The Objectspace Best in Show 2013 exhibition has come to an end. From what I have heard, it was a very successful show. If you don't believe me then read all about it!

The local, monthly, community magazine, Ponsonby News reaches more than 60'000 readers.

The exhibition received a full-page spread in the loyally followed magazine in which a feature talks about the show and each project that participated. It even includes an image of LightSpace! For better reading clicking on the image below.

Ponsonby News - March 2013

Each month I select a handful of creative "things" from across the world and combine them to create a sort of "inspiration soup" that is consumed to motivate creativity, spark interest and exercise that cerebral matter.
Let's see what the inspirations for the month of March 2013 are...

The theme this month is KiK, 'Keeping it Kiwi', because like the bird, if you don't look carefully you'll miss it.
Kia Ora!


LINK OF THE MONTH
New Zealand is considered a small country compared to the rest of the world. With a population a little over 4 Million people, it punches well above it's weight. That includes design, and Fancy is New Zealand's leading blog for contemporary NZ design. What I love most about Fancy is that it honours and celebrates New Zealand's unique design culture. Fancy is also one of my blogs that I visit on a weekly basis, because it showcases "awesome design stuff, from around new zealand & around the world, but mostly nz".

The New Zealand Design Blog, Fancy!

IMAGE OF THE MONTH
Vicki Te Puni is one on New Zealand's young and upcoming stars in photography with her face appearing on both sides of the camera. She was one of the faces for Unitec in a reality-styled ad campaign that saw Te Puni on TV commercials and billboards across the country.
Behind the camera, Te Puni has been capturing some of the deeply personal and story driven artefacts behind her participants. This insight has been executed with fines in an almost documenting and recording style that lets the artefact speak.

Salu salu (Fijian decorative neckpiece)

VIDEO OF THE MONTH
I think creating a music video clip would be one of the most difficult film jobs to do successfully. It's your job to turn lyrics and emotions in to something visual without being literal and on top of that you want it to be original in some aspect to stand out from the billions of music videos in existence.
That is why I have chosen the music video for 'Wake Up' by Kiwi songstress, Aaradhna. It's a clever, soulful little piece of work directed by Special Problems. And it's a catchy little tune!

Aaradhna - "Wake Up" my debut single from my new album coming later in the year!!! I like to call it Retro / Metro. Inspired by old favourites like Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, Richie Valens, The Capri's and contemporary artists like Amy Winehouse and Calvin Richardson. After time away from music, this is my most honest album to date.
The album is called "Treble & Reverb" - Coming November 2012.
Directed by Special Problems. - Youtube video information

PRODUCT/FURNITURE OF THE MONTH
Finding a contemporary, designer chair that I genuinely like is actually a hard task for me. I stumbled across the Odin Chair on a design blog and it was love at first sight. The obvious Scandinavian influences and attention to detail caught my own attention and on further investigation I found out that it was actually by Kiwi designer, Jamie McLellan. I think you'll agree that it's hard not to like this design.

Odin Chair by Jamie McLellan

ARCHITECTURE OF THE MONTH
During my Architectural education, there were only a handful of international architects that influenced the way I approached the relationship of nature and architecture. Probably the most influential was one of New Zealand's leading Architects, Andrew Patterson.
Patterson Associates has become recognised as one of five architects, world-wide whose "Work is set to shape global architecture in the 21st century." - World Architecture News.

The Hills Clubhouse, Arrowtown, New Zealand (photographer: Simon Devitt)

GRAPHIC OF THE MONTH
The word graphic to me isn't just an image on paper. The further away it can be from that perspective the more interesting. That is why I have selected the work by Citta Design. Their Winter 2013 collection 'Londontown' has been based on characters that are represented through textures and patterns. Instead of showing you an image, I thought it might be cool to experience their work through this thoughtful video... 




FASHION OF THE MONTH
They are the pioneers of fun and colour in New Zealand fashion. WORLD is the "Factory of Ideas and Experiments" and believes fashion should not be taken too seriously. This attitude has defined them as one of the countries leading fashion houses. They pride themselves on offering opulent "experiences" and are a brand set on dressing the exterior of men and woman so to match who they are on the inside. It's hard to say exactly what they do in so few words, but what they don't do is "Boring".
HERE is a must see video of co-founder and designer, Francis Hooper talking to the NZ Herald. 

'Boring Get's You Nowhere' A/W 2013 Collection (Hotel Chevalier Paisley Jkt and Skirt)

When I say these four words, "Cleaning, Transparent, Yellow, Grey", What do you think of?



I bet 99% of you couldn't help but think of, the Dual Cyclone inventor, sir James Dyson's namesake vacuum cleaners - with their strong colour identity, strong build and strong suction. 49.5% of you probably only needed 50% of those four words in any combination to figure it out. But enough with the useless made-up percentages, I have made a discovery...

The first vacuumes by Dyson, the DC01 and DC02

Dyson revolutionised the vacuum cleaning industry using his revolutionary technology. To me he is the the Leonardo da Vinci of this century... including a crumb of the previous century. When most of the world has paused to accept that we as human beings have reached our inventive potential, Dyson reinvents the wheel.

His products are (debatably) good looking and smart, fresh and exciting, they are the Porsche 911's of proud home keepers, hotel staff, and Porsche 911 owners... Until my (then 32year- old) sister, with 3 kids hanging from her limbs, ended up buying the classic model Dyson vacuum cleaner, which is kept safe in it's garage (laundry cupboard).

Now my sister isn't what I'd call the target market of Dyson but that is how successful James Dyson's products are - everyone understands them, everyone wants a one!!!
They are premium products that need little to no explanation on how they work, operate, or benefit their user - outweighing its premium price. This is what separates good products from successful products and I hate to do this but I'm going to compare them to Apple.

Comparing apples with Apple is a possible task: If it's a flat piece of technology containing software and a sort of screen embedded in it then it is actually quite simple. But if I was to compare Dyson to Apple you might think a cog has tumbled out of my ear but with the following four points, I uncover their similarities:

1 - EASY TO UNDERSTAND AND USE: They both rose to mainstream fame with their transparent-shelled designs that let the user peer in to the "soul" of the product and instantly understand it's inner workings. A complex view or not, this removed the intimidating veil of past technologies, disarming any doubts held by the user. This design feature says to the user

"I am different

but do not fear me,

discover me"

iSee what you mean (Transparent bodies of Apple and Dyson)

2 - VALUE: They both were premium-priced products that sold very well, in fact the products sold themselves. "Consumers are assumed to act in terms of rational calculation in market decisions and have three characteristics: i. Their tastes are consistent. ii. Their cost calculations are correct. iii. They make those decisions that maximise utility." McCormick, 1997.

3 - EXPANDABLE: They both spawned a new ethos of products from the success of a single product. Apple went on to create the iPod, iTunes, iPhone etc. Dyson went on to create the Air Multiplier, Dyson Hot and the ever increasingly popular Airblade.

Meet the family (1st Gen iPod and Dyson's Airblade)

4 - POINT OF DIFFERENCE: They both were similar enough but different enough in comparison with their competitor products, which gave them a point of difference

So similar, yet so far apart (Steve and James with their doodads)

The lesson I hope to walk away with from this "analysis" is that a good product looks good and does good. Successful products are strong enough to sell themselves through ease of understanding and use. More importantly they have a strong identity, that potentially could lead to an ethos of products.

On Friday evening, the opening night for the Objectspace Best in Show exhibition took place on Auckland's, Ponsonby Road. It's full steam ahead for JDD down in Dunedin, but I was lucky enough to have a space in my calendar to attend the event and see all the work by the other 18 talented exhibitors whilst meeting interesting guests.

This is my first exhibition outside of university, there was a feeling of excitement - that this occasion will mark the official beginning of my professional career because it is here where I will meet people and present myself as a design professional instead of a design student.

A selection of projects by Best in Show exhibitors

The evening started at 6pm with eager guests clamouring to get in and see the work, the diversity of which made for a rich viewing experience. There were pieces of fashion, jewellery, ceramic, lighting, graphic, product and more through out the space that let the viewer transition between inspirational design worlds.
For me, this is what makes Best in Show such a unique opportunity for both exhibitors and guests - it's a place to be inspired and interact with emerging thinkers and makers, appreciators and the like-minded, where a community of support and opportunity is presented to all who attend, not just the exhibitors.

Objectspace Best in Show Exhibition 2013 from Jade Doel Design on Vimeo.

Inside Objectspace

Jade and friends at Objectspace

Anna, enjoying LightSpace

Jade (left) with friend Jared

I feel completely honoured to have been one of the few selected national design and arts graduates to partake in Objectspace's 9th annual Best in Show exhibition and I would like to thank them tremendously for inviting me to be part of this amazing platform. I would also like to wish all the other graduates the best with their professional careers.

Best in Show is open to the public until the 2nd of March 2013 (10am-5pm), 8 Ponsonby Road, Auckland

Following are a few photographs taken at Objectspace the following morning, where exhibitors spoke about their work on display.

Each month I select a handful of creative "things" from across the world and combine them to create a sort of "inspiration soup" that is consumed to motivate creativity, spark interest and exercise that cerebral matter.
Let's see what the inspirations for the month of February 2013 are...


There seems to be a very colourful theme to this months inspirations, I must either be in a good mood or it is a manifestation of my love for colour, I'd like to think it's both. This month also sees the addition of four, brand new categories to my Inspirations of the Month; Architecture, Product, Graphic and Fashion. Bon appétit!


LINK OF THE MONTH
One thing a designer can never have too much of is inspiration. I've recently come across a blog called KIND that presents a diverse cross-section of culture, digital media, design and art.

WARNING! YOU MAY GET STUCK THERE FOR HOURS!

IMAGE OF THE MONTH
This image seems artificial but it is in fact a tapestry of Tulip fields in the Netherlands. The photographer, Normann Szkop must have had endless amounts of images to go through after this shoot! 

Aerial Photographs of Tulip Fields in the Netherlands by Normann Szkop

VIDEO OF THE MONTH
I think this video is simply brilliant at interpreting Munch's famous 'The Scream' painting. It doesn't take its self too seriously and this, contrasted with the painters dark thoughts makes for one hell of an experience. Quite easily my video of the month. By Sebastian Cosor.

The Scream from Sebastian Cosor on Vimeo.
“I was walking along a path with two friends – the sun was setting – suddenly the sky turned blood red – I paused, feeling exhausted, and leaned on the fence – there was blood and tongues of fire above the blue-black fjord and the city – my friends walked on, and I stood there trembling with anxiety – and I sensed an infinite scream passing through nature.”Edvard Munch, 1893


PRODUCT OF THE MONTH
For my first product of the month I want to share with you a Kickstarter project called Yolkr. It's always the simple, yet clever and helpful products that get me excited and the Yolkr is exactly that; simple, clever and helpful.
The two young designers behind the egg-yolk-sapping product are Kiwi's, Hamish Dobbie (Founder/Engineer) and Darin Bogardus (Industrial Designer).  It also might be worth mentioning that Bogardus is a graduate from the same degree and university as me! Go Unitec! 

ARCHITECTURE OF THE MONTH
As you may know, I have a huge passion for Architecture, in fact I studied a Bachelor of Architecture for several years before crossing over in to Product and Furniture Design. Architecture is a world of it's own and it's a world that I'm always keeping an eye on. I thought for my first post on Architecture I would share a photo of my favourite residential Architects, Fearon Hay. What I admire most about Fearon Hay's work is there ability to mould or dissipate their structures in to the landscape.

Island Retreat, Waiheke Island, New Zealand (2011)

GRAPHIC OF THE MONTH
My first graphic is actually a video... But it's a video of a super-wicked-Picture-Book-sketching-extraordinaire, who goes by the name of Oliver Jeffers. Cool work and a cool guy, check him out!

Oliver Jeffers Author Film 2013 from Oliver Jeffers on Vimeo.


FASHION OF THE MONTH

"MINJU KIM is the winner of H&M's 2013 Design Award. The South Korean designer hails from the prestigious Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Antwerp, studying under Walter Van Beirendonck and Dirk Van Saene - who are known for being the original members of the infamous Antwerp 6 design movement and champions of concept-based design." - Kristopher Arden-Houser for Vouge UK.

 I'm a sucker for kooky-provokative fashion, and I think I've just discovered my new avant guard fashion hero! What I love about Kim's aesthetic is the fun factor and the love and passion for her work which is very apparent in her designs, it makes me want to be... Happy! What more could you ask for? 
The composition of textures and pattern and well-crafted garments puts her up there with the best! A well deserved winner, I'll certainly be keeping an eye on her future.