Designers Embrace Ecology and Innovative Materials in Contemporary Objects
A recent survey of modern design showcases innovators tackling environmental issues through the use of experimental materials. Joris Laarman from the Netherlands has created groundbreaking concretes, one of which captures CO2 and another that encourages moss growth, incorporated into 3D-printed 'Symbio' benches made from recycled concrete. Patrick Jouin designed 'Ta.Tamu', a seat that is entirely recyclable, utilizing Dassault Systèmes software. Marlène Huissoud's 'The Chair' features unfired clay combined with natural binders. At the Fuorisalone event in Milan, HEAD Geneva students Jaemo Lee and Lisa Schober unveiled 'Meuw (Socius Novus)'. Additional designers such as Théophile de Bascher, Laurids Gallée, Audrey Large, Gaspard Fleury-Dugy, and Martina Dimitrova are also represented, reflecting a variety of approaches in the design world.
Key facts
- Joris Laarman developed innovative concretes: one stores CO2 via Paebbl additive, another stimulates moss and lichen growth.
- Laarman's 'Symbio' benches are 3D-printed from recycled concrete and permanently store carbon.
- Patrick Jouin, a 3D printing pioneer since 2004, created 'Ta.Tamu', a fully recyclable seat using Dassault Systèmes software.
- Marlène Huissoud, born in 1990 to beekeepers, created 'The Chair' from unfired clay, natural binders, and wood, with King's College London scientists.
- Jaemo Lee and Lisa Schober, HEAD Geneva students, presented 'Meuw (Socius Novus)' at Fuorisalone in Milan.
- Théophile de Bascher sculpts objects from brick fragments collected on a Le Havre beach, likely from post-WWII reconstruction.
- Laurids Gallée, an Austrian designer in Rotterdam, creates light sculptures from polymer resin, hand-cast and polished.
- Audrey Large sculpts digital matter with VR controllers and 3D-prints in resin; her 'Meta(table) Lamp#2' is in bioplastic.
- Gaspard Fleury-Dugy uses digital knitting with polyamide threads for 'Soft Objects' without waste.
- Martina Dimitrova uses ancient techniques like sgraffito and marmorino for surfaces imitating stone and marble.
- Jean-Baptiste Durand samples images from science, art, and technology for post-apocalyptic objects, shown at Milan Design Week.
Entities
Artists
- Théophile de Bascher
- Joris Laarman
- Patrick Jouin
- Marlène Huissoud
- Jaemo Lee
- Lisa Schober
- Laurids Gallée
- Audrey Large
- Gaspard Fleury-Dugy
- Martina Dimitrova
- Jean-Baptiste Durand
Institutions
- Théorème éditions
- Paebbl
- Dassault Systèmes
- King's College London
- Haute école d'art et de design (HEAD) de Genève
- École des arts décoratifs PSL (ENSAD)
- École Duperré
- Fuorisalone
Locations
- Le Havre
- France
- Milan
- Italy
- Geneva
- Switzerland
- Rotterdam
- Netherlands
- Paris