Archive for the ‘Design + Creativity’ Category
Swedish Design + Destination: Urnatur
Urnatur, which basically translates to “out of nature,” is a Swedish forest getaway, where visitors can stay in cabins and spend time re-connecting with nature. But it’s also a design firm that believes in the beauty and simplicity of nature and crafts incredible pieces that capture the pure essence of the natural world.
Yoga Is My Bailout
Found out about the blog Yogadork via Twitter. Yes, it’s exactly what it sounds: a blog for the yoga obsessed. But in the current economic chaos, the t-shirt that they’ve decided to market is genius.
Sure, the world economy may be in shambolic disarray, but personally we’ve been in trouble before and yoga has always provided us with the tools to work through it, on the mat, or in the world. Budgets are tight, wallets thin, cutbacks the mantra de rigueur. What’s the one thing we don’t ever have to give up? Yoga.
And the shirts are even made from organic bamboo. You think I would give a t-shirt a mention if it was made from conventional cotton? Doubtful.
Organic Designs From Danish Ferm LIVING
Danish based design group Ferm LIVING just released their spring 09 catalog and there are some intriguing organic designs.
Printed on 100% organic cotton, these tea towels scream nature. And bicycles. Both things that I love.
The Beauty of Mass Transit
Maybe it’s because I live in a city known for it’s public transportation, but I love mass transit. Anywhere I travel I make it a point to take a local bus or subway, and tend to put a map of the transit system in my pocket to be oggled at upon return. I am therefore enjoying the slideshow put together by the Huffington Post’s Dave Burdick. It’s an excellent collection of the design of public transit maps.
Take a look at the full slideshow here.
Environmental Art: Alistair Heseltine
Came across the work of Alistair Heseltine the other day at work. Based in British Columbia the sculptor works with natural elements to create his interesting, and at times magical, works of art.
Using nature as art is nothing new, but what I really like about his sculptures and designs are the distinct lines created from natural sources, like the tree above. He makes formations that teeter on the ledge between natural and man-made, making us think both about the art and the elements used to create it.
You can see more of Alistair’s work at his website.
Nature is Back
Design aficionados will know that the Stockholm Furniture Fair took place last weekend. And although I would have loved to be there for it, reality decided otherwise; trips across the continent and Atlantic for a weekend aren’t what one would call realistic.
Fortunately there are enough Swedish design blogs that covered the fair to keep my eyes in awe for awhile. Husmusen happens to be one of my favorites, and the blog’s very own Frida Berglund snapped the photo above. Nature is clearly making it’s way back into design.
The designers of the items above aren’t mentioned, but take them for a little inspiration for your own project to bring nature back into your personal space.
[Photo: Frida Berglund, Husmusen]
H&M Spring 2009 Line Gets More Sustainable
The great thing about my job is that I get to do a lot of writing about sustainable design. But it’s mostly outdoor and travel related, which is why I maintain this site. Think about it: H&M and Wend don’t really mix. But the Swedish born company definitely deserves a mention for their incorporation of sustainable fabrics like organic cotton and recycled PET.
H&M has been using organic cotton for a few years now. In fact last year they used about 3,000 tons of organic cotton and this year plan on 4,500. This is however the first that I have heard of the company using recycled PET (basically recycled plastic bottles broken down into small chips and then spun until polyester fiber) in their clothes. And not only that, but they’re bringing in textile remnants and recycled cotton.
Thanks to Inhabitat for tipping me off!
[Photos: Inhabitat]
Gingerbread Houses
I didn’t realize it until a few days ago, but green and sustainable gingerbread houses are definitely the “it” thing this season. Treehugger has written about them as have two other eco-concious sites Inhabitat and Grist, and even the New York Times got all excited about sustainable architecture represented in baked abodes.
Sadly, I didn’t have the time to put towards making my own version of a sustainable gingerbread house. But I’m still happy with the outcome. I guess I could lie and say that the candy canes are supposed to represent solar panels… but that wasn’t intentional.
Only From a Swede: Luminescent Fiber Optic Wallpaper
As I said yesterday, it’s the time of year for light, which makes this new wallpaper by Swedish designer Camilla Diedrich so fitting. Lit up by fiber optics, the luminescent wall paper almost magically adds light to a room without an actual light fixture. But surprise, surprise… it’s expensive.
[Via Inhabitat]
Buttons for change
Art is politics and politics is an art, which is why I love these buttons. Small enough that they’re not too in your face yet powerful enough to send a message. You have to be in with the designers at Trollbäck + Company to buy one, but maybe they will inspire you to make a couple yourself. See more here.
[Via Cool Hunting]
blog.annabrones.com 
