Interiors 2011: More from Designers Block

After previewing the Designers Block Stand at this year Interiors 2011 last month, ARTS THREAD takes a look at some more of the work that caught our eye. The Designers Block exhibition stand is the main focal point of the Thinking Space area within Hall 2, exhibitors and creatives alike flocked to see what was on offer.

Textile designer Claire-Anne O’Brien graduated in 2010 with a Masters in Textiles from the Royal College of Art. Whilst studying she was awarded the Kay Cosserat Scholarship for Knitting, The Framework Knitters Award and the Rowan Award for Design Excellence. As a graduate she later went on to win an award from The British Association for her wool chair. Claire-Anne’s contemporary designs are inspired by the sculptural approach to form and textiles, incorporating traditional Irish knitting techniques.

Penelope Jordan’s contemporary felt work panels were displayed alongside Claire-Anne’s furniture pieces. Each bespoke piece is carefully crafted for interior and gallery spaces. She uses pattern repeat formation to create each unique three dimensional textile design. Penelope, a graduate from Loughborough University, received a First Class Honours Degree in Multi-Media Textile Design in 2007. She has since exhibited at New Designers, Tent, 100% Design and Indigo.

It was good to see the return of some of our old favourites like Lazerian and collective talent from the visionary textile designers Puff and Flock. We loved the Pop-up shop concept that displayed the work of a range of designers, a concept that the Puff and Flock team enjoy being part of. We were introduced to some of the latest wares now available from Puff and Flock’s new online store, which is curated by two of the eight-strong collaborative team, Amelie Labarthe and Melissa French.

Products range from the bold colourful print cushions by Jo Angell, Playful Jewellery, Mushroom Hooks, Monstify Croched eyeballs, soft toys and a range of ceramics from the Teacode range to the Teru Teru salt and pepper sets.

Puff and Flock was first established in 2008 by a talented group of postgraduate students from Central Saint Martins College of the Arts. Amelie Labarthe graduated with distinction from the Design for Textile Futures programme. The collective first exhibited with Designers Block at the interiors show and have gone from strength to strength, exhibiting in Milan and ICFF in New York. They have collected a number of awards between them and have worked with clients including Ercol, Toray Textiles Europe, Graham and Brown and Global Color Research.

There seems to be no stopping the creative talent of Puff and Flock’s Amelie. Together with friend Tom Spoonhatchet, she has just set up ‘Recipe Look’, an online resource for people to upload their visual recipies from around the world. Take a look at the latest recipe uploads, there are even competitions and workshops.

We were pleased to see our old friend Gerald back from Lazerian, at this year’s show. The new Pixel flat-packed Gerald was on display guarding Lazerian’s jewellery collection, hand constructed and made from the highest quality polypropylene with brass fittings.

We also loved the Wall of Great China which was a key feature of this year’s stand from Designers Block. A celebration of British craftsmanship and manufacturing, Designers Block invited the New English to take part. We first featured The New English on our blog in 2009 when we spotted them at 100% Design. The company has grown from strength to strength, having been involved with a range of interesting projects, exhibitions and new designers. Look out for more from the New English in the next issue of ARTS THREAD magazine.

Image credits: photography by Jackie Norton.

Designers Block
Claire-Anne O’Brien: info@claireobrien.com
Penelope Jordan
Puff and Flock
Amelie Labarthe
Recipe Look
Lazerian
The New English