Designist Dream

How ironic that a week long - or two-week long - theme on work got me all out of sorts and out of my regular work/posting schedule!? My apologies to all for the scarcity in exciting Israeli design items to brighten your days. And a promise to start right away with some exciting news, pics and links to what’s been happening on the Israeli design scene here in Israel and abroad. Hooray!

So for a little cherry atop this welcome back Thursday sundae, above are the beautifully crafted Sugar handbags by Israeli accessories designer Riva Naroshevitch. Her line Design by Riva is ubiquitous on Tel Aviv’s shopping-forward streets mostly setting trends with its careful attention to design and clever use of textured fabrics. In her own words, “When I approach the design, I try to visualize the clients wearing it as if it was a dress or a shirt.” In other words, nothing more basic or rudimentary to your wardrobe than these lovely purses, shoulder bags and wallets.

One of the perks of Designist, is meeting all sorts of cool and creative people in Israel and around the world. Daniel Fintzi is one of those people: cool, creative and taking China by storm. Born in Tel Aviv, Fintzi went on to study and work in Milan and Paris - where he interned with Arik Levy (sigh). He wrote me overjoyed to read a ‘quality’ blog in English about Israel’s design scene. And I wrote him back overjoyed to not only receive such high praise from a designer, but also to learn more about the interesting designs featured on his website - ranging from underwear to tableware and everything in between.

Fintzi’s workspace above really caught my eye though. The combination of a glass-topped table with a three-wheeled bicycle cart base and those design-cannon Panton chairs? Wow. What an inspiring junction: there are the materials - glass, metal and wood and plastic - each referring to a different era, craft, method of production and endproduct; there are the aesthetics, the pure glass as a luxury item, the bicycle as a practical, tradesman item and the panton chairs as, well, just a groundbreaking design, plastic-meets-furniture item; and then there’s the message, which to me, was ethereal though grounded. As if you’re on a tangible, heavy bicycle cart but you’re floating in a dream world where cloud-like amorphous white chairs and see-through glass crisp air fuel your creative energies.

But don’t take my word(s) for it. I asked Daniel about his approach and design for this workspace and here’s what he had to say:

The bicycle cart is the conference\kitchen table for the Shanghai headquarters of ?WHATIF! creative innovation company. Based in London WhatIf helps companies to find new ways to innovate people, products and brands and meet changing client needs through unconventional research methods. Usually they come a step before the ad agencies… Coming to Shanghai I’ve been freelancing on collaborative projects for an international interior design company with a local branch called PDM International. Mostly I was creating original furniture pieces for their projects. A friend working with WhatIf came to me with the office design project, so I was able to really design the entire project (but I worked with PDM for the construction and project management so I can’t take all the credit).

In Shanghai, WhatIf had found this old towel factory which they wanted to convert into an office; they wanted to keep an open space while maintaining a warm feeling, and always relating the space and design to Shanghai. They also needed spaces to be easily convertible based on their changing schedules - workshops, events, meetings, presentations, etc. This explains the concrete and wood combination, wood marking the “live” area of the office. The trike was supposed to be a mobile meeting spot, but eventually we decided to convert it into a dining\meeting table. Together with the Panton chair, it creates a sort of fusion between the entrance’s chinese furniture and the office at the back with the workstations.

Overall, I think the effect is eclectic yet coherent. And the design certainly both breeds and reflects creativity and inspiration. I for one would love, love, love to work in a place like this. How about you?

Sorry I’ve been behind on my posts lately - actually I’m behind on my flickr pics too. Yikes! Things have a way of piling up on you even when they’re fun and interesting. My only excuse is that I’m battling a cold/ flu thing that’s leaving me brain dead with exhaustion. So to make it up to you, I’m going to continue the work theme this week because I have a lot more to write about including: a beautiful work space by Israeli industrial and interior designer Daniel Fintzi, working in the kitchen and unique office furniture designs from Israel - or how we like to look while working here. So please stay tuned and bear with me as I start to be able to breathe out of both nostrils… well, one’s a start right?

In the meantime, here are some interesting links about Israeli designers and artists making waves in the news:

~ The Wall Street Journal asks, “Is it art or just really expensive furniture?” Great question. Great article. And leading the discussion visually - the first photo featured - is Israeli design legend Ron Arad’s aluminum “After Thought” series (2007), at the Jablonka gallery space at the Frieze Art Fair last fall as featured above. Also peppering the discussion are works by Israeli design superstar Arik Levy.

~ Israeli contemporary artist Michal Rovner is interviewed in the Brooklyn Rail as her installation piece Makom II, meaning place or location, finishes its last week on view at the Pace Wildenstein Gallery.

~ For those of you in West Palm Beach, Florida, the Armory Art Center is celebrating Israeli Art month with an exhibition on Israeli textile art called “A Common Thread”. The month-long exhibition is accompanied by lectures and workshops by Israeli designers in the fields of fashion, jewelry and textiles.

Nothing says, ‘Now I’m seriously getting to work’ better than organizing or re-organizing your desk. Then again, nothing says, let me put off this project just a little more until I feel really pressured to complete it. Tomay-to, Tomah-to. Sometimes it’s not clear where clearing away old papers from your desk ends and putting your work on hold to clear your head begins. And that’s where the Israeli design items for your desk top come in. Take a look at these creative suggestions for your office or workspace. Designed to blur the lines between professional and fun, practical and stylish.

1. I’m not a clutter fan. Nor do I particularly like my desk filled with stuff - pencil holders, staples, paper clips, and pens. Thanks to Israeli design studio Monkey Business, not only do all those jangly tchotchkes have a firm resting place, but the interlocking tin parts form a rotating calendar as well. Talk about multitasking with style!

2. Take a memo or make your to do list in retro-humorous fashion on these illustrated memo pads by award winning Israeli cartoonist and illustrator Ruto Modan. Then post’em anywhere you’ve decided to stick these mini cork board tiles also by Israeli design collective Monkey Business. Say goodbye to the overbearing rectangular corkboard that is so large and cluttered that you hardly remember your own home phone number. Place tiles in strategically visual spots so you won’t forget important items or miss reminders throughout the day.

3. Found a penny or in this case a shnekel? Well you’re in luck because this innovative calendar by Israeli designer Ruthi Kantor lets you scratch off the days each month. Control your daily destiny by clearing the whole month before it begins or idly scratching off one at a time. It’s just too bad there are no prizes or surprises to be revealed.

4. You can really really take your time to enhance your daily computer usage with these keyboard stickers - or Skinboards as the hip kids are calling them these days - are by Israeli design company Dean’s Presents. There are tons more designs on their website ranging from the pink and flowery to the graphic ‘I <3 U' to my personal fave, the hardcore keyboard below. Let the email anarchy begin.

I have to admit, thinking of this week’s topic “Re-Design Your Workspace, Israel Style” has gotten my creative juices flowing. I’m feeling like changing things up a bit and where better to begin than by sorting out what’s going on in my head - or yours too for that matter. Instead of starting with the furniture - desk, chair, computer, cork board, lighting - or with the decor of your office - dark heavy woods, lightly painted walls and a glass-top desk, or a bright plastic repurposed IKEA-style - let’s start with what’s within. Or where the work really beings: with the musings of the mind.

I love beautiful sketchbooks, journals and notebooks. Not only because of the feeling from crisp white quality paper (more exciting than it sounds). But also because, when done correctly, the creativity that happens on the inside reflects what happened on its outside. And on that note, take a gander at the gorgeous writing pads by Israeli fashion and accessories designers Ilanit Neutra and Sharon Brunsher.

Ilanit Neutra strives to create eco-friendly design products by recycling inner tubes and tires into handmade, purses and wallets and other accessories like belts and sketchbook bindings. The sketchbooks above each have 82 blank white pages, of high quality paper, and range in size from 100 x 160 mm to 150 x 230 mm. All are bound with recycled truck tires. I love how Neutra manages to combine elements of the industrial, aesthetic and textural in her work. And you can rest assured that your deepest doodled secrets are safe in these durable rubber covers.

On the lighter and airier side of the design spectrum is ‘lifestyle’ designer Sharon Brunsher who, according to this recent WWD article on her and other Tel Aviv trendsetting Gan HaHashmal designers, mixes old and new, and textural and luxurious with monochromatic and modern. Her pieces range from fashion tops and bottoms to accessories - booties and scarves - to bedding and notebooks. Brunsher’s notebooks below come as a set of three in varying sizes with a chic leather binding. Together the set not only forms a pyramid, in the designer’s own words, but they also literally and visually tell a story. The sentence “Sometimes you should keep a memory forever” appears on the cover of the notepad itself and, obviously, the way you set them down each day may tell a different story. Given their layered packaging and meaning, Brunsher’s notebooks allow you to dream away - of times more chic and where memories were made.

So whether you’re looking for somewhere to hash out your parachute colors or brainstorm your next business venture, these Israeli designers’ sketchbooks give you two very different points of entry: one from the industrial, the other from the ethereal.

See you tomorrow as Re-Design Your Workspace, Israel Style continues

Well it was a busy week for me - and my apologies for the light postings. But I’ve been thinking of changing things up a bit around these here Designist Dream parts. And so, I’ll be kicking off next week with a theme. That’s right, designing with a theme never looked this good. No DIY, quick-fix-fall-apart-after-the-cameras-turn-off, kitschy amateur mess. No striped curtains, animal prints or anything velvet. This is all about the professional: classic, tasteful, smart and inspired. And a little whacky too.

I am pleased to invite you all to next week’s Re-Design Your Workspace, Israel Style. I’ll be covering all things work and office space related including lighting, desktop accessories, office space furniture and general decor. It’ll be cool, colorful, collectible and creative. And hopefully it will look something like the amazingly inspiring workspace featured above by Israeli designer Daniel Fintzi. Now living in Shanghai and collaborating on some very interesting projects, Fintzi will tell us more about his work in general, approach to creativity and the story and approach behind this cool office. So it’s a work in process - ha ha very punny - but it’s going to be great. See you there!

Weekly Wrap Up:

~ Israeli designers ranked high in Designboom’s Dining in 2015 competition. Including top honors for the Fragile breakable salt and pepper shaker by Mey Kahn and Boaz Kahn.

~ To celebrate my birthday I put together a wishlist of (the most expensive) items I wish I owned, ranging from Ron Arad to Arik Levy to Mike Darnell.

Links I’m Loving:

- Israeli design on the super-trendy Daily Candy: Shlomi Yagur is an Israeli-born designer now heading his own product design and development company in Denmark and NY. Multi4m, gets prime billing for this cute elephant lamp on a network TV morning talk show. Check it out here. (Thanks for the link, Shlomi!)

~ A very happy welcome to readers of The Honey, an e-newsletter about life, style, culture and fun in Israel. The Honey loved the Pita Pockets by Anat Safran that I featured on Designist a little while ago and were happy to shout it out on their recent issue. Thanks and check out their newsletter for other fun and trendy things to do - or going on in Israel.

~ And I’m not sure what to make of this Tel Aviv-based fashion house Spunk Fashion. I can pick out some items in the photographs that I would wear but only totally differently - like with a pair of jeans or classic trousers not with the items shown. It seems like the presentation is slightly weird here. Is it just me? Or is it just a very European trendy catalogue look that I’m not vibing with?

Have a great weekend and see you next week for some Israel-style work space re-design!

Hooray for me! It’s my birthday today! And to celebrate I’m going to celebrate my ideal - and supremely expensive - wish list of my top 5 presents I’d love (you forever if you bought me). I invite you all to enjoy the collection - unless you’re my Mom, in which case you may want to take some notes and send me a present already!? So happy my birthday to you all. And please feel free to share anything you’d like to add from your own present wishlists. Let the Israeli design gift giving begin

In no particular order of preference (Mom):

1. I like being organized, but even straight bookshelves have a way of being so… boring. But not with one of these (red please) super cool Bookworm bookshelves by superstar Israeli and international design legend Ron Arad. Sooo cool, I’m drooling (not cool).

2. These beautiful bowls and vases by Israeli ceramicist Marcelle Klein. I love how they reflect the texture and feel of nature despite a smooth marble-like exterior and abstracted organic shape. Simple and clean yet evocative and dreamy. My favorite.

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3. Usher in the age of enlightenment with these gorgeous pendant lamps by (one of) my favorite Israeli designers Arik Levy. The ‘minishakes.mgx’ designed for materialise are similar to Levy’s Shaman pendant necklace. Both are made of epoxy and rendered in a deep amber-brown color. To me, they seem sensual and casual. Arranged in a cluster of three (like in the photo) at different heights it’s an interesting twist on a chandelier-style lighting fixture for a bedroom no?

4. I love the layering of these gorgeous gold ‘Four’ rings by Israeli jewelry designer Orit Ivshin. A modern design within a handmade aesthetic. And it’s four rings in one - practically a beautiful bargain.

5. This amazing pop-goes-digital-references-an-older-classic-work-and-is-awesome print by my friend and Israeli artist Mike Darnell. A redux of the classic and ubiquitous sheep artwork by Israeli artist Menashe Kadisman. This sheep makes me smile.

Not sure how I missed this but international industrial design authority Designboom recently announced the winners of their Dining in 2015 competition which was sponsored by MACEF Milano. The challenge was to design cutlery, tableware, kitchen gadgets, cooking utensils or accessories, or general eating-related items for the future. In other words, design a product that reflects your idea of what food, eating, dining, hosting, serving, cooking, ordering in, taking out or just staring at your frigerator will be like in the year 2015.

And it turns out that like Israeli designers have a great - or should we say prophetic - outlook for the future of food because many of the finalists - including the 1st prize for Fragile salt and pepper shakers (below) - were by Israeli designers. My favorites are listed below, but check out the website for all the cool and futuristic distinguished designs from Israel and around the world.

Fragile
Salt and pepper shaker that you break apart by Mey Kahn and Boaz Kahn. Instead of destroying the work, the act of breaking it renders it usable thereby radically altering the user’s experience with the object.
1st prize

Fashion Victims
Mugs by Israeli designer Yael Kristal. Your morning coffee is victimized by the pervasiveness of fashion trends.

Turkish Coffee Set
Complete with burner, mugs, serving dishes and pitcher by Israeli designer Esli Alovi. Blending traditional practices within a modern design and commercial “kit”.

Eco Way
Ecological takeaway packaging using banana leaves by Israeli designer Tal Marco that keeps your food naturally fresh by using their natural waxy, durable and flexible traits.

Weekly Wrap Up:

~ Up-and-coming Israeli designer Kobi Nakav recalls the verticality of trees and natural growth in his square cork hanging plant frames. An ecofriendly solution, it also puts forth the importance of bringing the outdoors in - even in the most urban of spaces. Crossposted to Green Prophet.

~ Expect the Unexpected: Israeli jewelry designers render amazing three dimensional objects from the most unlike of sources. Recycled materials and two or even one dimensional objects are transformed into beautiful objects ranging from bracelets to modern Judaica. Crossposted to Modern Tribe.

~ Israeli artist Mike Darnell revisits the Biblical era from a Digital perspective in Digital Zion. Catch the exhibition on view at the Yellow Submarine in Jerusalem through March 12th.

Links I’m Loving this Week:

~ Israeli designer extraordinaire Arik Levy’s new glass candleholder (above) for Gaia and Gino is featured in a NYTimes’ Home & Garden slide show on getting your home ready for Spring.

~ Israeli artist Pinhas Cohen Gan wins the prestigious Israel Prize for his artwork (Haaretz English)

~ Fresh Paint launches their English website heralding their first art happening - exhibition and sale - of independent and up-and-coming Israeli artists. Coming to Tel Aviv on March 6th-8th, you can bet your bottom shekel that I’ll be covering this exciting event - and it looks like it’s going to be goood.

~ Industrial design headquarters Core77 announces the winners of its Greener Gadgets competition which include three Israeli designers in their ‘Notables’ winning circle: Atar Brosh, “Postmode”; Oded Shorer, “The Parasolar”; and Roni Baram, “The Handheld Vacuum Cleaner”.

~ This interview with leading British interior and home furnishings designer Tom Dixon in Metropolis magazine about his entry into the US market. Brief shoutout at the end to pioneering Israeli design superstar Ron Arad.

I’m not sure how Batsheva (above left) and Adam and Eve (above right) would feel about their having been reimagined within a 21st century digital Jerusalem - but Israeli artist and activist Mike Darnell certainly makes you wonder. His exhibition of these and other Biblical portraits are part of his “Digital Zion” exhibition that opens tonight at the Jerusalem Open House and is on view at the Yellow Submarine through March 12th. While the Adam and Eve print recalls the painting by 16th century German painter Lucas Cranach the Elder within a digital viewpoint, Darnell wholly reconfigures Batsheva. The digital imaging works on two levels: not only forcing us to ’see’ Batsheva differently but by doing so, we able to question her behavior and character. As Darnell puts it, “How much of Batsheva’s motivation for her nightly ablution was purely hygienic, and how much an exhibitionist’s seductive display…” Find more about these and other digital works by Darnell here.