Media Category: 2018.0423

Transitions by Panasonic Design. The installation explores the role design will play in improving our physical environment and emotional wellbeing in the future. It also marks Panasonic’s transition towards a new creative philosophy: designing products and services and experiences that go beyond physical products to address emotions, the environment, and wellbeing.

Transitions by Panasonic Design, an immersive installation at Milan Design Week exploring the future of air quality. “The immersive installation is contained within a large ‘water-drop pavilion’, 20m in diameter, in the impressive courtyard of the Pinacoteca de Brera, home of the Brera Art Gallery. Visitors are invited to embark on a transition of their own: from the busy fair environment to a moment of calm and relaxation. Inside, they are transported from the hectic fair into an oasis of calm with the cleanest, purest air in Milan from Panasonic’s latest air purification technology. Visitors will wander through a cooling, ultra-fine, dry mist created from Panasonic’s green air conditioning technology. Atmospheric sound design, lighting and visuals will add to the calming experience. The installation is subtitled ‘Air Inventions’, referencing Panasonic’s transition to products and experiences that address the more intangible elements of everyday life.”

“The short-length armrests allows to move the chair as close as possible to the table and still maintaining support for the arms when seated. Both sides of the seat have a gradual incline, allowing a comfortable seating experience that feels like the body is embraced, while at the same time maintaining the style of the Swan and Egg chairs that are the flagship chairs of the company. This puzzle-like assembly of 23 wooden pieces is a mix of solid wood and veneer all produced by hand, ensuring the construction comes across as seamless as possible in its design.” Photo: Yoneo Kawabe

“Normally the joints between a frame and a shell are thickened to increase its strength, sometimes resulting in a heavy appearance. To provide a lighter appearance, these joints were carefully designed to look as though they are barely touching. The backrest shell is fixed into slits engraved on the frame, making it look as if the frame is pinching the shell from both sides, and the seat is connected with concealed joints making it seem as if it is floating.” Photo: Yoneo Kawabe

“N01, a wooden chair designed for Fritz Hansen, the Danish furniture company founded in 1872. “The chair was aimed to have an iconic shell design, using nine layers of veneer. This is the first time in 61 years, since Arne Jacobsen’s Grand Prix chair, that the manufacturer produces an entirely wooden chair, one that is contemporary yet maintaining the traditions and heritage of the brand.” Photo: Yoneo Kawabe

“Furniture pieces were placed on top of the puddle-like stands, creating an ambiguous expression that can either look as if the objects are melting into liquid or emerging from it. Moreover, some pieces seem as if they are sinking into others, like a bowl sinking into the table it is placed on.” Photo: Takumi Ota

Into Marble, a design for Marsotto edizioni’s exhibition space during Milan Design Week 2018, by Nendo. “The idea for this space originated from Marsotto’s expertise in marble processing, leading to the decision to use marble for the pedestals, as well as the objects presented. Since this exhibition showcases linear and sharp furniture, the pedestals were designed in contrasting rounded shapes that resemble puddles. The edges were softened and gentle ripples were added on the top surfaces to accentuate the soft appearance. Each piece was produced by a multi-milling machine

Forms of Movement, by Nendo, for Milan Design Week. “These objects and various others presented, embody movement in their shape and function while incorporating advanced technologies, state of the art mechanisms, and unconventional materials.” Photo: Takumi Ota

Forms of Movement, by Nendo, for Milan Design Week. “Objects react to people and people react to objects. This exhibition focuses on this relationship and displays 10 projects that deal with the concept of movement; a container collection that introduces different lids that open and close according to various ways of touch, zippers that explore new functions by reexamining the familiar linear motion, a window shade that automatically opens and closes according to the movement of people and light, and an hourglass collection that designs time itself by controlling the movement of the sand within.” Photo: Takumi Ota

Forms of Movement, by Nendo, for Milan Design Week. “Movement is an inseparable part of our being; we move our bodies, we move objects, and there are objects that move independently around us. Even objects that are completely stationary can convey a feeling of movement. Objects can physically move in reaction to our motion, or can encourage us to move in reaction to them. For example, a chair can be interpreted as an object that urges us to sit. So when designing a chair, are we designing a product or are we designing the movement of sitting down?” Photo: Takumi Ota