Ever harboured a secret desire to take tea with the Queen, Prince Charles or Camilla? No? You might now…. via Swiss Miss
If you want to take tea, you’ll definitely be needing a lovely Edouard Marty tea pot from the London Transport Museum.
Archive for April, 2010
First we had Guerilla Gardening then The Secret Garden Project and now, blowing all of those concepts right out of the water, the USA brings us reconditioned bubblegum vending machines that dispense seeds to transform dishevelled urban spaces. Once their only use was to rot our teeth and send us hypo but clever people from LA have found another use for them – converting the machines into seed dispensaries.
If you like this, you might also like this V&A allotment kit and these retro weather magnets or even this Butterfly Army print.
I met The Emotion Lab founders, Chris and Tom, in the place where the concept was born – a sweet little café in the middle of the “Barri de la Ribera” in Barcelona. Bounding with energy, the boys were ready to share some their creative insights with us.
-How was The Emotion Lab born?
Marta, Yago and the two of us met in Barcelona while we were studying for a Masters Degree in Product Design. After long conversations about projects and possible products, we decided to work together. We wanted to be able to express ourselves in a way that we couldn’t in jobs in other studios.
- Why “The Emotion lab”?
We realised that the common factor that was present in each of our ideas was the “feeling” that existed behind every project. We were all willing to create objects that could trascend functionality, that would give every design an “inside”, a soul. That is how our identity -and name- appeared.
-How do people respond to your work?
The moonwatch, for example, has given us a lot of amazing responses, both from men and women. We are really grateful for all the positive comments we have received since we’ve started, and we have to admit that the most critical remarks have made us improve our designs and the way we approach them.
-What would you suggest to someone who wants to buy an object?
The first thing to take into account is to think if they really need it. However, we are aware that most of the things we buy are not always vital. That’s why part of our work is to provide the objects an additional value…The emotions. In this way, the good brings in a new perspective. The object is then transformed and its use is redefined. We are also very concerned about the sustainability of the materials that are employed in every piece.
-Historically, women have been seen as more likely to buy emotionally, would you agree?
We don’t disagree, but actually right now The Emotion Lab is a team of 3 men. It is funny that you ask that because although there are products that could be more related either with men or with women, we intend to design pieces that can be suitable for both sexes. We believe we all have a sensitive side, and The Emotion Lab tries to work with this human essence to create new concepts.
-Have you any advice for aspiring designers?
Strive to find ways to work on what you really believe, live your passion.
Check out this witty website, click here: http://producten.hema.nl/, wait 5 seconds… And see how their products interact with each other. Luckily this does not happen inside our cupboards! Although we love the concept.
You know we wouldn’t give anything away to our readers without first *sampling* the goods, right? So, before offering a lucky reader the chance to win 3 month membership to Love Art London, we were honour-bound to take a trip down to Haunch of Venison, to check out LAL’s latest exclusive gig. We’ll let founder, Chris Pensa tell you a little more about it.
Exclusive preview of “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child” Forever remembered as one of the art world’s brightest—and fastest burning—stars, Jean-Michel Basquiat was in equal measure a masterful painter, inspired poet, cult celebrity and style icon. Via NOWNESS, we exclusively preview Tamra Davis’s new documentary on the artist, “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child”, which was premiered yesterday at MoMA during the Tribeca Film Festival.
Who isn’t into art and design these days? Who doesn’t expect even the little things, like our shower curtain or our tableware for example, to say something about the people that we know we were born to be. We want things that stand out, that are studio-designed, ethically made and retailed in hard-to-find boutique stores at prices that don’t make us cringe. Read the full review here. Buy graphic art at prices that won’t make you cringe here and here and… oh all over Culturelabel really.
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA) store has launched a new range of artist-designed product designed by San Francisco typographer and printer, Jack Stauffacher. But SFMOMA is not the only store retailing artist-designed Totes, oh no. Here at CultureLabel you’ll also find totes designed by Sam Taylor Wood, Peter saville, and Paul Morrison. Go to SFMOMA store 
This week we are running a competition with FADwebsite to offer one lucky FAD fan the chance to win a smorgasbox of products from the UK’s finest cultural institutions, design boutiques and independent artists. To be in with a chance of winning the box, which might include a limited edition tax disk holder by Gavin Turk
from Pretty Taxing, a Mystery Multibox (in a sealed container) from Third Drawer Down, a calendar from Central Illustration Agency and a Cockney Rhyming Slang tea towel from the Museum of London, all you have to do is email competition@culturelabel.com.
If you’re an artist under 35 who is not yet represented by a UK gallery then we’ve got a little bit of news for you. The Converse/Dazed & Confused Emerging Artist AWARD is running a design competition, the winner of which will receive a cash prize of £ 6000 and a chance to show your work in London’s Stephen Friedman Gallery. Runners up will receive £1000. Deadline for entries is the 1st of may.
Click here for more info.
Arresting images of handmade Paola Zakimi figures. Born in argentina and traced with singular sensitivity.
Via MocoLoco
