May 2011

I have spent some time looking at valet furniture using Google’s image search in hopes of generating some ideas for designing a related furniture object. Generally you can find one in a hotel. They are typically used for hanging up a suit and storing all of the items in the suit’s pockets. Ultimately I came away from this search with an idea for receptacles, hooks, etc., that are designed with specific objects in mind, like cell phones, keys, scarves, bags, coats, etc. I explored how this might be integrated into a coat rack-type system. What I have come up with, so far, is a configurable coat rack system that uses color-coded hooks and receptacles for many objects that one might wish to place close to the front door (of a house, office, hotel room).
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So Saturday was ICFF concentrate. By that I mean I flew into NYC Saturday morning and flew out Sunday Morning. After dropping off my toiletry kit at the hotel (why bother with a change of clothes?), I headed over to Javits. I started running into people I knew pretty quickly, which is nice and means that I am in the right place. With a couple of friends of mine from Blu Dot, I headed over to the ICFF stage to hear an interview with Marcel Wanders. The conversation was slow getting off of the ground but I think ultimately got at some substantive talk (e.g. the power of storytelling, advice for young designers, focusing on the new as an empty pursuit, etc).

Here are a couple of images from that discussion (note the footwear and lack of socks- very nice):

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My last project for the school year is a light that uses a left over piece from the Dome Light project, a dimmer switch, dimmable LED puck light, RP components, an acrylic lens, and a cloth-covered cord. The light is designed as accent lighting. The top of the light rotates in either direction to turn the light on and off as well as dimming. Dimples on the top suggest finger placement.
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