Monthly archives: December 2008
Festive season break
Please take note that the Fibre Designs Rug Gallery will close on 23 December for the festive season and will re-open on Monday, 5 January 2009.
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The desert never looked this colourful
Just as you thought the desert is a boring, monotone landscape, Fibre Designs introduces a new range of colourful hand-knotted Bedouin inspired rugs made from the eco-friendly bast fibre hemp.
Since the introduction of our first Bedouin inspired range (The desert never looked this cool) many advancements have been made in working with this interesting fibre. Pierre just recently sat down with our partners to discuss all the new possibilities.
Our weaving campuses have, amongst others, managed to improve on the dying process giving us some beautiful hues to choose from for this range. The fibre’s ability to hold the dye colour (colour fastness) has also been improved on, resulting in a rug that will look greater for longer.
This specific range will be launched at the Domotex Rug Fair in Hanover, Germany, and will be in the Fibre Designs Gallery end February.
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Camera, lights, action!
Watch SABC2′s premier arts and culture program ARTCHA on Wednesdays at 22:00 and you might soon spot a very familiar face.
The ARTCHA team headed up by presenter Eloise Cupido, also known for her roles in Jozi-H and Kompleks, recently visited Fibre Designs to shoot an insert on rugs as functional art pieces. And what better person to interview than Pierre. Anyone will have to search hard and far to get a person more passionate about rugs than him.
Be sure to diarise this one. We will keep you in the loop on when this specific insert will be aired. Not only will you learn more about the wonderful tradition of hand-woven rugs but you will also get to learn more about Pierre.
Artcha is an arts and culture magazine show. The name of the show is inspired by the spicy South African condiment Atchar and refers to the idea that whatever meal life serves up, art is the Artcha that adds a full bodied, sizzling flavour to our South African identity.
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The Origin of things beautiful
Fibre Designs introduces an exciting new addition to the gallery. Interior designer Beth Murray (Origin Interiors) has set up shoppe in what used to be the blacksmith’s work area in our historic 1812 building. Beth has put together a range of exclusive homeware goodies.
“I am so excited about my new shoppe at Fibre Designs. It is an eclectic treasure trove of custom designed bronze furniture and lamps, exquisite jewelry and bags, limited edition glassware and ceramics, sexy leather and Perspex boxes and a gorgeous range of down filled cushions and embroidered throws.
I wanted to create a space that has a luxurious, exclusive quality. The style is contemporary with an emphasis on texture from nubuck suedes, nappa leathers, heavy linens, crispy taffetas to dry woods, shiny glass and cool metal. Apart from the fabrics which are imported Ralph Lauren’s, Donghia’s etc. everything else is Africa based.
I have designed some of the items and worked with local manufacturers to develop them. Others are once-off pieces from various artists and jewelers with certain beautiful items being crafted in Kenya. So anyone looking for something unique, come visit.”
For more information contact Beth directly at 021 418 0368 (office), 083 469 6587 (cell) or via email at beth@origininteriors.com
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Ten commandments of good design
Earlier this year myself and Pierre had the privilege of working with the students of the Design Time School in Observatory on a rug project. Each student had to design and manufacture a rug that is not only functional but also sensitive to the environment. We were amazed by what the students had come up with. (Be sure to keep an eye on our blog next year for more information on this.)
All the students’ hard work were just recently exhibited at their year-end function at the Baxter Theater. Pierre was the guest speaker for the event and touched on, amongst others, the need for industry to work closely with students, a creative bunch, particularly in times like our present economic environment.
“Innovation in product design is of the utmost importance in times when retail is down. There is a definite need for dialogue and a very close relationship between industry and educational houses,” says Pierre. “Students provide innovative ideas whilst industry provides street knowledge and direct market feedback.”
Pierre referred to the ten commandments of good design by Dieter Rams, a German industrial designer which I would like to share with you:
1. Good design is innovative. It does not copy existing product forms, nor does it produce any kind of novelty just for the sake of it. The essence of innovation must be clearly seen in all of a product’s functions. Current technological development keeps offering new chances for innovative solutions.
2. Good design makes a product useful. The product is bought or used in order to be used. It must serve a defined purpose – in both primary and additional functions. The most important task of design is to optimize the utility of a product’s usability.
3. Good design is aesthetic. The aesthetic quality of a product is integral to its usefulness because products we use every day affect our well-being. But only well-executed objects can be beautiful.
4. Good design helps us to understand product. It clarifies the product’s structure. Better still, it can make the product talk. At best, it is self explanatory.
5. Good design is unobtrusive. Products fulfilling a purpose are like tools. They are neither decorative objects nor works of art. Their design should therefore be both neutral and restrained, to leave room for the user’s self-expression.
6. Good design is honest. It does not attempt to manipulate the consumer with promises that cannot be kept.
7. Good design has longevity. It does not follow trends that become outdated after a short time. Well designed products differ significantly from short-lived trivial products in today’s throwaway society.
8. Good design is consequent to the last detail. Nothing must be arbitrary. Thoroughness and accuracy in the design process shows respect toward the user.
9. Good design is concerned with the environment. Design must make contributions toward a stable environment and sensible raw material situation. This does not only include actual pollution, but also visual pollution and destruction of our environment.
10. Good design is as little design as possible. Less is better, because it concentrates on the essential aspects and the products are not burdened with non-essentials. Back to purity, back to simplicity.
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