I suspect we are going to be hearing a lot about Pearl Lam - Chinese socialite and patron of the arts - in the run up to the Beijing Olympics. She is responsible for nurturing contemporary Chinese artists and championing a hybridization of ancient Chinese craft and modern design. Her 10,000 sq ft penthouse is said to have the wildest interior in Shanghai. She has an equally bonkers home in London, and a gallery.
Image via International Herald Tribune
Philippe Starck has designed a miniature roof-top windmill which can produce up to 80 percent of a home's energy. The blades are made of transparent plastic, which is virtually invisible up on a roof. Who said eco-design had to be ugly? Alice Rawsthorne writes about it here.
Image via International Herald Tribune
Philippe Starck and BBC Two are teaming up to discover the next big name in 21st Century design. Starck will head up the specially created School of Design in Paris and will whittle applicants down to a shortlist of 10 designers who will work with him and his team over several months. In the series finale Starck will announce the designer whom he credits with enough talent and vision to become part of his 'tribe'.
Creative director Peter Saville will be speaking about his career and work at the V&A on 18th September as part of the London Design Festival. As art director of Factory Records Saville created iconic graphics for Joy Division, New Order, Suede and Pulp. He has also worked with Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen, Stella McCartney, Gucci and Selfridges. Count me in.
There seems to be a debate going on as to whether exclusive, one-off designs (see the limited edition range at Established and Sons) are valid as art in their own right or whether it's all a big con, a case of emperor's new clothes and an excuse to hike prices. Design Miami's Ambra Medda (pictured above standing next to a Fernando and Humberto Campana chair) makes the case for design-art in Wallpaper. While Elle Decoration UK's July 2008 issue calls it all a sham (how can they not have a website?!).
Image via Harper's Bazaar
