Clerkenwell Design Week reviewed

It's been a hub of activity near the office this week as Clerkenwell Design Week kicked off in great style. So far we’ve managed to take a look at what’s on display in the Farmiloe Building, which provides a fantastic backdrop for the exhibitors to showcase their designs, with four floors of the building filled. The vast colours and textures on display from international interior design and architecture suppliers provide a stunning contrast to the exposed brickwork and floorboards of the elegant Victorian former glassworks.  

A few stands caught our eye including James Burleigh’s classic furniture with a modern twist and splashes of colour.

Duffy London made us smile with playful yet beautiful designs such as the UP dining table and the swinging chairs.    

The trail of showrooms and fringe events creates a really fun atmosphere and luckily the weather has stayed dry encouraging visitors to spill onto the streets with chatter and inspiration. A scenic walk up to the House of Detention was peppered with installations in gardens and pop up shops. The House of Detention was really exciting as it was underground, there was an acoustic performance and all the stands were in the cells of the Victorian Prison – a huge contrast for those who had just been to ExCel May Design Series! Particular favourites were Foundation Rugs graffiti style soft decorations; Mirror Glow’s beautiful pieces which really lended themselves to the surroundings and Merve Kahraman’s genius and luxurious furniture.

Clerkenwell Design Week has established itself as the UK’s leading independent design festival. The event finishes on Thursday 23rd May so there is still time to see what’s happening at any of the 60 showrooms taking part.

The 6 most excruciating interviews

The Guardian has featured on their blog a list of 6 of the most excruciating interviews, after one of their journalists had a bit of an awkward encounter with Ginger Baker.

The list features some you may remember and some you may not, including some deathly silences, awkward moments and scathing attacks, all sourced from YouTube.

Featured in the list is Bruce Willis on the One Show, wrestler the Ultimate Warrior being interviewed by Arsenio Hall, Clive Anderson interviewing The Bee Gees and David Blaine being interview by Eamone Holmes.

Take a look at the full ist here and see them for yourself.

Tempur-Pedic Bear advert

An advert for Tempur-Pedic mattresses from America has nailed the concept that Snickers has been working on in their current campaign.

Without adding much more this clever ad really has you guessing and is worth a watch.

Take a look below and let us know what you think.

The colours of marketing

When branding a company or product a lot of thought needs to go into the colour used as it has been proven that certain colours provoke certain psychological responses.

For example, most fast-food chains use red to provoke hunger, whilst luxury brands will tend to use black, gold, silver or white to convey a feeling of sophistication.

These and other reactions to different colours are highlighted by the infographic to the right.

Featured on PR Daily, the infographic was produced by CertaPro Painters, possibly a marketing ploy of their own.

Australia's emergency 'Softstop' sign system

Getting people to notice road signs can be difficult, especially on busy commuter route.

In Australia the government is trying to tackle this head on, as they have experienced problems from people ignoring warning signs when entering a tunnel in which there was a fire.

As a possible solution, the 'softstop' sign was created. A sign made from water and light it was brought to fruition by an R&D programme that used technology from Laservision, a creative technology firm that designs architectural lighting, permanent attractions and special events primarily for the entertainment industry, along with pump manufacturer Grundfos.

The combination of the two allows for a sign that appears directly in front of the car, making it difficult not to spot.

Watch it in action below.

Pop-up garden along the Thames

The Design Museum has opened a pop-up garden in 'The Tank' outside the museum along the Thames. The garden is a joint venture with Swiss design company Vitra.

The garden, with its overgrow grass, features designs from some of the biggest names such as Charles and Ray Eames, Jasper Morrison, Jay Osgerby and Verner Panton. It also provides a space for visitors to sit and enjoy the area and sights.

All the pieces featured are also on sale at the museum shop or online here.

Mirare Maze Folly at Clerkenwell Design Week

This week is Clerkenwell Design Week, running from 21st to 23rd May. 

We have been sent this wonderful piece of work that is featured in the event, designed by Mobile Studio.

Called Mirare Maze Folly, the piece reinvents the classic garden maze, with walls that are made entirely of clear acrylic and uses plays on light and reflection.

The maze is a new addition to Mobile Studio's family of modular systems offering infinite size and configuration, retaining the idea of permeability and sitting almost like a ghost folly within the design festival.

Find out more about the maze and the design week here.

After the games photo series

In an insightful project, io9 has procured a series of photographs documenting what has happened to the buildings used in past Olympic Games. 

The series focuses on the structures that have gone unused and derelict, including some from recent games in Athens and Beijing.

Take a look at the full collection here.