingA method of printing on textiles and wallcoverings in which pigment is forced through a fine mesh silk screen that has a resist pattern. The pattern blocks the pigment from moving through the screen in predetermined areas, similar to a stencil.

steam colorsInvented in the early part of the nineteenth century, steam color processing allowed the printing of both natural dye and mordant together, instead of in two separate applications. The fabric (usually cotton) was steamed after printing to fix the natural dye.

straw workA term loosely applied to natural materials such as stem, stalk, grass, leaf, or manufactured fiber that is braided, plaited, or woven into hats, bags, shoes, trimmings, and mats.

synthetic dyeA soluble coloring compound derived from coal tar or its intermediate forms. Synthetic dyes were developed in the middle of the nineteenth century through the emerging field of organic chemistry, which allowed for the isolation and synthesis of coloring agents. The first synthetic dye of commercial importance was mauve, patented by Sir William Henry Perkin in 1856. Other early synthetic dyes included alizarin and aniline dyes.

transferwareA term used to describe ceramics decorated by using an inked, engraved copperplate to print a design on paper, which is then transferred to the clay surface. Color lithographic prints were also used to transfer designs to ceramics after the 1870s.

Maxalto

2008-06-17T20:55:00.003+01:00

The Maxalto Collection revisits classic themes with contemporary flair.The Simplice, Apta and Ac collections respond to this spirit with elegant details, finishes and refined upholstery fabrics that perfectly match the many shades and textures in the collection

http://www.bebitalia.it/

Considered design in a changing Ireland !

2008-06-17T20:06:00.002+01:00

Our new amazing cardboardesign® SP/07 product line is called "LIQUIDCARDBOARD" because they move freely - flowing from one shape to another. Each item can transform into many different shapes from vases, bowls, platters, candle holders, stress toy or a cool table top decoration.