People within a small community gather to talk on a bench, at a bus stop or over a fence. It is at these places that stories evolve and a village’s identity is created. Through observing and collaborating with the residents of the village ELECTRICWIG has created a range of individual furniture that aims to encourage these activities whilst also designing a trail of stories around the village that inform visitors about the characters from the community.
ELECTRICWIG decided upon the idea of conveying the villagers unique stories to visitors within the public spaces of Billinghay. Drawing upon the language of traditional English village street signage and the intriguing nature of Victorian cinema, a trail of curious objects has been created around the village. Zoetropes have been used to intrigue and animate stories written on finger signs, creating not just objects of curiosity, but also conversation pieces that prompt visitors and locals to interact together.
The fences are also placed on the two bridges at the entrance of the village to highlight entry to Billinghay.
You can visit at www.billinghayproject.info
Produced by and available from www.domestic.fr
The exhibition is curated by Craftspace
The project highlights a humanistic approach to the issue of energy wastage within the home through providing a series of suggestions that transform existing habits and products into beneficial new uses.
ELECTRICWIG was involved in the design of the touring exhibition. The design took inspiration from the schools that the children worked within. The familiar language of a table which is used as the basis of the display allows the exhibition to be instantly understandable for someone with a visual imparement.
A red rope weaves between the tables to act as a guide through the exhibition which also leads to a sketchbook that explains more about each design with pictures, text and Braille.
The tables sit upon feet that raise them to a height which is suitable for wheelchairs. The inspiration for the feet is taken from similar ones used within the school environment, emphasising the importance of familiarity.
The products designed for the Designing for Access project can be seen in the OBJECT section.
Three benches of differing configurations and an alternative childrens seat was designed for the gallery. The adult benches are used by sitting normally with surfaces on the side to write or draw on whilst the back of the childrens bench works as a surface to scribble upon.
Produced by and available from TRICO
Couverture is designed to fit a wide range of chairs and is tailored with wings to wrap around ones self. The product can be used either indoors of outdoors within the garden or for use in cafes on the brisk evenings.
Produced by and available from www.domestic.fr
*Sedentary - Attached to a surface and not moving freely, as a barnacle.
See also exhibition design for Designing for Access in FURNITURE section.
An object around the ritual of tea was of course chosen, an important ceremony both in Japan and England. The final idea was a knitted suit for a Japanese style tea pot, made from an old jumper.
Caledonia Pottery produces THE architypal 'Brown Betty' teapot and was the most obvious choice of company to collaborate with. A two spouted teapot completes the set with the existing Hot Mug design. Emphasising the quintesentially British ritual of taking time to share a cup of tea, the set must be used with a friend.
Produced by TRICO, available from TRICO
”Are you trendy? Why can fashion designers design such a lot of work in such a short term? Why do fashion designers sell their work at bargain price so quickly? This is a project of clothing design far from trend, with designers who are not into the fashion scene. Here we give you our promise that we will continue selling the same item forever.”
Produced by TRICO, available from TRICO and Thorsten Van Elten
Produced and sold by TRICO
Produced by TRICO, available from TRICO and Thorsten Van Elten
You can visit at www.junkomori.com
You can visit at www.billinghayproject.info
More information can be found at www.lungomare.org
A range of products and suggestions around this logical approach to help you stay sustainably warm this winter.
Exhibited at 100% Design 2005.
Exhibited at The Lighthouse 2005.
Exhibited at The HUB 2005.
Exhibited at 100% Design 2004.
The studio began by creating functional objects that as one Guardian writer so nicely put it; seek to engage us emotionally as well as being functional. The practice now works on a wide range of projects that cover furniture, object and spatial design.
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