The New Maker-Culture: #BlogTourLDN

It's always a cautionary tale when spotting trends in design. I shy away from the term, myself, and when ever some magazine says "look at me, I'm on trend" I balk at the sight of what ever that thing is. There are a few key phrases that stuck out for me and one was "(Perfectly) Imperfect" and I really think that embodies the new hand-making sub-verve that is on the rise. Hipsters aside, we're all looking for that something special again, unique, one of a kind.

Here are a bunch of things that struck me:

1. The Armchair

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You're not a furniture maker until you have an armchair in your collection. All shapes, all sizes, all styles... The armchair is king. Now if we can just up-cycle those Barcaloungers, or re-upholster them.

2. Glamor Luminaries

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Liberace eat your heart out because glitz and glamour is back in lighting. Anything that is unique or different, like a necklace, miniature, or even crystal is a must have. From Bocci at the V&A to Lee Broom's crystal bulb and Mineheart's King Edison $1000 pendant light. Whatever you want, you can have.

3. Weaving & Yarn

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I threatened to start yarn-bombing everything in sight one day because there is SO MUCH WEAVING! It's unbeweaveable. Get out the knitting needles people because it's back. Anyone want to crochet a hanging plant hammock with me? I can't tell you how many photos I have of weaving and yarn.

Oh look.... more...

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4. Dogs

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The dog is the new cat. There, I said it. This one I don't understand. Oh, I have more photos, I just don't want to over cannibalize this issue that dogs are fun, but not particularily sculptural. Who am I kidding. Anything goes, right?

5. Found-Object Lighting

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I really have no other words for this type of thing other than it looks like there was some foraging in the back of a garage happening. Not to say these are ugly, because they are well crafted, but sometimes I just wonder what the point it because it's all about being in context. I'm sure if each of these fixtures were in a very bland room it would make sense, but in a show with a billion other light fixtures you just have to snap and walk.

So there you have it, a perfectly imperfect sub-culture of makers and doers.

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