Repeat. No Repeat.

FilzFelt joins the Knoll family

Knoll had not one but two big announcements this week, including the exciting news that they acquired FilzFelt. The modern furniture giant purchased FilzFelt - a small woman-owned company based in Boston that has been selling felted wood textiles - in order to increase their portfolio of desirable goods and materials for both the commercial and residential markets. FilzFelt joins leather companies Spinneybeck and Edelman as Knoll-owned companies producing luxury goods for the A&D community, and it seems to be a smart pairing.

The wool felt produced by FilzFelt is milled in Germany at a wide width (up to 71") and is available in many different formats. Not just intended for upholstery, felt has structural and dimensional stability and can be used in appropriate thicknesses as an architectural material for screens, wall and ceiling panels, and flooring. It can be die-cut, water-jet cut, laser-cut, laminated, stitched, or receive an adhesive so there is inherent flexibility in the installation of felt as a material. Since the felt is 100% wool, it is natural and biodegradable, renewable as a resource, and is warm and resilient. It has wonderful acoustic properties, and provides insulation. It is also non-directional, which makes it most flexible as a material with little waste factor. It is also water resilient, another feature from the wool fiber which contains lanolin - a natural protectant for sheep's coat. And if that's not enough, wool is also inherently flame retardant. FilzFelt has tested their products tro ASTM E84 standards, and rates as Class A for dyed products (Class B for undyed). It comes in five thicknesses (1/16" up to 3/8") for the various architecural applications, and 58 colors. Speaking of color, since wool is porous as a fiber, it takes dyes beautifully, leaving true clean saturated color behind in gorgeous hues. The color palette used bu FilzFelt was established with a select grouping from the Pantone PMS system, but for a mimimum you can get any custom color. Another bonus working with felted wool is that since it's non-woven, it can be cut without compromising the structure of the fabric, and therefore you can have exposed edges if desired.

FilzFelt screens used in a corporate pantry

FilzFelt wool rug with decorative stitching detail

EAMES: The Architect and the Painter

Eames mania is everywhere you look today, no doubt in part to the release of a new documentary on design's most famous couple. Eames: The Architect and the Painter was released in late 2011 in a small theater run, and then aired on PBS as part of their American Masters series. It is a fascinating in depth look at Charles and Ray as individuals and as a working couple, with questions about their contributions to both the design projects and the marriage. They were both on their own visionary artists, but together they were a force to be reckoned with, and this film does a great job at going into their studio and exposing the ideas behind the legends. And since Charles and Ray were also very articulate, we thought we would post some of their more thought provoking quotes. There is even a book called "100 Quotes by Charles Eames", published by Eames Office. Check out both the book and the film, while cozy in your Eames designed lounge chair and ottoman. And if you are in LA, don't get cozy yet, there is an ongoing exhibit at the A+D Museum called Eames Words, on view until February 20th.

Ray:

- "What works good is better than what looks good, because what works good lasts".

Charles:

- "The details are not the details. They make the design".

- "Recognizing the need is the primary condition for design".

- "Whoever said pleasure wasn't functional?"

- "Art resides in the quality of doing, process is not magic".

- “It is not easy to do something good, but it is extremely difficult to do something bad".

A Look Back: The Best Stuff of 2011

What a year! With all the product releases and introductions, you would never know the economy is still slow. Manufacturers are meeting the demand for good design by consumers and end users, whether it be intended for personal use or on commercial projects. Good design is everywhere (Amen!), as evidenced by the slew of products that made their way across our desks and into our consciosuness. So what was the best stuff of 2011? Let's take a look back....

Row 1 (L to R): HBF - Nest, B&N - Infused Veneer, Allermuir - Octo, Bernhardt - Apel, B&B Italia - Tufty-Too. Row 2: 3Form - HighRes Imagery, Zero - Fisherman, Sancal - Tab, Lama - LED carpet, Vitra - Jill. Row 3: Brentano - Sputnik, KI- Itoki DP, Vibia - Wind, Axor - Axor Bouroullec, Milliken - Fixate. Row 4: Davis - Gingko, Mutina - Phenomenon, Andreu World - Nub, Tom Dixon - Base, Fritz Hansen - Favn. Row 5: B&B Italia - Husk, B.Lux - Around, 3Form - Timber Latitude, Bernhardt - Forest, Davis - Sola.

Row 1 (L to R): Kartell - Comback, Plumen - Plumen 01, Haworth - Reside, Beside, Belong, Davis - Kontour, Steelcase - Soto II. Row 2: Skyline - 5+ Collection, Carnegie - Pixie Applique, Knoll - Krusin Guest, Unika Vaev - Ilias Collection, Keilhauer - Moss. Row 3: Lori Weitzner - Cinema Posters, Corque Design - Puf String, Leland - Ebb, Infiniti - Loop 3D Vinterio, Martin Brattrud - Kurve. Row 4: Murano Due - IXI Lights, Dune - Asteroid, Bend - Farmhouse, Buzzispace - Buzzihub, Duravit - Darling. Row 5: Geiger - Loophole, Humanscale - Trea, Coalesse - Sebastopol, Lobmyer - One Crystal Chandelier, Coalesse - EMU Pattern.

Report from Neocon '11

The Take5 Forum with The Mohawk Group @ NeoCon 2011 from neoconwtf on Vimeo.

Finally back from the Windy City and another Neocon. As usual, it was an action-packed adventure filled with events, networking, seminars, and of course tons of new products for the A&D community. Here's a recap of all the Neocon related activities that I either particpated in, witnessed, stumbled upon, or merely blew by. But before you scroll any further, click on the above link to see a bunch of folks talking about what inspires them at Neocon. Recognize anyone?

SATURDAY - JUNE 11

The pre-Neocon party to be at is the DIFFA Ball. This year, the theme was "Rock n Roll" and 90s indie rock legends The Lemonheads were booked to play the ball. The DIFFA Ball is indeed the most glamourous of Neocon events, and not even the IIDA Ball can hold a candle to the themed party environment that is carefully created each year as a benefit for AIDS. It is one first-class party, with top-notch decorations and food, as well as compelling speakers and a good DJ, and of course it's always a treat to see designers dress up in creative black tie. I have to admit that I was pretty excited to see the Lemonheads again - this time at a private function - although it was an odd choice for the ball. My hunch proved correct as I was THE ONLY PERSON singing along and rocking out. Yes, the only person out of maybe 1000 people. There were a few people dancing during their set as if they were at the prom, but they weren't fans from what I could tell. It was my own private concert as most party goers went to get dessert, and well that was pretty depressing. So I realized something at that moment, related to all those lectures we get as designers about the differences of the four generations in the workplace. You see, I am part of Generation X, the smallest and loneliest generation of our times. The world is - and the DIFFA Ball was - filled mostly with Baby Boomers ("That music is too loud") and Millenials ("Where is Lady Gaga?). It seemed as if I was the only Gen X'r in the room who related to The Lemonheads. I think all those social anthropologists are on to something. To make me feel better, I did get the set list and Evan Dando gave me his guitar pick. Oh, and I also met Yves Behar of Fuse Project (designer of Herman Miller's new Sayl chair) -  we had a nice chat about art and other things, and I look forward to seeing more products from him in the future.

SUNDAY - JUNE 12

First stop was the Interior Design Magazine Giants event, where I met Design-On-A-Dime star Ali Azhar. It was also great to see many industry friends, as this is one of the joys of Neocon. Then it was off to the IIDA Cool Ball, which was the platform for the awards of the IIDA Annual Design Competition, which were handed out to the lucky designer recipients. Of course Clive Wilkinson won another award for his One Shelley Street project for Macquarie - probably the most iconic corporate project of the last few years. A special award for the winner of the Will Ching Design Competiton was Sand Studios of San Francisco who won for their SPARC project, a medical marijuana facility. Surely this is a first?! After the ball it was off to bed, as the first full day of Neocon was approaching.

MONDAY - JUNE 13

First stop was the Herman Miller showroom, where their Canvas product dominated the showroom. Also visited with Geiger, Leland, Bernhardt, Keilhauer, Allermuir, and Davis. Then went to Haworth where I met Clive Wilkinson in person, who designed their showroom in between collecting awards. The big news from Haworth is that they will now be the North American distributor for legendary Italian furniture manufacturers Cassina, Cappelini, and Poltrona Frau. Che fantastico! Also fantastic is Steelcase's new sister products to Media:scape, Mini and Mobile. Every systems furniture manufacturer now has a Media:scape "me too" product, featuring collaborative conferencing. Had lunch at the Bright showroom, then finished visiting the showrooms on the 3rd Floor after a wonderful stop at HBF. Had fun with MaryJo Miller of HBF Textiles (how I love that woman!) and met the very busy Todd Bracher, designer of HBF's new seating line "Nest" (as well as Humanscale's new "Trea" chair and Shaw's new carpet line "Music Project"). I also explored the Materials Pavilion on the 8th Floor, sponsored by Interiors and Sources Magazine and curated by my dear friend and materials guru Grace Jeffers. My colleague John Trosino from Kling Stubbins gave a presentation in the late afternoon called "Restoring Beauty", about our firm's restoration of the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. It was wonderful reliving all of the stories and details about the ballroom renovation and especially the art and chandelier restoration work. After that was an event at the Tandus showroom, then a very crowded party hosted by Interface, and then the Vitra event held at the newish Renzo Piano wing of the Art Institute of Chicago. What a day! 

 
Haworth showroom from the hallway 

Davis showroom, featuring Kontour

TUESDAY - JUNE 14

Tuesday was all about the 10th and 11th floors of the Mart. At Knoll I fell in love with the new sister chair to Generation (called Regeneration), which is a slimmed down version of the original. At Shaw, minds were blown with a new concept that "activates the edge". Interface had not one but two carpet showrooms - one for creative and collaborative settings, and one for more typical office settings. Loved both! Visited Bentley Prince Street, Milliken, Mannington, and Aquafill too (where I learned about how they reclaim fishing nets to make their recycled nylon fiber). Had lunch with a cool British company called KITE, and then saw lots more furniture from companies like Vitra, Coalesse, and Andreu World. Later in the day I participated in a panel about Designers & The Web, hosted by Stylex and moderated by Designer Pages. My fellow panelists, which included John Czarnecki (new Editor in Chief of Contract Magazine), had a great time discussing how the web is used in selecting and specifying products. We had a great turn out with great questions at the end, thanks to all who came out (especially the Philly contingincy). After another evening furniture event with an international crowd, and a sighting of HGTV's Vern Yip on the sidewalk, it was off to bed after a long day.

 
Shaw contract's On The Edge collection 

Vitra showroom

WEDNESDAY - JUNE 15

Finished up the 10th and 11th floors with Allsteel, Gunlocke, Teknion, Luna Textiles, Masland, Wolf Gordon (who has added textiles to their repetoire), and B&B Italia. Love the new Gather collection from Allsteel, filled with pieces intended for break out areas - especially the upholstered platforms at mulitple heights. Went to Halcon to visit the Best of Neocon winner (that's Best of Competiton!) which is Motus, the most elegant modular wood table ever. As for the most elegant presenter, we then visited with Carl Magnusson at Teknion to learn all about MAST, his new monitor arm system. Then cruised the 7th and 8th Floors, where my favorite was Design Within Reach's booth, which showcased an Executive Office outfitted in Finn Juhl and Verner Panton. Oh that desk! Also discovered new stones from Stone Source (check out the new Burlington Stone, from a previously unmined part of the quarry). And then Neocon was over, just like that. Is anyone else suffering from post-Neocon depression?

 
Allsteel's Gather collection

Carl Magnusson showing off MAST at Teknion

Click here to view the entire Neocon 2011 photo album.

Neocon: Designers and the Web

Gearing up for Neocon now and so excited to see all the people and products! Join me on Tuesday at the Stylex Showroom (Suite 346 of The Mart) where I will be particpating on a panel discussion about how designers are using the internet for help in selection and specification of products. Joining the discussion are some prestigious folks: John Czarnecki - the new Editor in Chief of Contract magazine, Jenny Rector from Designer Pages, Paul Petrunia of Archinect, and Michelle Mirrielees from DeStephano and Partners. I can't wait to see you there, bring your questions and hopefully we'll have some answers. Some items on the agenda: differences in information and media and how they are utilized by designers; changes in libraries and updating of materials; changes in roles as specifiers and vendors; how do designers get information; how do we source products in the digital age; role of the trade show; how do clients get the info; and how can manufacturers help us better. Phew!  

Collab's 40th Anniversary

COLLAB is a group of design-obsessed volunteers affiliated with the Philadelphia Museum of Art who assist the museum in procuring modern objects of importance for the permanent collection. They also serve a tremendous role in educating the public about design as well as celebrating design's role in society via their annual Design Excellence Award and Gala, as well as numerous exhibitions, lectures, and publications. On Sunday, May 22nd, COLLAB will be celebrating their 40th anniversary at The Perelman Building with a trio of exciting events. An exhibition entitled "Collab: Four Decades of Giving" will showcase the best modern objects from the museum's holdings - and exhibit organizer Diane Minnite will be on hand for a tour and unique look into the collection. Curator Kathryn Hiesinger will also be on hand to lecture about her new stunning book "Collecting Modern", which chronicles the PMA's history of collecting modern design objects. After both events there will be a celebratory reception in the Cafe at the Perelman - and if you are there at 3 pm, OvationTV will be on hand filming for a new series hosted by Lisa Roberts (author of "Antiques of the Future") called "My Design Life". You won't want to miss this most excellent afternoon! We will be there and cannot wait to see the exhibit and hear Kathryn's lecture.

Kling Stubbins takes Product Runway's Grand Prize

The Atlantic City/Philadelphia chapter of NEWH hosted its first Product Runway event on Thursday evening at Harrah's casino. NEWH is a networking organization for interior designers and product vendors working in the hospitality industry (that means designing for hotels, restaurants, bars, nightclubs, casinos, and retail). So Harrah's at the Pool was the perfect venue for nine Philly area design firms working in the hospitality market to compete for the grand prize, using materials typically reserved for building materials and construction. Each firm is paired with a sponsor vendor and must exclusively use that's company's products in the construction of the outfit.

This was not the first fashion show to be done in the Philly region - IIDA had sponsored three "Finish Meets Fashion" events in years past, with the most recent one being in 2004. And Product Runway is also no stranger, being done in cities around the country. But for this marketplace, Philadelphia has been hungry for another chance to participate in such an event and thus the local NEWH chapter brought it to fruition. And on with the show...

After all was said and done and the nine models donned the runway, the three judges selected only one winner for the grand prize - Kling Stubbins in Philadelphia. As these gals are my co-workers and close friends, this is a huge thrill to say the least, and we can safely say that it is a well deserved honor after seeing the design process and production up close. Representing KS on the runway was Senior Designer Jennifer Thorsen, who channeled a modern-day warrior wearing a creation fabricated from materials donated by Designtex. Our team's submittal required a written description of the concept:

Life is filled with dualities that create tension: Light and Dark, Yin and Yang, Black and White. In our intense and chaotic world, the modern warrior wears this tension like a cloak – shielding the darkness and embracing the light. The warrior soldiers on through the mire hoping to be refreshed and reborn from the hospitality of others, if only a brief respite from the mayhem of this world. Our warrior is outfitted in multi-facted materials from Designtex that have an implicit duality, protecting her from life’s battles. Proudly donning textiles made from cassette tapes, corn, vinyl, and window shades – and further accented by resin, our modern hero is ready to take on any challenge. And once the day is done and challenges are won, our hero lets down her guard and transforms into an ethereal goddess, embodying the true sense of balance and serenity. This state is one of inner peace and harmony. Once the cycle is complete, our warrior once again embraces the trials of a new day.

The materials used from Designtex were mainly textiles, but all were challenging and unusual to work with on the human form, starting with Sonic - a black fabric made from recycled cassette tapes. The Sonic fabric was fused with Ingeo, a die-cut white fabric made from corn (the starch is used to create the fiber). These two fabrics created the cape-into-skirt panels, and you see each side depending on which version the model is showing (up in cape mode shows the black, and down in skirt mode shows the white). The asymmetrical off-the-shoulder top was crafted from window shade trevira called Cinq, then embellished with white vinyl appliqués. A silver version of shade fabric was then cut into strips and woven into one leg of the the black patent leather (vinyl) pants, as well as forming a woven belt, necklace, and armband. Further enhancing the look were pieces of Fusion resin, machined into clasps and toggles, as well as the signature "brass knuckes" ring! And in true industry fashion, no look is complete without some incredible styling - Jen's hair and makeup were fierce, befitting a warrior-turned-goddess.

Sonic fabric - made from recycled cassette tapes -by Designtex

Ingeo fabric - made from cornstarch - by Designtex

Congrats to the Kling Stubbins design team, led by Senior Designer Pier Derrickson: Allison Beaird, Samantha Fletcher, Jaci Price, Michelle Prieston, Cassandra Wagner, Jamie Wrenn and of course our model, designer, and muse Jen Thorsen.

Artifort's Orange Slice turns 50

Dutch furniture manufacturer Artifort is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the design of their iconic Orange Slice starting with a series of acknowledgements to honor the chair as well as its designer, Pierre Paulin. The chair has always remained in the Artifort collection, and will be joined by a new limited edition version within the year. Sadly, Paulin passed away last year, just shy of his creation's 50th anniversary.  He was awarded the great honor of Royal Designer for Industry by the British government after his death.

The chair was introduced to the public in 1960, at the Cologne Furniture Fair, and there was so much interest and fanfare that the chair became an instant classic. Originally known as the F437 chair, it didn't get its name until much later, when fans of the chair collectively and warmly referred to it as "Orange Slice" due to it's familiar shape. The chair consists of two identical Beech wood shells that are heat pressed to form their shape, and then covered in foam and upholstered.

The limited edition version of the chair will feature a pearl chrome finish on the frame, and will be available in only one of two black-based, white patterned fabrics from Swedish textile manufacturer Vaveriet: Anime (floral pattern) or Woton (graphic link pattern). The pearl chrome finish is exclusive only to this anniversary edition, and each chair will come with a commemorative label plate underneath the seat shell. This version of the chair will be available for sale starting now and extending through April 2011, after which will no longer be available. Of course if you miss the anniversary edition, you can always buy the classic original, which will always be a staple in the Artifort line.

In addition to the anniversary chair launch, the Orange Slice 50th birthday will be featured at the Belgian trade show Interieur Kortrijk.

Artifort has launched a new marketing campaign for the chair as well, showing how over the last 50 years, the Orange Slice has been a timeless staple of well-designed interiors over the decades (see the pictures below). These images will be featured in a special postcard set. Which decade is your favorite? 

The 60s

The 70s

The 80s

The 90s

The Millennium - 2000

The present - 2010

Dietiker to the rescue!

Many furniture manufacturers rely on dealers and installers to provide delivery and installation services to end users.  But what happens when grand acts of nature impede your furniture delivery?  Swiss manufacturer Dietiker recently had to go to extraordinary lengths, the kind you only see in action movies, to deliver an order of stack chairs to a hospitality client.  For the first time in their 130 year history, Dietiker had to enlist the services of the Swiss Army to airlift the chair order to their client, who could not be reached due to closed roads. The end user was a Mountain Resort, and despite the road closures, the facility was in need on an on-time delivery.  Therefore Dietiker devised a plan - to deliver the chairs via helicopter! Determined to bring Swiss Design (and Swiss precision timing!) to the forefront, Dietiker has shown that this is but one example of a company committed to its clients.

Steelcase recognized with six Good Design awards

Each year, the Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design awards hundreds of product designers with their prestigious Good Design awards. Acknowledging a wide range of categories such as sports, technology, medical devices, graphics, children, transportation, household and personal goods, tabletop products, finishes such as wallcovering and flooring, kitchen appliances, and bath fixtures, among others - the awards recognize not only the year's best new industrial design but also graphics and environmental design.  The Good Design awards are intended to illustrate the best examples of design innovation for products and graphics.  The jury, comprised of well-respected authorities on design and product development from several disciplines, bestowed six awards on Steelcase and sister companies Turnstone, Coalesse, and Werndl this year, which is no small achievement.  

The six products receiving top honors are as follows:

Elective Elements 6 by Steelcase

Elective Elements, a line of freestanding wood casegoods, has been in the Steelcase line for a long time.  A few years ago version 6 was launched to incorporate a more flexible and modular system, which could bring EE (as it's known) out of the private office and into the open plan work environment, as well as keeping up with current trends.  This year, Steelcase was honored for it's new enhancements to EE6.  Product refinements are essential to keeping a furniture line relevant and never becoming obsolete, and this award clearly recognizes that.

Big Lamp by Turnstone, part of the Campfire Collection

Turnstone, Steelcase's more budget-oriented sister company geared for home office/small office and start-ups, introduced the Campfire Collection this past Neocon.  The Campfire collection was inspired by the interaction and sharing of stories that happens, well, around a campfire.  A range of seating, tables, and desking products are part of the line - but the one most talked about is the Big Lamp.  And yes, it's pretty big, to serve as a canopy, defining destination zones in open office plans.

Denizen desking and storage system by Coalesse

Coalesse's launch of furniture for Work/Life is apropos, since nowadays work and life is one giant blur and there is no hard separation.  With the design of Denizen, residential-looking modular casegood pieces combine in different ways to create endless configurations for desking and storage.  This is furniture that is easily at home in an office setting or a residential one, with a specific mid-century aesthetic.

Ivy Collection by EMU for Coalesse

Last year, Coalesse hooked up with Italian outdoor furniture manufacturer EMU to launch a large collection of instant icons as part of the Advanced Collection.  Working with five designers, the Ivy Collection was designed by Paola Navone and inspired by the mass and forms of topiary.  Made of steel that is powder-coated and treated to withstand outdoor weather conditions, this large scale collection fills a void in the market of sculptural outdoor furniture that is thoroughly modern. 

Heaven by EMU for Coalesse

Another EMU outdoor collection, this one called Heaven designed by Jean-Massuad, is comprised of tubular steel and woven wire mesh.  The collection consists of generous-sized chairs, tables (both occasional and dining height), ottomans, and vases - which in our opinion are quite dramatic and stunning.

QiVi Chair line by Werndl for Coalesse

This is the only winning product that is not available in the US, and is only available in Europe.  The QiVi line of seating is part of Werndl, which is under the Coalesse umbrella.  The line consists of Task, Conference, and Guest chairs with a perforated back that flexes and thin upholstered pad seat, designed by Brodbeck Design out of Munich.  Maybe now that is an award winning chair line recognized by the Chicago Athenaeum, Steelcase and Coalesse can bring this to the US?

Get ready for the 2010 Vision Awards!

The Architecture and Design profession is one based on critiques and juries.  When in school, design students are faced repeatedly with audiences to whom they must defend their designs and learn from the comments of others with more experience.  Not much changes when you work in a design firm, as the design process is evolutionary and is subject to frequent and ongoing reviews.  So it's no wonder that our industry is also rife with competitions.  There are lots of them, and it's easy to gloss over the many that come across your desk.  Every once in a while we get excited about one that stands out, especially regarding the world of materials  - hence we bring you the 2010 Vision Awards!

The Vision Awards celebrate design excellence in flooring, specifically how well flooring is integrated into an architectural project.  This year, the competition is sponsored by Floor Focus magazine in conjunction with manufacturers Bentley Prince Street, Centiva, Crossville, and Johnsonite. Designers and architects have until February 19th to submit their projects, which must have been completed between January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2010 in order to be eligible. There are four categories in which projects can be entered: New Construction (a separate category for both Large and Small project), and Remodeled projects (also separate categories for Large and Small projects).  A winner will be selected in each category earning a prize of $2000, and one entry will be the overall winner with a prize of $4000. The judges will look for examples of projects where the flooring is a major part of the concept and how it complements the project's overall design. The winning projects will also be featured in Floor Focus, the design industry's most well respected flooring magazine, and Floor Daily, the respective website.

“I believe the most exciting element to design is the inspiration behind it,” says Anthony Minite, President and CEO of Bentley Prince Street. “So, it is exciting to support a program like the Vision Awards that recognizes individuals and firms who were inspired by flooring and appreciate its role in creating beautiful interiors".

For an entry form and submission guidelines, visit here.

Herman Miller Student Video Competition

Furniture manufacturer Herman Miller is hosting a cool competition for students - and not just for design students.  This is a competition for all types of students, calling for video entries to address the broad question: "Where do you learn best?"  Like many manufacturers of systems furniture and office seating, Herman Miller has been branching out to the Education markets to share information and data about how people learn (similar to their knowledge sharing of how people work), all in the name of providing furniture solutions.  Universities especially are breeding grounds for new ideas and concepts that mimic what goes on in broader society.  For example, the idea of "Third Place" - that other place in public that we plop down and do some work, and is neither home nor office - is very prevalent on college campuses.  Even when there was no term for it, students were always finding an ad-hoc spot to collaborate on projects or do some heads-down work between classes and between buildings.  So now Herman Miller wants to collect data that supports these ideas, and what a good idea to start with students themselves.

The competition entails video submissions no longer than three minutes, due by March 26th.  The prizes are sweet - Visa gift cards ranging from $1000 - $2500, although it would have been amazing to include an Aeron chair in the mix!  Regardless, it sounds like fun and if we were students we'd give it a whirl, especially knowing we would be helping future students with important data that could shape how they learn.  Contest guidelines can be found here.  Good luck to all you students out there!

3form People's Choice Installation Contest

3form, the Utah based manufacturer of Eco-Resins and other related translucent and opaque materials, is hosting their 4th Annual People's Choice Contest for best installation of 3form products.  3form is soliciting designers and architects to submit photos of their completed projects that use any of the 3form products, and then they are asking all of us to vote.  Projects may be residential or commercial in nature.

For more information, visit 3form on the web, where you can find contest rules, the entry form, and a list of prizes - which includes a trip to Salt Lake City to visit the 3form factory and a trip to Canyons Ski Resort.  Entries are due by December 4th, and voting is until December 18th.

Last year's winner is the below installation - Two Adams Lobby, in Quincy MA, designed by my colleague Bruce Rhoades.  So real people really win, and this year it could be you!
   Two Adams Lobby showing a custom wall feature made from 3form resin

re:WORK yourself!

Like other industries hit hard by present-day economics, the Architecture and Design community has been greatly affected by layoffs and not enough work to go around.  In an unprecedented move to assist those designers who have been out of a job, carpet giant The Mohawk Group has been hosting a series of workshops called re:WORK, geared to get people polished and ready for what's next.  In conjunction with IIDA and Interior Design Magazine, Mohawk has been hosting these re:WORK events around the country with great success.  Due to popular demand, re:WORK has expanded into free webinars that offer CEU credits so designers can stay on top of their learning credentials for IIDA.  Scheduled once a month for the next four months, Mohawk is hoping to reach more people than ever before.  To participate, see info below or at the re:WORK website.