Filed under: Stationery and office supplies, Toys and games, art, decoration | Tags: collector's item, designer toys, elegant, key chain, modern, pens, Playsam, Playtown, Saab 001, Scandinavian design, Sixten Saxon, Swedish design
Yes, Playsam is a Swedish toy company, but actually, their products are rather toys by accident, as the superb design is surely their main focus. This is also visible by classifying the majority of their toys as executive toys, by which they mean that these are not just for the little ones, but are to be used as design objects independent of age. Take a look at their Airliner plane and oldtimer racer. But with these beautiful JoJos, pens and key chains below Playsam also has perfectly designed items for adults.
And deesign buffs will surely fall for Playsam’s incredible Playtown and Saab 001 concept car: Not that all of Playsam’s items aren’t masterpieces of design already, but especially these last two products are modern art in perfection and would make the perfect sculpture to display in your living room! The polished wooden pieces of the Playtown represent the four most characteristic sights of Sweden’s capital Copenhagen, i.e. The City Hall, Kaknaes Tower, The Globe and The Royal Castle. The superb quality of this set shows in the details: The City Hall’s crown is made of silver and palted with 23 carat gold! On the other hand the Saab 001 model is inspired by Sixten Saxon’s prototype of the Saab Concept Car 92001, which did not look like a normal car, but was futuristic and aerodynamic design in perfection. The modern design of this wooden toy, or rather piece of art, brings the charm of the origninal Saab home with its wonderful sophisticated design. Check them out yourself:
While researching Playsam’s products, I found even more interesting things: In 2006 Fitzsu Society, a Los Angeles based store for modern design home accessories, had gathered a group of designers from around the world to create their own interpretation of Playsam’s cars. While the most beautiful products are of course sold by now, I could still find a few beautiful ones available:
Among others, the whole collection of Playsam products can be bought at Scandinavian Design Center or Juuka . The Fitzsu designer GP cars can be bought at Fitzsu .
Filed under: Bags and accessories, Tableware, art | Tags: art, badges, Bags and accessories, modern, mugs, People will always need plates, plates, prints, tea towels
I guess naming your company People Will Always Need Plates is a bit of an unusual (an lengthy) name, but at least it’s true. If you believe their product range, then people will also always need tea towels, badges and prints, oh and not to forget coloring books for the little ones. Now what makes this company so special is its design: these are not the typical flower, fruit or animal collections, but blueprints of mostly modern architecture.
Ordering is a bit difficult though, since they don’t offer a regular online shop, UK buyers have to get an order form from their website and send it in with a cheque, while foreign customers need to contact them first. Seems like the 21st century has not arrived everywhere… Oh well, it’s their business of course, but I am certain a lot more people would like to buy their items if they had a working online shop!
Filed under: art | Tags: art, colorful, Grégoire Ganter, Lea's Alphabets, modern
Though the following piece is actually designed for a modern playroom, I think it looks so amazing, you could just as well put it anywhere else in the house, and it matches really well with the LoJo Ball which I am reviewing just below. Hence, I suppose, as many adults would not mind hanging his pictures on the wall, here is a little review:
Lea’s Alphabets by Grégoire Ganter is a great example that shows how kids can have their room decorated in a fresh style, that is entertaining (many details and pictures to watch), educative (children can learn the alphabet, learn that there are different fonts, and associate objects with letters, just as in ‘normal’ alphabet imagery for kids) and timeless (his designs are not only for little one’s, but look also appeal to teenagers. But above all these advantages, his prints just look great! Take a look:
As you could see, there is a huge variety of themes available from the Lea’s Alphabets range, you can have and a-z print composed of just food, for example, or just using one specific color. Also, you may pick a one letter print, featuring a collage of many objects starting with that letter and many different fonts. Or perhaps, you just want a single letter-picture combination, maybe to have your child’s initial as the focal point of the nursery. His prints are also available as postcards, and you may even contact him for custom work, e.g. spelling out your son’s or daughter’s name. All big prints are available in several different sizes. They are limited editions of 100 pieces, signed and numbered on the back, and printed on matte, archival paper, so you will have to frame them properly, if you want to enjoy them for years to come.
Available on his website, a set of 26 a-z postcards for $52, small letter or alphabet print for $200, big prints for $500 (also in-between sizes available). And one last picture:
Filed under: Furniture | Tags: British design, LoJo, LoJoBall, modern, seating
If you are looking for some unusual, modern design, the LoJo Ball fits right in, with its funky appearance. This variable seating has a sphere shape, held together by a surrounding zipper. If zipped, the LoJo can function as a stool, a foot rest, or simply a room decoration. If unzipped, it turns into a low lounge chair. It is a variation of a standard beanbag, since it is also filled with the same beans, but still its design is very distinct from that of a bean bag. Though this product is actually designed for adults in mind, rather than children, I think it would be equally suitable to a modern kid’s or teenager’s room.
The LoJo can be ordered on their website for £99.00.
