Journal
Certainly one of the most interesting things I saw at Milan Design Week was Carlos Mate’s The Flowers of Evil. He says he created the collection to show that people’s darker sides can be beautiful and attractive too. He cites Rimbaud’s poem...
Journal
Shop windows, when done right (usually with equal components of self-assurance, flair, humour and wonder), are a thing to behold. They can offer that youthful Charlie and the Chocolate Factory amazement, that "I want it, and I want it NOW" lust, but...
Journal
For anyone who’s done a bit of long-haul flying, chances are you’ve come across the island, city and nation of Singapore. But if you’ve only ever seen the inside of Changi airport, or a quick stopover tour of the hawkers’ markets and...
Journal
One of the most blissfully handsome designer-meets-brand installations at last week's Salone del Mobile came courtesy of Dutch design duo Scholten & Baijings. Essentially the dissection of a MINI's design process, the pair introduced their familiar...
Journal
John Rainey is studying for an MA in Ceramics and Glass at the Royal College of Art. His Computer Augmented Portrait series was chosen to be part of the RCA’s Paradise exhibition in Milan’s Ventura Lambrate district. Using the entire...
Journal
With a philosophy of "smart design" - small-scale production of handmade objects that utilise recycled and upcycled materials for minimal cost - Homeless is a platform to bring new talent to the fore. For their first annual design competition,...
Journal
One of the most invigoratingly creative group shows we saw at this year's Milan Design Week came courtesy of the young folk at ECAL, the University of Art and Design Lausanne, Switzerland. Too Cool For School saw the students of Industrial and...
Journal
Dutch designer Tessa Koot showed off this fabulously whimsical family of furniture at Via Tortona's Tuttobene last week - as part of Salone del Mobile 2012. This is not design made for comfort or practicality - this is design teetering on the very...
Journal
When I started writing this column over six months ago, I promised to bring you design that make you feel like you’d momentarily lost the need to breathe. That’s exactly how I felt when I spotted the Wharton High Desk by Geoffrey Keating at the...
Journal
Awkwardly jarring with the dingy looking side street it inhabits, Hong Kong concept store Konzepp is an inexorably showy little affair. Its asymmetrical façade is like the result of a pixel explosion, garishly yellow, unwieldy but elegant - it's...
Journal
From the swinging '60s, through punk and onto Factory records and The Haçienda. Margaret Calvert's road signage, to the E-Type's that whizzed passed them. Richard Rogers' Lloyd's building and Norman Foster's Gherkin, the uncompromising intensity...
Journal
Often when you get up close and personal with something you’ve admired from afar, it falls short of your expectations. The Sydney Opera House is a lot smaller than I thought it would be – so is the White House. They say you should never meet...
City Notes
A striking new addition to Prague’s culturally minded hospitality scene, Sir Prague opens its doors inside a meticulously restored neo-Renaissance building dating back to 1884. The latest venture from Sir Hotels, this sophisticated stay blends...
City Notes
Located in Copenhagen’s tranquil Østerbro district, Amator is an attractive new spot that blends the warmth of home dining with the refinement of a contemporary café and restaurant. The brainchild of chef Mateusz Sarnowski, better known as Mati...
City Notes
Bringing a sleek blend of Japanese-inspired aesthetics and high-fidelity audio to the heart of Williamsburg, Hear & There is the latest destination for those seeking an immersive dining and drinking experience. The debut concept from...
The Edit
Marking the opening of EMOP Berlin 2025, the Helmut Newton Foundation unveils Polaroids, a striking new group exhibition celebrating the art of instant photography. A defining medium of the 1960s, Polaroid photography was revolutionary, offering...
Dispatches
If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent hours filming, editing, and posting content only to see it flop. Maybe you get a couple of likes from your friends and your mom, but the reach? Flat. And when you’re trying to grow on platforms...
Dispatches
Traveling to inspiration and solitary places can refresh body and spirit. Artist travel spots are special places where peace and loneliness meet to generate innovative thoughts and deep introspection. As an artist seeking a quiet retreat or as a...
Dispatches
There are awards, and then there’s the A’ Design Award & Competition: an institution in the world of design excellence, and a long time collaborator that we're thrilled to be working with again this year. Recognised globally as the most...
Dispatches
In the quiet moments between helping hands and heartfelt responsibilities, caregivers often forget one very important person: themselves. Whether you're caring for a loved one, working in a professional role, or juggling both, self-care can feel...