Knoll Printed Matter (Part I)

Easing into 2011 with some visual, gourmet comfort food.

Way in advance of spring, and the opening of the exhibition, Knoll Textiles, at the Bard Graduate Center on May 18, I trust these Herbert Matter-designed ads, posters, and catalogs for Knoll will whet your appetite for both (spring and the show).

Matter was a design consultant to Knoll from 1946-1966. The Swiss-born designer and photographer was a pioneer of photomontage, among other darkroom techniques and a master of merging type with image. His is the Knoll identity you know so well, that you recognize it without seeing a piece of furniture or reading a word of text.

I can’t say exactly when during the next few months I’ll be posting “Part II,” but I can safely predict that there will be one. The selection here represents only a fraction of Knolliana produced over the years. And that’s before we even get to the textiles ...






































Sources: Another Design Blog, Yale Library

ICFF Takes

I had the opportunity to do a brief cruise through the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at the Javits Center. Thought I’d share a few visuals.

This one, you’ll see everywhere ...

The Sheet Seat folding chair is so appealing in its clever simplicity, that the Hoboken (via Turkey) based designers, Ufuk Keskin & Efecem Kutuk, have multiple manufacturers interested in producing them. Cut from a single piece of wood laminate, with very little waste, they store flat, and even look great hanging on the wall.



Draw with regular Sharpies to customize your Umbra OH chair. Just remember that you'll be sitting permanently on those mindless doodles.



Let’s say you decide to go to Holland because so many people there speak English. You, of course, speak no Dutch. And let’s say you are alone in a train station and this (bottom) is the only clock. Your iPhone battery is out, so you can’t use the translation app. You would have an incredibly ironic, post-modern experience, but you’re screwed as far as knowing the time (8:20). Not fun if you should be running, instead of walking, to make a train. It’s great looking, but let’s hope the Qlocktwo doesn’t catch on in too big a way.

Check out Metropolis magazine for lots more on the ICFF.