Designs of the Year 2013
Now in its 6th year, the Designs of Year pits work from around the world, in categories from architecture to fashion and furniture, against each other. Here's a few of the projects that caught our eye.
With last year’s winners BaberOsgerby’s Olympic Torch still in memory, one of the favourites on the current list has to be Heatherwick Studio’s Olympic Cauldron.
The celebrated design, unveiled during the Olympic Opening Ceremony, is constructed from 204 copper petals, each one representing a competing nation. The petals were made by car panel beaters in Harrogate.
One of the characteristics of the Designs of Year is that well-known projects sit side-by-side with more esoteric ones. Here’s Jolan Van der Wiel’s Gravity Stool. This is him, and his machine, in action – starting with a plastic incorporating metal filings, magnets are then used to persuade the material into a form…
Like this.
Here’s A Room for London, parked on top of the Queen Elizabeth Hall on the Southbank. The one-bedroom installation is the result of a collaboration between David Kohn Architects and artist Fiona Banner.
Here’s a peak inside.
With a nod to the burgeoning world of domestic 3D printers here’s The Replicator 2 by MakerBot, a fourth generation machine. It’s on the shortlist for being ‘the easiest, fastest, and most affordable tool for making professional quality models at home.’
The fashion section include Jacqueline Durran’s costumes for Anna Karenina...
...as well as Craig Green’s A/W men’s collection. In Green’s collection, each colour outfit has a replica in black that acts as a shadow walking behind the coloured version on the catwalk.
Back in the furniture section, here’s the Sea Chair project by Studio Swine and Kieren Jones. Creating devices that collect, and create usable material out of, the plastic debris recovered from seas and oceans.
The biggest, and perhaps one of the more controversial, designs on the list is Renzo Piano’s Shard. The tallest building in Western Europe, The Shard is made up of office space, restaurants, residential apartments, a 5-star hotel and London’s highest viewing gallery.
We’re particularly happy to see Andrew Tanner’s English Hedgerow plate – the cover star for our March/April 2012 issue – included on the list. Congratulations to all!
The shortlist will be on show at the Design Museum between 20 March and 7 July with the overall winner announced in April.
For the full shortlist, click here.
