DESIGN: MAISON OBJET 2013

Maison et Objet is the first major design trade show of the year. Although the grand size and spread of the French fair can be an overwhelming experience compared to more compact shows such as Stockholm Furniture Fair, it is an excellent starting point to catch a glimpse of new products and anticipated trends for the year ahead. I braved the snow and long walkways of high design and trends to pick out some local and international design highlights from the 2013 edition this year. 

Barger Osgerby display at Maison Objet 2013

It doesn't often snow in Paris, at least that's what the local transport system leads you to believe. At the end of a stuttering and uncomfortable train journey to Paris Nord Villepinte Exhibition Centre, a super-sized trove of design and inspiration awaits to melt the impatience away. The perennial Maison et Objet trade fair is the bienvenue to a veritable cluster of haute couture interiors, new design talent, themed spaces, awards and talks. 

The 2013 edition did not disappoint on content. There were celebrations for the big names of the design world, Barber & Osgerby named 2013 Designers of the Year, impressive stands from the top of the Northern Hemisphere, Hay from Denmark and Canadian designer/producers Molo, and most interestingly for overseas visitors - an encouraging display of fresh French design talent. The majority of which, could be found in the 'Now! Design à vivre' hall, a space dedicated to contemporary design from established producers to independent designers.

'Pinto Table' by Julie Arrive and 'Watching The Ships Roll in' by Marie Dessuant

Stationed at the back of the 'Now! Design à vivre' hall', immediately before a busy seating area described as 'Le Club', Parisian producers Singularite offered a vibrant selection of new work from several unfamiliar Gallic names. From Marie Dessuant's elegant constructive Bay Collection to Julie Arrive's charming storytelling desks (Bureau Home and Pinto table) and Emilie Cazan's Horse riding inspired 'Riding' collection, each piece communicated sincerity and elegance. Upon speaking with the company founder, Eric Perez, it was interesting to learn that this particular collection was mostly manufactured by French craftsmen. An ambitious move in these times but, refreshing to hear and in line with the independent streak the brand struck with many passers by.

The HAY stand and close ups of their modular 'New Order series'

Just a few fair blocks down from Singularite's eye catching corner, the Scandinavian sophistication of Hay stood tall. An inviting selection of neatly arranged small appliances, textiles and home furniture were lit up with warm pastel hues and playful scenography. Behind the simplicity of the presentation was functionality and innovative use of materials, a proposed series of rugs made of paper with a protective wax coating and an adaptable modular system called 'New Order' for example. The balance of colours and different sized objects in realistic scenarios made the Hay stand a real highlight.

Inside MOLO's 'softblock' structure and cluster of 'urchin softlights'

Not to be outdone, Canadian design and production firm Molo aimed high with their 5m high paper 'softblock' installation. Connected together with concealed magnets that can anchor to any steel or magnetic surface, the softblock modular system can create infinite structure lengths. There was a Nordic air to their setting also but, this was more Winter sanctuary than Hay's Spring shine. Within the intimate paper and textile honeycomb structure, 'cloud softlights' floated above further examples of Molo's soft collection - 'softseating' and the 'urchin softlight'. A peaceful space that provided respite from bright pastels and sharp edges, Molo created a calming atmosphere for visitors to absorb their lightweight materials and natural forms.

Tom Dixon's 'Eclectic' range carried the baton of sophistication but, with a dash of British eccentricity. The collection included crafted artefacts designed for "the eccentric collector’s cabinet, the modern architects table and the British tearoom trolley." A stone pestle complete with accompanying gold mortar perhaps the most literal expression of the range, classic with an elaborate twist. Further strong examples could be found with the polished brass 'Form' teas set and a playful matte brass finished desk accessories set called 'Tool'. 

Tom Dixon 'Eclectic' including a pestle and mortar, and decadent British tearom trolley

It wasn't all clean lines and buttoned up sophistication though. Elizabeth Leriche's 'First Food'  curated space including a sprawling centrepiece of a vegetable chandelier and all number of food-related proposals.Verde Profilo's moss lighting offered perhaps the most toned down offering, while more technical interpretations such as fabric made from milk and eco-friendly dye fabrics sourced from parsnips and fabrics could be seen as practical eco-friendly solutions.

Elizabeth Leriche' 'First Food' space where root vegetables hang from the ceiling in chandelier form above vegetable dye fabrics in domestic eating scenarios

Despite the irk of public transport and an exhausting amount of m2 to soak up at the actual fair, Maison Objet 2013 was a colourful and optimistic start to the design year. A balanced mixture of focused youthful expression and sleek eco-conscious design could be easily found traipsing around the endless walkways. Maison Objet may not have the buzz of Milan or London Design Week but, the 'Vivant' (living) theme was very much alive with its exhibitors this year.

Road Trip to Innovation

Road Trip to Innovation is adventurous trend guru Delia Dumitrescu's first proper book publication and looks set to be a 'must have' for budding creatives and those curious of trends and innovations. Published by the trend agency TrendONE, Road Trip to Innovation explores the writers initial understanding of future thinking, innovation and trends. There are interviews with experts, theory and methodology behind the fields and the origins of this burgeoning sector of creative work. The book is officially released on Amazon from November 10, place a pre-order via the link here.

Image of Road Trip to Innovation from Trend One, 2011

MATERIALS: SURFACE DESIGN

The austerity of 2010 may resonate in the everyday working environment, but it is a different affair in the world of materials and surfaces. Leaving behind the need for layering up  with multiple weighty garments to fight the cold winter months and moving toward early Spring - bright pastels are already sprouting amidst a yearning for more solid and vivid colours. Along with this flourish of lightness comes softer and more rounded shapes, simplified natural forms masking inner high performance fibres. With less complex and more natural facades, the internal narrative of such materials introduces moisturising abilities, breathable and thermal regulating surfaces and light organic alternatives to heavy wools or synthetics.

Milkofil is a lightweight textile representative of a group of biomimicry inspired performance materials that are becoming more readily available and desirable for the everyday womenswear market. Made from milk fibres which moisturize the garment-wearers skin while they wear it, Milkofil is a lightweight alternative to cotton or wool and is suitable for machine knitting - making it ideal for use in clothing, underwear and bedding. Similarly soft in tactility, Spiderweave is a super-light and ultra-resistant fibre produced in collaboration with the University of California and Grado Zero Espace in Italy. The web material is sourced from golden silk spiders and then machine woven into fabric form to become a textile that feels like silk, is elastic as nylon and thirty times stronger than Kevlar.

Outlast Adaptive is another textile with ultra-resistant properties, although unlike Milkofil the high performance NASA designed material is not available at a high street price. Using nano technology, Outlast stores heat and releases it when the garment wearer requires it and vice versa when cooling down in a warm environment. As materials such as these weave themselves into surfaces and completed garments, designs such as Camille Cortet's 'Snake and Molting' snake skin inspired tights will become more visible and shorten the difference between nature inspired materials and structures to become finished natural products. 

Above: images from top to bottom ('Snake and Molting' photos by Vincent Van Gurp)