Epson Picturemate, for Epson, Japan, 2006
Little Disk Hard Drives, for LaCie, France, 2007 / 2008
Innovative design needn't be glamorous or revolutionary. Whether the client brief is to create a space shuttle component for NASA, a concept car for Ford, or a new corkscrew for IKEA, the requisite mental ingredients remain fairly consistent: creativity, originality, and vision.
A new exhibition at the Design Museum will showcase a selection of work from Industrial Facility, a London-based design studio that deliberately embraces the mundane - think coffee makers, toilet brushes and door handles - and applies the rigours of high design to objects most people might otherwise think little about.
Jetlag Travel Clock, for IDEA International, Japan, 2008
Coffee Maker, for Muji, Japan, 2006
Toilet Brush, for Muji, Japan, 2007
Beam Lights, for Established & Sons, England, 2007
Two Timer Clock, for Established & Sons, England, 2008
Since its inception six years ago, the small firm has cultivated an impressive roster of clients: names like Herman Miller, Yamaha, KitchenAid, Whirlpool and Muji, among many others. Much of their work is commissioned for foreign markets so the exhibition will be a first look for most London locals.
Running in tandem is 'Under a Fiver' - a selection of almost one hundred items amassed by Industrial Facility co-founder Sam Hecht over the last fifteen years, all of which cost less than five pounds. That he chooses to collect and surround himself with such items offers an insight into his firm's mentality - at all times simple, functional and smart - and reminds us, as does the exhibition generally, that good design need not sparkle and shine. Sometimes it just has to turn out a good cup of coffee.
Ten Key Calculator, for IDEA International, Japan, 2007
Second Telephone, for Muji, Japan, 2005
Lo Cost Cutlery, for Taylors Eye Witness, England, 2007
IF4000 Knife Rack, for Taylors Eye Witness, England, 2007
Wine Opener, for Muji, Japan, 2008
Cantilever Piano, for Yamaha, Japan, 2008
'Under a Fiver', a collection of objects all costing less than five pounds
The objects were chosen by IF co-founder Sam Hecht
Paper Cup, for Takeo, Japan, 2005
INFORMATION
Event dates
9 May 2008 to 7 September 2008
Website
http://www.designmuseum.org
Telephone
+44.20 7403 6933
Address
Design Museum
Shad Thames
London SE1 2YD
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