Connor Renwick

An Adjustable Moving Lamp Inspired by Movements in Nature

Berlin-based Studio Lieven were inspired by movements in nature, like when flowers open or when jellyfish swim through the water, while designing the inMOOV lamp. The faceted lamp’s body is made using the Invertible Disc, something of their own creation, that’s based on inventor/artist Paul Schatz’ infamous Invertible Cube from 1929.

Photo by Simon Vollmeyer 2016

The lamp is able to move from a smaller fixture to a much larger, stretched out one due to the Invertible Disc folding and unfolding of itself. Hidden within are strips of LEDs that change in color temperature based on if the fixture is open (3500 Kelvin), forming a soft light illuminating the ceiling, or closed (2500 Kelvin), which creates a more focused, warm light pointing down. The fixture easily opens and closes up by hand.

Photo by James Wendlinger 2016

Photo by Simon Vollmeyer 2016

Photo by James Wendlinger 2016

Photo by Nina Lieven 2016

Photos courtesy of v2com.

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Good Thing Expands to Include Furniture, Lighting, and Rugs

If you’re not aware of Good Thing, take a look at our archives where we’ve featured the NY-based brand’s everyday objects since they launched back in 2014. They’ve been creating practical goods but with more thought put into each design and the brand continues that same idea with the unveiling of furniture, lighting, and rugs. Along with Good Thing’s founder, Jamie Wolfond, they’ve reached out to the likes of MSDS, Chen Chen & Kai Williams, Visibility, and Sam Anderson for this latest round of releases. Take a look.

The 6063 Stool, by Toronto-based design studio MDS, pays homage to the glory days of American manufacturing with the use of pure aluminum alloy, which is how it got its name. The stackable stool merges a modern design sensibility with traditional craftsmanship to result in something unique and new.

Chen Chen & Kai Williams designed the Pearl Tables, which come in three different sizes that can be used alone or in various compositions. The holes that normally get plugged to hide the design’s fasteners are turned into design elements by filling them with opalescent shells from sea snails.

Good Thing’s founder, Jamie Wolfond, is the designer behind the Arid Umbrella Stand. Working with the terracotta clay’s properties, the stand draws moisture away from your wet umbrella so it easily dries when you get home and stow it away.

The Cabin Pendants were designed by Visibility to resemble the geometric form of a space shuttle’s cabin. Each fixture disperses light from the opening on the bottom, along with the soft glow permeating from the frosted shade.

Sam Anderson was inspired by the Bauhaus movement when designing the Falling Line Rugs. The handwoven rugs give way to color experimentations with bold palettes producing the linear designs.

Photos by Charlie Schuck.

via http://design-milk.com/

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The EPA Graphic Standards Manual Is Getting Reissued

40 years later, the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) graphic standards manual is being reissued. Why? Well, it’s a shining example of how design can be used for public good.

In 1970, when the EPA was first formed to combat the problem of pollution and protect the health of Americans, it had a lot of priorities, and none of them focused on design. As a result, while the work done was important, it was being done very inefficiently, leading to millions in wasted dollars. As a result, they worked with famed New York design firm Chermayeff & Geismar (now Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv) to solve the problem by producing the 1977 US Environmental Protection Agency Graphic Standards System.

Now, Jesse Reed and Hamish Smyth, the founders of the NYCTA and NASA Graphics Standards Manual reissues, and now co-founders of publishing imprint Standards Manual—have partnered with Chermayeff & Geismar & Haviv and AIGA to bring it back as a hardcover book. They believe that because the book is relatively unknown in the design world, it’s important to highlight it and ensure this hidden classic gets the praise and views it deserves.