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Collection by Miyoko Ohtake

TechnoCRAFT

Out-of-the-box is so old school. On view now at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco is TechnoCRAFT, an exhibit that exhibit focuses in on the current trend of adapting a mass-produced product to one's own need with a DIY sensibility. Curated by Yves Béhar (in his curatorial debut), the show is organized around six themes: crowdsourcing, platforms (and customization), blueprints (projects whose instructions are given away), hacks, incompletes (products that are meant to be finished by the owner), and modules (products made of combinable parts).

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The Tab stool by 5.5 Designers is an incomplete: The legs and frame must be assembled by the owner, who must also then pick a pillow with which to top it.
The Tab stool by 5.5 Designers is an incomplete: The legs and frame must be assembled by the owner, who must also then pick a pillow with which to top it.
Greg Lynn's Toy Furniture features discarded plastic toys into coffee table bases. Photo courtesy Greg Lynn FORM.
Greg Lynn's Toy Furniture features discarded plastic toys into coffee table bases. Photo courtesy Greg Lynn FORM.
In the installation at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts are two of Greg Lynn's Toy Furniture (front) as well as a collage of Threadless t-shirts, a company included for its crowdsourced and selected designs. Photo by Phocasso/J.W. White.
In the installation at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts are two of Greg Lynn's Toy Furniture (front) as well as a collage of Threadless t-shirts, a company included for its crowdsourced and selected designs. Photo by Phocasso/J.W. White.
The Do hit chair by Marijn van der Poll for Droog is another incomplete. To create the seat, the owner is expected to use a hammer or other devise to bang the stainless steel cube into his own preferred shape.
The Do hit chair by Marijn van der Poll for Droog is another incomplete. To create the seat, the owner is expected to use a hammer or other devise to bang the stainless steel cube into his own preferred shape.
Martin Konrad Gloeckle's Shaded Sconce requires the reader to use his book as a lampshape--and in returns holds his spot.
Martin Konrad Gloeckle's Shaded Sconce requires the reader to use his book as a lampshape--and in returns holds his spot.
Jason "Jay" Brommel hacked this bike by attaching a propane tank and (illegal) fireworks to create the Rocket Bike.
Jason "Jay" Brommel hacked this bike by attaching a propane tank and (illegal) fireworks to create the Rocket Bike.
Lindsey Adelman of Lindsay Adelman Studio offers a free download on her website for making your own chandelier, a project called You Make It. The parts are easily accessible and she even will help you procure some, too.
Lindsey Adelman of Lindsay Adelman Studio offers a free download on her website for making your own chandelier, a project called You Make It. The parts are easily accessible and she even will help you procure some, too.
Hacking an Ikea coffeetable, Roman Linde Baum of Hellograph and Ruediger Otte of Studio Proxy, working together as Ikea Hacks, created a new table: the Greenwich Tea Time table.
Hacking an Ikea coffeetable, Roman Linde Baum of Hellograph and Ruediger Otte of Studio Proxy, working together as Ikea Hacks, created a new table: the Greenwich Tea Time table.
The design team comprising Tom Reynolds, Tim Peet, Jared Delorenzo, Alie Thomer, Alexandra Powell, and Andrew McCandlish modded a classic Eames chair to create a highchair, complete with tray and leg holes.
The design team comprising Tom Reynolds, Tim Peet, Jared Delorenzo, Alie Thomer, Alexandra Powell, and Andrew McCandlish modded a classic Eames chair to create a highchair, complete with tray and leg holes.
Most of the time in the kitchen, you want to avoid breaking something but Studio Kahn's Fragile Salt and Pepper Shaker Set are meant to be broken open so their spices can be accessed. Image courtesy Oded Antman.
Most of the time in the kitchen, you want to avoid breaking something but Studio Kahn's Fragile Salt and Pepper Shaker Set are meant to be broken open so their spices can be accessed. Image courtesy Oded Antman.
In the installation, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec's Clouds for Kvadrat--picked for their modular character--are arranged from the ceiling and Puma shoes--which can be custom designed by the purchaser--line the wall. TechnoCRAFT closes at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on October 3. Be sure to also check out the center's Something from Nothing: Films on Design and Architecture series, running in conjunction with the exhibition. Photo by Phocasso/J.W. White.
In the installation, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec's Clouds for Kvadrat--picked for their modular character--are arranged from the ceiling and Puma shoes--which can be custom designed by the purchaser--line the wall. TechnoCRAFT closes at the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts on October 3. Be sure to also check out the center's Something from Nothing: Films on Design and Architecture series, running in conjunction with the exhibition. Photo by Phocasso/J.W. White.