Typewriter Guns by Éric Nado

The material world was built, first and foremost: one of the roles art can take is of reinterpreting its forms and functions. Through sculpture-assemblage, Éric Nado transforms and reorganizes certain objects to reveal other possibilities through their forms or intended functions. Using iconic metal objects such as typewriters and sewing machines, Nado materializes concepts such as labor and memory. Filled with nostalgia, the objects transformed into sculptures tell compelling stories.

Typewriter Guns, by Éric Nado, at Galerie C.O.A

The Pure Foosball Table by Alain Gilles for Debuchy by Toulet

The Pure is the modern vision of a classic foosball table. The rules, the game, and the fun remain the same, but it has now been transformed into an object that can be displayed in a living room or in the lobby of a contemporary hotel for instance. The foosball doesn’t have to be hidden in the basement anymore and it is no more just for gaming centers or coffee shops. It has been designed in order to bring a sense of warmth for those moments of togetherness with the family. With the strong use of wooden elements, quiet presence, and a reference to Nordic design it aims to be a somewhat timeless modern piece. From the top, its shape refers to modern football stadiums ( soccer stadiums ). But it has also been design in order to have a soft feminine touch and a minimal feel to make it more acceptable to women, and thus in the end acceptable in a house.

The Pure, Foosball Table, by Alain Gilles, for Debuchy by Toulet

Guide to Computing by Docubyte and Ink

This colourful series of ten historic computers, created in close collaboration between INK and Docubyte, documents the beginning of our computing history. Featuring such famous machines as the IBM 1401 and Alan Turing’s Pilot ACE, Guide to Computing showcases a minimalist approach to design that precedes even Apple’s contemporary motifs.

What’s more, the combination of photography and retouching techniques has resulted in something wholly unique: the ageing historical objects as photographed by Docubyte have been ‘digitally restored’ and returned to their original form. As a number of these computers predate modern colour photography, Guide to Computing therefore showcases them in a never before seen context.

Guide to Computing, by Docubyte

Aritco Elevator by Alexander Lervik

“For a while now, I’ve been working for the platform lift-makers Aritco on a brief to design a lift like a piece of furniture. It’s taken three years, from a blank sheet of paper to the final product in which I designed everything from the shaft to the lift platform and also came up with a whole new solution for the lift control panel. My ambition was to come up with the ultimate flexibility for consumers, who have to be able to identify with their choice of lift through a range of options in terms of materials and colours. Lighting was a key element throughout the prototyping in that the lift walls are backlit under a surface covered in patterns or images. The lift for Aritco is due to be launched to tie in with Stockholm Design Week 2016 and will be the first-ever purpose-designed residential lift to reach the market”.

Aritco Elevator, by Alexander Lervik

Serif TV by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec

Serif is a collection of screens and televisions, which have been designed for Samsung during the past two years. They also designed the interface inside Serif.
Serif is a television that moves away from a preoccupation with ultra-flat screens. Instead, it is an object that can be turned around and manipulated. It can stand anywhere, even on the floor with its own legs. What designers were looking for was a solid presence that would sit naturally in various environments, just like an object or a piece of furniture. In profile, it forms a clear capital “I” shape, its slim body broadening to form a surface like a little shelf at the top.

Serif, by Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, for Samsung

The Tube Series by Piet Hein Eek for LEFF Amsterdam

The tube wood finds its origin in how the tube project started off. The initial idea was to create a clock that you could build and modify yourself. But we found the existing clock so beautiful that we developed it further, rather than making it a DIY clock. It just goes to show how an idea can snowball and turn into something quite different from what was originally intended. This clock would never have existed without the original DIY idea. What is so great about the end result is that the circular shape is exactly the same size as a standard drill size, so the clock can be integrated anywhere and the DIY element is still maintained to some extent. To show what’s possible with the tube clocks we have made the tube wood, these are beams of black ash, natural hevea and brown oak that make great table clocks when combined with the tube clock. If you put the tube audio on top of it, it becomes an even more beautiful and functional setting.

The Tube Series, by Piet Hein Eek, for LEFF Amsterdam

Firefox OS Transparent Smartphone by Tokujin Yoshioka

In order to express the openness which is the most distinctive feature of Firefox OS, Tokujin captured the beauty of mechanicals inside and incorporated to the design. Apart from arranging its external, this is transparent and futuristic design expressing from its inside.

Transparent Smartphone Fx0 by Tokujin Yoshioka for the Japanese mobile phone brand au by KDDI

MusicMachine 2 by MB&F

With its spaceship-like design, rock and sci-fi melodies and innovative resonance soundboard, MusicMachine 2 (MM2) boldly goes where no music box has gone before. Underneath its futuristic guise, MM2 features all the traditional elements of a beautifully-crafted, high-end music box made by Reuge, the music box manufacturer with nearly 150 years of expertise and experience.

MusicMachine 2 is powered by two independent movements mounted on the starship’s tail section. Each cylinder plays three melodies: themes from Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Star Trek, on one ‘channel’; Led Zeppelin’s Stairway to Heaven, The Rolling Stones’ Angie and The Clash’s Should I Stay or Should I Go? on the other. Small wonder: MM2 was conceived and designed by MB&F and its songs have been selected by their rock ‘n’ roll founder and sci-fi fan, Maximilian Büsser.

One of the biggest challenges of MusicMachine 2 was in amplifying the sound. An ingenious solution was raised and developed by Jeanmichel Capt of JMC Lutherie, who created a bespoke soundboard featuring NomexTM – a type of honeycomb-structured Kevlar – sandwiched between two resonant 350-year-old spruce membranes. Only one in 10,000 spruce trees has the exceptional acoustic properties required.

MusicMachine 2, limited edition of 33 pieces in white and 66 pieces in black, by MB&F

Photography: Bertone Series by Benedict Redgrove

In a distinct artistic approach that highlights geometry, architecture and engineering, Benedict Redgrove has captured some of the company’s most radical concept cars from the 1960s and 70s – some never seen before – including designs for Alfa Romeo, Lamborghini and Lancia. The series of images which was originally commissioned by Wallpaper Magazine, exudes a specialty in styling, coach building and manufacturing, with Bertone’s vision categorized by abstract angular frameworks, a use of unique materials for standard auto parts and super-sleek interiors built for luxury and functionality.

Photography by Benedict Redgrove, for Bertone Concept Car Design Studio

Align Pen by Beyond Object

“Simplicity, quality, function and innovation have been the central tenets during the design process throughout this project. The mechanism we designed for this pen is completely unique, yet intuitive and reliable. We wanted to transcend the classical twisting or clicking mechanisms by developing this precise and user friendly piece of engineering.”

Align Pen, by Beyond Object