Örsjö at Euroluce 2013

Euroluce comes but once every 2 years, and Örsjö were back for their 4th time to show the Italians how the Scandinavians do lighting. 

Showcasing the acclaimed new Vinge light by Note Design Studio launched in February, alongside a cross-section of other popular products, the stand showcased the versatility and functionality of the Örsjö collection. PJ wall lights, now with direct connection, the Lean double pendant and the black chrome version of Benjamin Hubert's Crane light all received healthy interest from visitors from as far afield as the USA, Asia and Australia.

Örsjö will return to the Farmiloe Building during Clerkenwell Design Week in May, exhibiting all of the new products. Be sure to visit, but in the meantime, if you would like a copy of the brand new brochure just send us a quick hello.

Note This!

Note illustrated by Marco Menaballai. L-R: Kristoffer Fagerström, Alexis Holmqvist, Cristiano Pigazzini, Susanna Wåhlin, Johannes Carlström

Without a shadow of a doubt, the biggest thing to emerge from Stockholm Design Week this year was Note Design Studio. Slowly building their reputation over the last few years by staging their own Marginal Notes shows, this year they moved to an old light bulb factory and presented Note Open - a temporary studio and exhibition space .

We brought some friends with us to Stockholm this year and were ever so slightly excited to for all of us to have guided tour by Susanna and Cristiano, two fifths of Note. They had 8 new products on show, as well as pieces from previous Marginal Notes and their Bolt stool for new French brand La Chance (which just happens to have been awarded a Wallpaper* Design Award 2013).

Susanna Wåhlin demonstrating Vinge

Products ranged from lights - we may have mentioned the new Vinge for Örsjö once or twice before - to bike stands and bathroom sinks and even a prototype Boet bench for Mitab to accompany the Boet stool. The prototype was so new, it arrived just in time for the opening of the show, but too late for the brochure, so the image below will have to do for now.

Susanna is actually from the town of Örsjö and her family have a long history with Örsjö Belysning, so it seems fitting Note should design a piece for the brand. In fact, if you would like a lesson in the proper pronunciation of Örsjö, then watch Susanna's Style File interview with Wallpaper*.    

Note stand (and product design) for ZilenZio

Apart from the exhibition, Note's handiwork was in evidence all over the city - Vinge and their Teluria candelabra for Klong popped up at Glass Elephant, they not only designed the products but also the stand for ZilenZio (above) and they designed the Greenhouse exhibition. The layout for Greenhouse was based on baroque French gardens and instead of straight rows of boxy stands, rows were curved and some walls were removed to create an open atmosphere, where designers could meet and experience the show around them, rather than feeling they had to stay in their designated box. It also removed the intimidation visitors sometimes feel about stepping onto stands - they were on the stands before they even knew.

Greenhouse exhibition design concept. Image from stockholmfurniturelightfair.se

We said it last year, and we'll say it again: Note are definitely a name to watch. For more examples of their work, check out their website: www.notedesignstudio.se

Glass Elephant

Limited edition Sander table by Chris Martin for Massproductions

The bull of "Bull in a china shop" shop fame morphs into an elephant in the Swedish equivalent of the phrase. This impressive installation installation in the caves of Skeppsholmen island featured glass works being manipulated by sophisticated robots from ABB. Mixing crafts with industrial design and technology, the exhibition sought to "explore the characteristics of glass as material and muse, and tells a story about the meeting of contrasts". Plus these robots were far more engaging than the robots in Trafalgar Square for LDF 2010.

Designed by TAF Architects and featuring designers like Simon Klenell (whose glass pieces we recognised from LDF 2011), Chris Martin of Massproductions and our very own Vinge light by Note Design Studio for Örsjö, the sometimes cheeky robots almost stole the show. Almost. It's a credit to all the designers involved that the glass somehow managed to compete with the surreal location and the robots and still come out on top. 

Frigger Tactic pieces by Simon Klenell 

Bulb, Madras and Soapbubbles by Ann Wåhlström 

Vinge for Örsjö and Teluria for Klong by Note Design Studio

Örsjö at the Northern Light Fair 2013

This time last year we said you should keep an eye on Note Design Studio, as their reputation was spreading fast. Twelve months later, they have designed the intriguing Vinge for Örsjö. Translating as "Wing", the solid brass vinge sits beneath a mouth-blown opal glass dome and rotates 180°, acting as a dimmer.

The simple exterior emphasises the wing and the sweeping movement of the wing directly affecting the light demonstrates Note's playful attitude. 

Available with black, white or red base, the wing can be ordered in a subtle matt brass finish, or powder-coated steel to match the base.

Jonas Bohlin is a long time collaborator with Örsjö. They have worked together on many bespoke pieces for his interior design projects, as well as pieces like Kvist in his signature raw copper. In 2012, Bohlin was commissioned to refurbish the interiors of Stadshuskӓllaren, the restaurant in Stockholm's City Hall and famous as the location of the Nobel Prize award dinners. A listed building, it was a tricky commission, but by working with selected craftspeople, he has brought the glamour and splendour back to this landmark.

Working with Örsjö, Bohlin created several new versions of Kvist and Star ranges - individual copper (or white) spots that can be ceiling or wall mounted, single pendants and large 9 arm circular pieces which can be wall or ceiling mounted or suspended as a pendant light. He even created a "reverse Kvist" floorlight, with branches sheltering the tables.

Overall, the theme of the stand for the Fair was brass, with old and new items shown for the first time in a beautifully soft matt brass finish - brushed and finished with a clear lacquer. Older pieces like Puck were renewed and Bornebusch dominated.

All in all a strong showing from Örsjö, with all the signs pointing to a positive year ahead. You can find further images of the stand on our Facebook page and please contact us if you would like a copy of the new brochure.

Relay is off to Stockholm

We hope to see you all there!

#YoungSweden at designjunction

London Design Festival came, saw, conquered and has already left the building. The 10th anniversary of the LDF also marked the 2nd outing for designjunction.

Moving to a new venue, the former Royal Mail sorting office on New Oxford Street, designjunction has mushroomed from its initial incarnation in 2011. Visitors and exhibitors alike were staggered both by the scale of the building and just how quickly designjunction has grown. Featuring top quality pop up shops, flash factories, temporary bars and restaurants as well as a high standard of trade exhibitors, we presented Young Sweden and were delighted to be involved.

Focusing on young designers like Jonas Wagell, Form Us With Love and Joel Karlsson working with older, established brands like Mitab, Ӧrsjӧ and Trӓullit, Young Sweden was an opportunity to showcase the design talent coming from Sweden. It also served to highlight the bonds between some of our differing brands.

Note Design Studio are a design collective we've mentioned before. Back in February, a prototype of their Boet stool featured in the Work in Progress show curated by Jonas Wagell. Now, it is being produced by Mitab and we took great pride in launching it at designjunction. Available in 2 heights, the contrast between the rounded cork seat and the smooth metal frame drew many admiring glances. This is the first collaboration between Note and Mitab, but probably won't be the last. In February they will design the Greenhouse area of the Stockholm Furniture Fair and they just may have another product launching with one of our brands, but sssssh....it's top secret for now.

We also showed the Trӓullit Dekor acoustic hexagons by Form Us With Love for the first time in the UK. In just over 4 hours and using 300+ hexagons, our lovely intern Liz created a real showstopper. People gravitated towards the installation and couldn't help but touch it.

Daniel Svahn's Quiet Riot screens were also a UK first, and complimented Jonas Wagell's Montmartre Bar series.

While Jonas Bohlin may not be the youngest designer featured on the stand, we feel his Kvist is a young design, and as he has had a prominent role in educating the next generation of designers, he is more than deserving of his place. 
 

The rough copper of Kvist, the warm cork of Boet and the woodwool of Trӓullit made for a very tactile stand and visitors couldn't resist running their hands over them.

Clerkenwell Design Week 2012

Ӧrsjӧ collection 2012

The Stockholm Furniture and Northern Light Fairs have just finished and the immediate vox pop response to the new Ӧrsjӧ collection has been amazing. New products from new designers and new family members to compliment popular pieces made for an interesting display, with something for everyone.

Jonas Wagell is definitely a name to watch. With products for Mitab, Muuto, his own collection for Hello Industry and now Ӧrsjӧ, he is one of the fastest rising names in the Scandinavian design scene.

Wagell often takes the extremes of nature or industry as his inspiration. In the case of Studio he chose the latter, turning a photographer's studio light into a consumer product. Over-sized shades and reflectors are combined with more refined details like the solid steel handle and the polished reflectors. His first light for Ӧrsjӧ, Studio was presented both as a table light and a floor light. 

Jenny Bӓck has added a stunning new pendant to the ever popular Lean family, so now all bases are covered - ceiling, wall, table and floor. In keeping with the retro lines of Lean, the double shade pendant adds a new material; thin steel suspension cables tied together with delicate brass clasps. The familiar blend of materials (textile cable, brass, powder-coated steel) is still visible, just in a new form. Graceful in white, yet bold and graphic in black Lean continues to display Ӧrsjӧ's knack of creating lighting with real character.

Baklava by Claesson Koivisto Rune, originally designed for Nobis Hotel, is now available in pendant and wall versions, and both versions are available in two sizes. Talking points when used individually, when used in clusters Baklava is truly stunning.

Crane by Benjamin Hubert was presented in a new gloss yellow finish. Perforated metal, bright colours and gloss were all trends at the show and Crane encapsulated all 3 in one super slim task light. Functional, but never boring.

The new products will reach stores later in the Spring and will all be on display at Clerkenwell Design Week in May. Watch this space for further details.......

Ӧrsjӧ at the Northern Light Fair

A Christmas thank you from Relay

2011 has disappeared as if a mere blink of an eye. It started with Ӧrsjӧ supplying all of the bedroom lighting for the new Radisson Blu Stockholm Waterfront (interiors by RPW Design) and Zeitraum winning not one but two Interior Innovation Awards at IMM Cologne.   

During the year we provided Rvw Mollis chairs and Zeitraum Morph Bar stools to Virgin Atlantic Lounge at Heathrow Terminal 3 (interior design by Glock, supplied by SCP Contracts), Zeitraum collaborated with new illustration paper Wrap for Show 2 at Viaduct, Ӧrsjӧ exhibited at Clerkenwell Design Week for the first time (but not the last!), we started our collaboration with Mitab by delivering Lobby sofas to the new Westfield shopping city at Stratford (thanks to Conran Contracts) and ended the year working with Edge Architecture and Design and Viaduct to deliver Morph Bar stools to the 5th Floor cafe at Harvey Nichols. 

You can now also find us on Twitter, Tumblr and Facebook. Don't forget to follow and "Like" us for instant updates on new product launches and project installations.

Phew! We're off to put our feet up before it starts all over again in January. 

To everyone that has supported us this year, we say a huge thank you. Have yourself a merry little Christmas and we look forward to seeing you all in 2012.

London Design Festival 2011 - Our Highlights, Part 2

We're starting Part 2 in Covent Garden and then heading west.

  

In the piazza at Covent Garden, Sebastian Bergne created the world's first LEGO greenhouse. Yes, a fully functioning greenhouse made of transparent LEGO bricks. (LEGO also had their own pop-up in association with ICON at Central St. Giles).

Online design store Theo materialised in Monmouth Street with a week long pop up. A chance to play with products before purchasing, Theo's temporary store stocked the wonderful desktop accessories by Australian duo Daniel Emma and was the first UK stockist for Tattly temporary design tattoos from Swissmiss founder Tina Roth Eisenberg.

If we keep moving in a generally west direction, Outline Editions hosted an exhibition by graphic artist Noma Bar entitled "Cut It Out". An embossing machine disguised as a giant black dog allowed visitors to re-create their own Noma Bar work, all of which were signed and numbered by the artist.

Jumping over to Brompton Design District, Michael Anastassiades took over an old jewellery store and filled the original display cases with a beautiful selection of silver ware and lighting in brass and onyx. 

A couple of doors down, Skandium presented a comprehensive retrospective on Swedish architects and designers Claesson Koivisto Rune called "On Yellow". Furniture, lighting, rugs, jewellery and architectural models designed by the small but prolific studio were dotted across the store, like a treasure hunt and identifiable by the yellow perspex squares they all sat on. Again, Ӧrsjӧ were well represented with both Aria and Baklava by CKR included in the show. 

  
As always, Mint's show was unmissable. This year, "Mint Explores" brought together fashion and furniture, cellulose that felt like concrete, as well as lighting and textiles from as far afield as Mexico and Chile.  

However, we will end our highlights in the eye of the storm - at the V&A Museum. For the third year, the V&A became the hub (both physical and digital) for the Festival's activities. Exhibits were dotted liberally throughout the galleries, encouraging you to wander, often into rooms you weren't previously aware of. British-ish, curated by Giles Deacon, and Industrial Revolution 2.0, curated by Murray Moss, saw pieces scattered throughout the galleries. it was sometimes difficult to tell which installation a piece belonged to, but it hardly mattered. It was a pleasure to wander and discover.

 

(Further pieces, along with project and designers names can be found in our Facebook album)

Impossible to miss was the 10 metre high Timber Wave by Amanda Levete dominating the main entrance. A serious feat of engineering, construction was apparently completed with minutes to spare before the press launch.

Inside, the other major draw was Textile Field by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, in conjunction with Kvadrat in the Raphael Gallery. A 60 metre raised carpet, it became a giant bed for weary visitors to sit back, relax and contemplate the famous Cartoons.

Also open at the V&A with impeccable timing is the Power of Making. Open until 2nd January and free, its worth a visit.  

And so we come to the end of another LDF. What does LDF 2012 have in store for us? Watch this space!