[re]design: Doing It For The Kids

Those designers who don’t want to make landfill are doing for the kids once more in 2011. This year the exhibition of innovative reuse and clever design solutions is being held in the hallowed halls of London’s Kingston Museum.

“Doing it for the Kids” explores the importance of play in child development, how toys help mould our kids’ values and how they impact on the environment.

The show runs until September 11th, more info at [re]design.org

Beware

Kirsty loves cardboard. And we love Kirsty! Her delicate, intricate creations have an emotive charm with each piece telling a deeper story all of its own. And they’re made entirely from found and reclaimed materials. Fantastic.

Beware is Kirsty’s latest installation, now featuring at Red Gallery in Melbourne. Crocodiles and dragons leap and play, artfully constructed in the guise of children’s pull-toys, mobiles and swinging pendulums.

There is one question that we just have to ask… What would happen if Kirsty got her hands on some makedo?

Be frightened by flying fancies and brooding beasts in this fierce collection up until July 2, 2011.

Kirsty Loves Cardboard

Red Gallery, Melbourne

TIA New York

The toy fair tour wraps up this week with a return to TIA New York, where creative play is reinvigorated by the huge range on display at the Western Hemisphere’s largest international toy trade show.

Makedo will be at the Reeves booth (number 2403) with a collection of critters, creations and crafty constructions. It is great to be back in NY showing our exciting new makedo 2011 product ranges.

Alongside makedo kits and creations on display is the coveted blue ribbon we received for the 2010 NAPPA Gold Award.

The important Toy Fair details are posted below, and you can head to the Toy Fair Website for all the latest updates and news.

Reeves booth: 2403
TIA Toy Fair Jacob K. Javits Convention Center
February 13-16, 2011
New York, USA

Makedo in Japan

For makers in Japan this week, there are still a few days left to head down to a special makedo event.

With an exhibition of creations, demonstrations and a workshop by the extraordinary maker Mr Tanaka Satoshi, this is a fantastic opportunity to get hands-on and discover the magic of makedo for yourself.

All the details you need are below, and there is more to be found at the Japanese makedo website.

Date: February 6, 2011 (Sun) ~ 13 (Sun) 11:00 to 18:00
Press Day: February 10 (Thursday) 11:00 to 21:00 & demonstration by Mr. Tanaka Satoshi
Venue: Ao 2F Minato-ku Tokyo Kitaaoyama
Sponsor: Antorekkusu Inc.
Contact: Division LEADWORKS Antorekkusu Inc. / TEL 03-53689-1800

makedo Japan

Portable Compactable

Every year, Craft Victoria holds Fresh! - a collection notable graduate works from Melbourne art and design schools. One of the finalists from Fresh! 2010 was Esther Stewart, who featured her Portable Compactable furniture series which emerged out of her Bachelor of Fine Art degree at VCA.

Described as functional furniture fittings that change the space surrounding them, these playful explorations introduce a novel perspective on everyday domestic structures.

Each work reflects back on the space in which it is located, and draws the viewer’s focus to a particular element of how the architecture operates and dictates one’s interaction.

Folding out from the wall to become a shelving unit (pictured above) or, in one version, a dog kennel (pictured below) this work has impact as a graphic, spatial and functional engagement within the constructed environment.

For those in Melbourne, you can pop in to Craft Victoria in Flinders Lane where Fresh! 2010 will be running up until December 24.

Via InDesignLive

recession design

Building on the successful 2009 event, Recession Design again showcased their 2010 research collection at Milan’s Fuori Salone earlier this year.

The motivation behind these explorations is to encourage debate on the contemporary meaning of “designing”.

Head to the Recession Design website where you can see the full collection, and even download PDF instructions to get your hands dirty with a bit of crafty ingenuity of your own.