Dwell on Design Editors' Picks
2013 was a bang-up year for Dwell on Design. The LA Convention Center was packed with content, speakers, advice, furniture, lighting, materials, kitchens, prefab, CEUs, experts, and ideas—a 360 degree design experience for attendees local and far-flung. Between moderating three days' worth of panels and demonstrations, Dwell's editors combed the show floor for the best and brightest products, from task lighting to outdoor furniture to streamlined wallets. Take a look at our picks in the following slideshow, and for more Dwell on Design action, check out our live-from-the-show-floor reports:
Best task lighting: Koncept
Best design for public space: A combo human/canine water fountain by Tournesol Siteworks, the Southern California distributor for Brisbane design collective Quench Design.
Best modern vernacular furniture: Fábrica, out of Guatemala City, translates handcraft and Guatemalan craft traditions into its range of furniture, like the fold-up chair shown here.
Best mini-modern design: Capsule Wallets' new Minimalist cash carrier, which was funded on Kickstarter and made its retail debut at Dwell on Design.
Best bathroom furniture: Lacava, whose casegoods are made in Chicago.
Best design for kids: Playforms by North Forty Design. We love the lightweight Framehouse for its simple shape that encourages curiosity and imaginative play.
Best lighting: Rich Brilliant Willing. The New York trio made its first appearance at Dwell on Design this year with new pieces including Radient Wall Sconce, Gala chandelier, and Monocle wall light.
Best desktop accessories: Turned wood bowls and cork clocks with a wabi-sabi feel by Okum Made, a new venture from designer David Okum.
Best outdoor furniture: Markamoderna, particularly the Altamira chair. The El Salvador-based brand made its US debut this year at ICFF and with Carrot Concept at Wanted Design.
Best new ceramics: Haand, based in North Carolina, brought a great range of ceramics to Dwell on Design from everyday cups and plates to vases to architectural wall implements.
Best grilling environment: Caliber ThermaShell Pro Stainless Steel charcoal grill in front of Airstream's new LandYacht.
Best customizable design: WFOUR Design, for its new Mix-and-Match dresser with four colors and one cherry stain finish option for drawers.
Best retail concept: AETHER Apparel. Trick out a classic Airstream, stuff it full of clothing and gear for the adventuresome design lover, and take it on the road.
Best dazzle: Lladró's new black-and-white collection is based on "razzle dazzle" camouflage motifs used by ships in the British Admiralty and U.S. Navy in World War I.
Best Scandinavian exhibitor: Insidenorway, which brought prototypes from 21 young Norwegian designers along with blankets from Mandal Veveri and Røros Tweed, baby goods from Stokke, and chairs from Varier.
Best Scandinavian retail representation: Los Angeles-based A+R does a brisk business as one of America's leading online retailers for Scandinavian design (Muuto, Normann Copenhagen). They're also a mainstay at Dwell on Design (for good reason!).
Kindest and gentlest: This year's Dwell on Design show floor saw not one but two air purifiers that excel in both form and function. Above, the Swedish company BlueAir; below, California's own Rabbit Air.
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