Limber and loveable – these Cubebot pairs ( Julien, Guthrie and Cubebot) from Areaware are not your typical callous robots.
They’re crafted from hardwood and fold into many different poses.
Hand outstretched with a ring, perhaps?
Remember—there’s no operating manual for love.
Cubebots are available from dedeceplus here
Tom Dixon’s first collection of accessories, gifts and objects of design comes after ten years devoted to the creation of furniture and lighting products.
Tom is now regarded as Britain’s most original designer of his generation. He completed courses at Chelsea School of Art and began his career as a sculptor. Materials such as copper, marble, cast iron and wood were selected for their resilience and brand empathy.
Story featured in Introspective Magazine – by Clair Watson
Once upon a time, in 1895, in the small Austrian village of Wattens, a great industrial concern was born.
One of four sons of an ornamental glass stone cutter from Bohemia, a young man called David Swarovski invented a revolutionary mechanical cutting device (a “comb”), which not only increased production but also created such beautiful stones that he proclaimed “it was possible to believe they were real diamonds.”
Over the years, innovation followed innovation – including designing melting furnaces that produced first-quality crystals; establishing an optical division that ensured production throughout World War II; and discovering formulae for myriad new colors. Progressive expansion in response to evolving market need was fundamental to the successful growth of Daniel’s self-named company, Swarovski.
Exactly one hundred years later, in 1995, Daniel’s great-great-granddaughter Nadja joined the family firm at the age of 24 as a novitiate in the marketing and communications division, and she was dismayed to find progress stalled and the market mired in kingdom animalia, the ubiquitous Swarovski collectible.
She had seen the oncoming competition from China and Egypt, and the reawakening of the Czech Republic, the “sleeping giant of crystal cutting,” as she calls the original home of her great-great-grandfather. “I thought, ‘Oh my gosh,’ “ she tells me in the sun-filled enamel-white conference room of her New York City office, her mellifluous transatlantic accent tinged with the Tyrol.
“People didn’t know anything about the color and intricacy of the stones I played with as a child; they only associated Swarovski with crystal tabletop objects. I wanted to share the stories I grew up with. I wanted to make people understand the Swarovski that I knew.”
Her want is her deed, because today, 16 years on, one is hard pressed to think of a comparable “modern-luxe” family company that is better understood, or better known by the public at large. And it is a diverse public; one that snaps up a vast range of continually refreshed offerings, from haute (a ceiling-to-floor Cascade chandelier by Vincent Van Duysen for $135,000, give or take a crystal) to bas (a crystal bow barrette for $9.99), to the tune of $3 billion in 2010.
The 1969 pop charts were one of the strongest in years with the political, ‘Bad Moon Rising’ by Creedence Clearwater Revival, ‘Something in the Air’ by Thunderclap Newman mixing with the innovative, David Bowie’s ‘Space Oddity’ and the classics, The Rolling Stones ‘Honky Tonk Women’ and The Beatles ‘Come Together’.
“Suspicious Minds” was Elvis Presley’s seventeenth and last number-one single in the United States. Rolling Stone later ranked it #91 on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time
“Suspicious Minds” is a song about a mistrusting and dysfunctional relationship, and the need of the characters to overcome their issues in order to maintain it. ‘Suspicious Minds’ was a serious pop song about deep love, suspicion and hurt and with a dramatic operatic power.
Elvis’ musical strength had always been as a great interpretive singer and it would only be the absolute passion he injected into the song that would elevate it to the #1 slot amongst these other classics. Improved by Elvis superb interpretation, the stirring backing vocals, and the tight Memphis Horns, the cover became Elvis’ definitive latter-period song.
Suspicious Minds was written and recorded ( without success) in 1968 by Mark James – a staff song writer for Memphis Soul producer Chips Moman’s American Sound Studios. While James would also go on to write the other Elvis hits ‘Always On My Mind’, ‘Raised On Rock’, ‘It’s Only Love’ and ‘Moody Blue’ there was a special magic about ‘Suspicious Minds’
Even though James’ recording initially was not commercially successful, Elvis decided he could turn it into a hit on reviewing the song as presented to him by Chips Moman, in 1969. Originally country singer B.J Thomas was in line to record Suspicious Minds before the song was given to Elvis — who insisted on recording the song even when his manager, “Colonel” Tom Parker, threatened that he wouldn’t over the question of publishing rights.
In December 1968, Elvis, dressed in a black leather outfit, appeared in an hour-long television special titled, Elvis. Calm, sexy, and humorous, Elvis wowed the crowd. The 1968 “comeback special” energized Elvis. After the success of his television appearance, Elvis got back both into recording and live performances – his first for some 10 years.
In July 1969, Parker booked Elvis at the largest venue in Las Vegas, the new International Hotel. Elvis’ shows there were a huge success and the hotel booked Elvis for four weeks a year through 1974. The rest of the year, Elvis went on tour.
He first performed Suspicious Minds at the Las Vegas Hilton on July 31, 1969 and almost invariably Suspicious Minds would be Elvis’ closing song, later usually accompanied by extravagant karate moves.
Minotti has been producing upholstered furniture for more than fifty years, consolidating their position as a ‘Made in Italy’ brand within the international market
The sophisticated and well anticipated ‘Minotti Design Identity 2011’ Collection was launched on the 30th November at Dedece Sydney’s showroom. It’s an appointment long-awaited by the Australian A&D community, which now avidly follows Minotti’s trending directions and innovations
Minotti style is something special: it derives from the design system of Milan, constantly experimenting innovative forms and technical solutions, developing its knowledge of tried and tested materials and testing new ones, and implementing projects featuring a strongly individual cultural identity.
The Minotti ‘Design Identity’ is beautifully emphasised in this year’s collection: the preference for understatement, the focus on functionality and flexibility, the softness in the lines and proportions, and the weaving together of history, innovation and technology. The 2011 collection includes elegant sofas, tables, coffee tables, armchairs, chairs, beds and accessories – all pieces are emblematic of the brand’s ‘Design Identity’.
The 2011 collection, superbly co-ordinated by designer Rodolfo Dordoni was launched in Milan last April at the Salone del Mobile. Rodolfo Dordoni imprints the “contemporary classical” stamp on his work for Minotti – rather than the design of each individual piece, it is the materiality and the all-over impression that counts.
Dedece Sydney’s ground floor space was completely renovated for the event by Co-Ap Design – so as to better present the stunning 2011 Minotti collections.
Dedece is proud to say that it’s strong relationship with Minotti now goes back 10 years.
“to see the Minotti Design Identity 2011 Sydney launch function photos please click the continue reading button here”
