YDN Design Guide HD

During the Milan design week Rossana Orlandi's gallery always provides a haven for young fresh design, a place where you can see a lot of exploration in crafts, stories and materials. With the courtyard as a center point of discussion and relaxation this hotspot always remains a must see during the week. This video focusses on the massive amount of lighting products seen in this years' exhibition.

One of the most impressive installations of this years Milan design week was at Chiostro Minore di San Simpliciano in the heart of the city. The exhibition Minecraft15 presented some of the best contemporary artists and designers in an amazing setting created by Danish/Italian design studio GamFratesi who was also in charge of the curating. The floors of the cloister were covered with a reflective surface creating an ‘in between’ space which was this years’ theme. ‘We chose the theme “In Between” because it reflects the fact that Danish craftspeople and designers work in a field of tension in between mind and craft. This exhibition covers the full range of that span, including fully developed ideas, conceptual qualities and sublime artistic and technical accomplishments, coupled with a unique understanding of the materials,’ designguide.tv

This used to be everyone's favourite area of the Milan Design Week, Zona Tortona. But unfortunately due to the increased commercialism and the decline of the economy this place lost its critical eye for great design. Yet there are always a few highlights if you look hard enough. For instance this years' presentations by Moooi and Lasvit were some of the exceptions.

This collection at the Dutch Design Week 2014 is all about Cohesion, in the broadest terms of course. Finding that correlation between objects, surfaces, materials and dimensions. The idea of a 'product' was abandoned and instead they focussed one element, a layer. Think of it as an experiment to be used in a future product or project. The projects are spread across the room with a strong grid on the floor separating them, following the grid in a way as they divide the space. Some works play with the 3d space such as studio Mieke Meijers carefully suspended Frames & Volumes in an exploded view, a play of reflection and light absorption. The work of Daphna Laurens plays with optical depth perception, moire and light with their 'Flat Light' lamp shades while Thomas Vailly & Laura Lynn Jansen take a more subtle approach with optical layers showing tension in their object only when touching it. In any case as always there were plenty of interesting experiments to see in a beautifully crafted exhibition amidst the craziness of the Dutch Design Week, usually one of the highlights for seasoned visitors. Dutch Invertuals is a yearly changing collection of designers curated by Wendy Plomp. They present in their collections in their home town Eindhoven or during the Milan design week amongst places. In these specific curated and carefully crafted environments the designers to express their future experiments and explorations in material and shape within a very open theme. www.dutchinvertuals.nl

Modebelofte is a presentation of new fashion talents recently graduated from Dutch and international fashion institutions. Their experiments try to seduce us into their personal visions of the future of fashion. Most notable is the way it has been presented here, in its own little universe of suspended mannequins and dramatic lighting emphasising the silhouettes. This is the direct result of the partnership between visual designer Niek Pulles and experience designer Harm Rensink who were asked to design this exhibition.

Sandra Suubi was known on campus as the girl who collected trash for her art with an aim to create beauty from waste. During the workshop (held in English) as part of Age of Wonderland, an event which focuses on sustainable social change, Sandra will guide participants in making instruments from recycled materials. Participants of all ages are welcome to join, just remember to bring your own trash. Suggestions include hard plastic buckets, pipes and bottle caps, metal pots and cans, flexible panels, glass bottles, beads, buttons or whatever the would-be performer desires. Concluding the week will be a jam session where participants can showcase their instruments and performance skills in their own way in a public concert. The workshop highlights not only making and music, but resourcefulness, possibilities and co-creation. www.ageofwonderland.nl

Discarded plastic bags are spun into fine yarns and then woven into textiles, a technique Michelle Baggerman developed during her graduation period at the Design Academy Eindhoven. By collaborating with Mexican social design organisation Anudando, textile items are made from plastic bag yarn together with craftspeople from regional parts of Mexico who specialise in weaving, crochet and basket making. “The craftsmen we work with are extremely skilled and inventive,” tells Michelle. “By offering them a new material to work with, which can basically be collected from the streets, and taking a new perspective on the different products they make." more info on bureaubaggerman.nl anudando.com

Julia van Zanten decided to challenge the issue of the stigma related to incontinence, her inspiration, a family member who suddenly decided they didn't feel comfortable going on long walks with her. “Practical solutions exist in the form of adult diapers, but these do nothing to address the emotional side of this common problem” Julia created a washable textile underwear accompanied by washing elements and a campaign to bring awareness to the subject. The aim: to restore some dignity and a sense of security when leaving the home. Take a look and decide for yourself, is this something you'd rather wear then an adult diaper? Julia explains: “In the end it is not about the end product but the experience and conversation around its cycle of use leading to a change in perspective. Through this project I aim to provoke others to consider moments on the margins that could do with the same attention as our emphasis on designing chairs and lamps.”

Imperfect Design pairs Dutch designers with craftspeople in emerging countries to produce handcrafted lifestyle products. Since Niels van Eijk and Miriam van der Lubbe’s first collaboration with Imperfect Design in 2011, it’s been nothing short of a commercial success for Cantel, their collection of striking recycled glass vases made by glass blowers in Guatemala. The range of colors being limited only by what is available, as the production uses only recycled glass. available for purchase on www.imperfectdesign.eu

In this series of short looks at the Milan design week 2014 we take a look at the key events happening in the inner city of Milan and the Brera District.