storm from the east

83 Design at Design Co-op Tokyo

Our friends 83 Design will be taking part in Design Co-op in Tokyo from the end of October, a new event taking place during Tokyo Design Week.

For more information:

http://www.design-coop.jp/

30組超の気鋭クリエイターが協同開催する、スーパーニューな見本市。 CO-OP CO-OP（コープ）とは、プロダクトデザイナーやクラフト作家だけでなく、 ファッションクリエイターやアーティストなど様々なジャンルのつくり手が、 それぞれの枠にとらわれず、境界を取り払って、クリエイティビティーを存分に 表現する、そんな情熱に満ちた、クリエイターの新しい集合体です. 500平米を超える広大な廃墟スペースを舞台に、30組超のクリエイター自らが プロデュースし、新作を含む作品の展示や販売、更にはワークショップや実験、 パフォーマンスなどを連日連夜繰り広げます.

●CO- OP開催概要

●日程：2010年10月30日(土)～11月3日(水・祝)【デザインウィーク期間】 　11:00～ 20:00（最終日のみ18:00 まで）

● 場所：五反田味ビル3F, 4F の廃墟スペース 　東京都品川区東五反田1-16-4 味ビル（五反田駅東口徒歩2 分）

http://www.design-coop.jp/

Review: Swami's Surf Co t-shirt

I recently mentioned bespoke surfboard maker Swami's and the company was kind enough to send me a t-shirt, which I've been getting a lot of wear out of ever since. As with all reviews, I like to use the product for a while before making any pronouncements and with this shirt I like what I've found so far.

Swami's pride themselves on making products that are limited and environmentally responsible and their clothing is no exception, with this t-shirt being 100% cotton, printed with water-based screen inks, produced to eco standards Oekotex100 & REACH and free from any harmful substances to either humans or the planet.

Aside from the eco-credentials, the shirt itself is lightweight and the material is super smooth, yet it has proven to be durable so far - two skateboard spills and a hit-and-run while riding my bike and not a mark. The attention to detail is also something that sets this brand apart from other surf companies, from the initials of the potential owners being carved into surfboards to the trimmings on the shirts. The design is minimal - just as I like it - and the overall look is very cool.

I'm a fan.

You can get your own Swami's goods here:

http://www.swamisurf.com/shop/

If you would like us to review your goods, please contact us at: editor[at]storm-from-the-east[dot]com

Studio Macura: Adorable Affordables

Studio Macura has announced its expanding line of beautiful objects at very affordable prices, including the Lako (above) and the Boca (below), which we featured April. In distinction to designer objects intended for exclusive gallery editions and limited self production, the Studio Macura collection brings forth compelling designs accessible to a large audience.

The objects, currently created in steel, blown glass and porcelain, are meant to please by their aesthetic, wit and functionality. The premise is that enduring unique designs go hand in hand with larger volumes and reasonable pricing. To make this happen the studio collaborates closely with producers in manufacturing and crafts sectors. ‘Unity within diversity’ embodies the collection rather than a formalistic style. From initial ideas to final solutions, they are developed through experimentation and curiosity quenching.

Imaginative interpretations, technique and commercial sense, are all criteria used in selecting the rising ideas. The designs are conceived, developed and sold in the context of Studio Macura. The inaugural collection will be launched during the Tendence Fair in messe Frankfurt, Germany from 27 – 31 August, 2010, Hall 11.0 Stand A68.

http://www.studiomacura.com/

Bike's I've ridden: Raleigh Arena

I've decided to make Friday my 'Bikes I've ridden' day, and this is the second in the series.

The Raleigh Arena was my first taste of racing bikes: drop handlebars, more than three gears, thin tyres and little mudguards that didn't really do anything. It looked like a racer and I felt like a racer, therefore I was a racer. 

As Raleigh bikes were such a big part of being a kid in the UK, you can expect to see a few more in this series.

More in the series:

> Raleigh Chopper

W-Base Durcus One Stylin' new colours

W-Base have released three new colours for their own Durcus One Stylin' frame: matte black, matte red and matte purple. In stock soon.

W-Baseブログから：

3サイズの新色で、近日入荷！！！
今回入荷しますSTYLIN'フレームのカラー(マットブラック、マットレッド、マットパープル)３色ともマットカラーになります。
ありそうでなかったマットカラーのトリックフレームなので、探していたいた方も多いのでは。。。

Design Festa 32

Design Festa 32 is sold out, although the organisers tell is that they expect some spots to open up due to last minute cancellations, etc. Here's what on offer for visitors:

- 8800 independent artists/groups

- 2850 mini and regular-sized booths 

- 72 atrium/indoor stage booths 

- 30 intimate and large-size live painting booths

- 20 eclectic bands 

- 16 countries participating 

- various restaurants, bars and cafe areas

SFTE Agency: promotional music

I recently completed some promotional music for a Japanese client, which I thought I would share.

The client wanted a 'short, simple, atmospheric' piece that evoked 'a relaxing mood'. They selected the following short piece which is intended to be used for their website, TV and promotional events. (The client has requested that I don't mention their name as they are still building their brand, but they did give permission to share the music.)

SFTE Agency Promo

Jeff Zimmerman at R/TURPAN, New York

R 20th Century is currently hosting an exhibition of work by classically trained and performance artist Jeff Zimmerman at R/TURPAN, East Hampton NY. Zimmerman will be present at the opening reception on Saturday, August 14, 4-8pm.

The exhibition runs until September 6.

http://www.r20thcentury.com/

Bikes I've ridden: Raleigh Chopper

A while ago I started making a list of all the bikes I've owned and ridden since I was a kid, and it turns out it's quite a few. Overcome with nostalgia, I decided to make some graphic depictions of these bikes, but became busy with other things and forgot about it.

Recently, however, I've been following Chris Piascik's brilliant series of drawings, 'All My Bikes', which has also been carried by Prolly, and decided to dust off my own collection, so to speak.

First up is the Raleigh Chopper, the coolest bike of of the 1970's and the must-have for any young wannabe hell's angel.

Total Design: Available for pre-order

I am happy to announce that the book I have been working on, Total Design: A holistic look at the design process - is about to see the light of day and is available for pre-order at a specially reduced price. To find out more, please email me at: editor[at]storm-from-the-east[dot]com.

The book has come about due to the great response I received in relation to a short article I wrote about Total Design earlier this year.

Thank you for your support!

Architectural Association - Berlin Workshop

Post-wall Berlin has emerged as a major player in contemporary cultural production. As a laboratory of lifestyles and modes of production, it attracts an influential community of highly creative people from around the globe. The AA Berlin Laboratory explores the role of experimentation, harvesting this exceptional energy. This intense workshop organised by the Architectural Association School of Architecture

No other city has been as enthusiastic as Berlin in experimenting with modes of living. From mass housing to highly individualistic visions of living and extreme communal regimes, Berlin has long pushed the boundaries of what it means to live together. New organisational forms of dwelling, combined with alternative implementation methods, are currently challenging the roles of both architect and local authority in the process of delivering dwellings for the city.

During this intense workshop participants will work both in the laboratory/studio and the field/city, revisiting existing experiments in dwelling and the social ideals that shape them. In search of new logics of living, students will use emerging computational and rule-based design systems to develop prototypical forms of dwelling relevant to the city of Berlin. The workshop will be led by AA and Berlin-based tutors and hosted by Aedes Network Campus Berlin (ANCB). In addition, a public programme of visits, lectures and seminars with speakers from different disciplines will provide a stage for debate.

The laboratory is open to anyone interested in experimental design in the context of this vibrant city. Places still available.

http://berlin.aaschool.ac.uk/

Programme Directors: Marianne Mueller & Olaf Kneer

Contact: Programme Coordinator Sandra Sanna

T: +44 20 7887 4014

visitingschool@aaschool.ac.uk

World Architecture Festival 2010

Soccer City National Stadium in South Africa (pictured), a bamboo house in Costa Rica, The Apple Store on the Upper West Side, USA and The Medieval & Renaissance Galleries at the Victoria & Albert Museum, UK are among the 236 international projects to feature on this year’s shortlist for the world’s biggest architecture contest - the World Architecture Festival (WAF) Awards.

Projects that range from a church in England to a prison in Norway will go head to head at the Festival, which is designed to celebrate the aspirations and concerns of the international architectural community. Contested in front of a live public delegation as well as a ‘super jury’ of internationally celebrated architects, the projects are set to battle it out for the prestigious accolade of World Building of the Year 2010.