Coulisse mirror by Constance Guisset for Cat-Berro

Constance Guisset’s particular approach of the creation process has won her international favours: Her work, as a designer and a scenographer, can be admired from Stockholm to Ankara. Her trademark lies between function (though verging on the unexpected), and a mesmerizing storytelling.The French designer cuts a one-of-a-kind figure on the international design market. A Political Science graduate, who studied for a MBA in India, she also fluently speaks Japanese (she assisted an ex-Foreign affairs Minister at the Tokyo Parliament). Imagined for an exhibition at galerie Cat-Berro (“Lumières réfléchies” or “Reflected lights” – “réfléchir” being a verb that both means “to reflect” and “to think”) in Paris, Constance Guisset’s “Coulisse” (“backstage”) mirror is adorned with little spheres that can either hang loose or be “stuck” to the mirror thanks to an invisible magnet. As soon as the user approaches each small spheric object (the designer refers to them as “bubbles”) from the mirror, it lights up to reveal an eery purple hue.

“Light reveals a translucid purple glass.” To the designer,  “The bubbles reflect on an immaterial ground and create an imaginary landscape between danse mirror and constellation. When a bubble is brought close to the mirror, it is attracted by the magnet and switches on. When black, the glass bubbles are like jewels that flow from the shimmering surface. Surprise comes with the switch on by magnets and the sudden colored transparency of the material.”

Elodie Palasse-Leroux

Coulisse mirror, by Constance Guisset, for Galerie Cat-Berro

(Elodie Palasse-Leroux is a Paris-based writer and journalist, the founder and editor of  Sleek design)

Buzzicockpit by Alain Gilles for Buzzispace

A private cocoon one can take refuge in- or rather behind, when working: Belgian designer Alain Gilles’ BuzziCockpit is “a tool for personal privacy and well-being”. Small enough to fit any table or desk (a 60 cm-depth for the side resting on the flat surface), its ergonomically-designed acoustical skills enable the user to create a instantly quieter and private area within the working space (offices, libraries…).

Alain Gilles designed lateral handles to the BuzziCockpit so that it can be pulled closer or pushed back whenever needed, in a single gesture. Upholstered in a recycled fabric (also developped by Buzzispace), available in a large array of colors, the BuzziCockpit is available with a closed back-panel or a partly opened one, depending on the level of intimacy one is hoping for.

Elodie Palasse-Leroux

Buzzicockpit by Alain Gilles for Buzzispace

(Elodie Palasse-Leroux is a Paris-based writer and journalist, the founder and editor of Sleek design)

Turn Wood Collection by Miranda Watkins Design

Miranda Watkins Design has launched an elegant new range of versatile bowls and platters in beautiful sustainable Ash and Walnut. These designs are the latest additions to the Studioʼs popular Turn Wood Collection. Showcasing the beauty of natural hardwood, strong, clean silhouettes are machine turned and hand finished to create this range of minimalist tabletop products. The full collection comprises bowls, platters and boxes, all produced in Britain in sustainable hardwoods — Oak, Walnut, and Ash.

Turn Wood Collection, by Miranda Watkins Design

Ursa the Bear & Ursa Minor by David Weeks, Areaware

David weeks has designed a extension of his toy line which he began with Hanno the Gorilla. Made of sustainably harvested beech wood, Ursa the Bear has elastic band muscles that pop and lock into a myriad of poses. The powerful hardwood frame can hold many poses, and her elastic-band muscles and durable wood limbs make her almost impervious to breakage. Ursa, comes in two sizes: the large and ferocious Ursa The Bear, and Ursa Minor his diminutive cousin, both are enduring classics that will withstand generations of play.

Ursa the Bear, Ursa Minor, by David Weeks

Favoris Collection by Moustache with Corian

To present this new colour range, DuPont™ Corian® called upon 4 designers or galleries, known for their quality and relevant editorial policy and for the innovative character of their collections. Moustache is proud and honoured to have been chosen by DuPont™ on the French market to create this collection. The Favoris Collection was enthusiastically and rigorously pieced together over the past year through context elaboration and exchange of ideas. Managed by Moustache, produced in association alongside and with the complicity of Corian® and Créa Diffusion, the Favoris Collection was designed by Ionna Vautrin, Inga Sempé, François Azambourg, Sébastien Cordoléani and Benjamin Graindorge

Favoris is the one entitled to special treatment due to merit and beauty and also the one who boasts a privileged place near the “all-powerful”. But Favoris is also, and this is less known, the French name commonly used to describe the long piece of hair on each side of the face and its eventual growth into a beard. Having changed from hair into a beard, the Favoris changed from the beard into a Moustache… The Favoris Collection evolved from its side-stepping into temporary openings of a constraint free area without the usual duty of “sticking” to the market-trends. It proposes observation and contemplation of a series of objects designed with the intention of showing, revealing or exaggerating the sensitive nature of a material: the Corian®. Emancipated and liberated from routine questions and functions which sometimes become purposely secondary, the Favoris Collection by Moustache with Corian® also invites you to observe how – putting the Corian® panel presentation-logic aside – this material can become round or in relief and boasts being from an assumed search for beauty.

Favoris Collection, for Moustache, at Corian® Colour Evolution, 2012 Milan Design Week, Spazio Fiorentine, via Savona 35, Milan, April 16–22

Ikepod Horizon Wristwatch by KAWS

Bringing together the Swiss watchmaker’s affinity for contemporary and modern timepieces, the KAWS collaborative effort sees the trademark Chomper teeth motif emblazoned across the black dial with the dual lines of his “X” graphic comprising the hour and minute hands. True to the original Horizon models, the watch features a 44mm case and beautifully brushed bezel.

Ikepod Horizon, $14,000, by KAWS, via: Hypebeast

Carousel Weather Vane by George Nelson & Associates

Wright is set to auction a weather vane designed by George Nelson for the Howard Miller Clock Company of Zeeland, Michigan.

Carousel Weather Vane, 1954-1955, by George Nelson & Associates, by Howard Miller Clock Company, Estimate: $5,000–7,000, Auction at Wright

Tone35 Clocks by Wiebe Teertstra for LEFF amsterdam

Designer Wiebe Teertstra has presented a new clock for the new Dutch brand, LEFF amsterdam which is based in Marcel Wanders’ Westerhuis in Amsterdam.

“The contrast in this design is not formed by the colours itself, but by its finish. A glossy transparent spot varnish is printed on the matt dial to create a so-called ton-sur-ton effect. Depending on the light, the index print will be clearly visible, slightly visible or not even visible at all. Let light set the tone”.
- Wiebe Teertstra

Tone35 Clocks, White, Cool Grey and Black, by Wiebe Teertstra for LEFF amsterdam

Torus by Claesson Koivisto Rune for DFTS Factory

Through modern 3D manufacturing and selective laser sintering (SLS), new shapes are possible. Shapes that cannot be made either by conventional machines or traditional handicraft. Torus is such a shape. The torus can be described as a surface of revolution generated by revolving a circle in three dimensional space about an axis coplanar with the circle. It is now also the name of a bracelet. Each Torus bracelet is made of 2208 individual loose links and takes four hours to print.

Torus Bracelet, by Claesson Koivisto Rune, for DFTS Factory

Gradation & Cube by Torafu Architects

The Japanese studio Torafu Architects designed two new versions of their Air Vase: Gradation and Cube. Those two patterns are printed on both sides of paper disks, which are cut so the user can simply pull them into the desired shape.

Gradation & Cube Air Vase, by Torafu Architects