“Design is so simple. That’s why it’s so complicated.” –Paul Rand

The Object Design League likes to have a good time.
The Object Design League likes to have a good time.
Young’s <5_MY chair for Coalesse, $1,700, is a cutting-edge carbon-fiber design that weighs in at less than five pounds. The chair was inspired by his work with bicycles, is stackable for easy storage, and can be customized to match any color using an app.
Young’s <5_MY chair for Coalesse, $1,700, is a cutting-edge carbon-fiber design that weighs in at less than five pounds. The chair was inspired by his work with bicycles, is stackable for easy storage, and can be customized to match any color using an app.
This "local prefab" home on the Isle of Skye is made mostly from materials sourced in northern Scotland. The timber-framed model, meant to evoke the simple agrarian barns of the area, can be constructed on-site in as little as a day and is designed for affordability.
This "local prefab" home on the Isle of Skye is made mostly from materials sourced in northern Scotland. The timber-framed model, meant to evoke the simple agrarian barns of the area, can be constructed on-site in as little as a day and is designed for affordability.
The ready-to-assemble series will be exhibited in Nomann Copenhagen’s flagship store in Copenhagen until December 5, 2013.
The ready-to-assemble series will be exhibited in Nomann Copenhagen’s flagship store in Copenhagen until December 5, 2013.
Young lauched his EOQ line at New York’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair, showcasing material-driven pieces like the Shindo chair, $2,775, a lightweight creation made from 20 layers of carbon-fiber twill weaves.
Young lauched his EOQ line at New York’s International Contemporary Furniture Fair, showcasing material-driven pieces like the Shindo chair, $2,775, a lightweight creation made from 20 layers of carbon-fiber twill weaves.
Black and white kitchen cabinets painted with a triangular pattern add a whimsical touch to this funky kitchen.
Black and white kitchen cabinets painted with a triangular pattern add a whimsical touch to this funky kitchen.
The whole shebang! Follow the New Design Museum's construction process here.
The whole shebang! Follow the New Design Museum's construction process here.
The Good Flock, Booth MH10

Find the table or wall-mounted Aurora lamps from Portland-based the Good Flock in Booth MH10 ($160–199).
The Good Flock, Booth MH10 Find the table or wall-mounted Aurora lamps from Portland-based the Good Flock in Booth MH10 ($160–199).
Thanks to Matthew Hufft, their envelope-pushing architect and longtime friend, Hannah and Paul Catlett have a new home in southwestern Missouri that’s a fresh, unconventional take on the traditional farmhouse.
Thanks to Matthew Hufft, their envelope-pushing architect and longtime friend, Hannah and Paul Catlett have a new home in southwestern Missouri that’s a fresh, unconventional take on the traditional farmhouse.
This Carbon Fiber chair by Michael Young for Coalesse was developed in collaboration with a company that builds high-performance bicycles. The result, a lightweight stacking chair, guarantees exceptional performance.
This Carbon Fiber chair by Michael Young for Coalesse was developed in collaboration with a company that builds high-performance bicycles. The result, a lightweight stacking chair, guarantees exceptional performance.
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 design for kids: Playforms by North Forty Design. We love the lightweight Framehouse for its simple shape that encourages curiosity and imaginative play.
When Abbie and Bill Burton hired Marmol Radziner to design their prefab weekend home, their two requests were “simple-simple, replaceable materials,” says Abbie—such as concrete floors (poured offsite in Marmol Radziner's factory) and metal panel siding—and “the ability to be indoors or outdoors with ease.” Deep overhangs provide shade and protection from rain, so the Burtons can leave their doors open year-round and hang out on their 70-foot-long deck even in inclement weather. They visit the house once a month, usually for a week at a time, with Vinnie and Stella, their rescue Bernese Mountain dogs. Their two adult children occasionally join them. The couple hopes to one day retire here.
When Abbie and Bill Burton hired Marmol Radziner to design their prefab weekend home, their two requests were “simple-simple, replaceable materials,” says Abbie—such as concrete floors (poured offsite in Marmol Radziner's factory) and metal panel siding—and “the ability to be indoors or outdoors with ease.” Deep overhangs provide shade and protection from rain, so the Burtons can leave their doors open year-round and hang out on their 70-foot-long deck even in inclement weather. They visit the house once a month, usually for a week at a time, with Vinnie and Stella, their rescue Bernese Mountain dogs. Their two adult children occasionally join them. The couple hopes to one day retire here.
Ian Walton (who comes from a long line of physicists) and Marcel Twohig (the son of an artist and sculptor) met at an overlapping stint at Design Partners, an international consultancy headquartered in Ireland.
Ian Walton (who comes from a long line of physicists) and Marcel Twohig (the son of an artist and sculptor) met at an overlapping stint at Design Partners, an international consultancy headquartered in Ireland.
The toilet provides a relaxing aura and posses the earthy feel.
The toilet provides a relaxing aura and posses the earthy feel.
Pebble Time Round by Pebble, $249 at pebble.com

Pebble, the wearable tech company whose signature timepiece is a favorite among Silicon Valley disruptors, recently unveiled Pebble Round Time, the world's thinest, lightest smartwatch yet. Available in rich finishes, including rose gold, it is a dream accessory for the tech-forward and design-conscious.
Pebble Time Round by Pebble, $249 at pebble.com Pebble, the wearable tech company whose signature timepiece is a favorite among Silicon Valley disruptors, recently unveiled Pebble Round Time, the world's thinest, lightest smartwatch yet. Available in rich finishes, including rose gold, it is a dream accessory for the tech-forward and design-conscious.
Chelsea Boy, a protoype gin-and-tonic glass dedicated to his late friend, designer James Irvine, was presented at Bar Basso during the Milan Furniture Fair.
Chelsea Boy, a protoype gin-and-tonic glass dedicated to his late friend, designer James Irvine, was presented at Bar Basso during the Milan Furniture Fair.
The dining room table is often used for rousing games of cribbage, but cleans up nicely when it's time to eat. The small balcony outside is home to a collection of plants (which get watered more often than the succulents inside).
The dining room table is often used for rousing games of cribbage, but cleans up nicely when it's time to eat. The small balcony outside is home to a collection of plants (which get watered more often than the succulents inside).
Here's the Michael Graves Design Toaster which is made from stainless steel and has a copper handle. Strum described how copper is a common material in kitchenware and how his team wanted to nod to the metal in the toaster design. The little toast icon is actually an digital display that counts down as your bread toasts.
Here's the Michael Graves Design Toaster which is made from stainless steel and has a copper handle. Strum described how copper is a common material in kitchenware and how his team wanted to nod to the metal in the toaster design. The little toast icon is actually an digital display that counts down as your bread toasts.
Michael Sylvester, Managing Director of Dwell on Design.
Michael Sylvester, Managing Director of Dwell on Design.
We caught up with Graves at his home in Princeton, New Jersey to shoot this video Design Icon: Michael Graves.
We caught up with Graves at his home in Princeton, New Jersey to shoot this video Design Icon: Michael Graves.
Ray Kappe, now 80, sits in the master bedroom. He says he's as busy now as he was 40 years ago.
Ray Kappe, now 80, sits in the master bedroom. He says he's as busy now as he was 40 years ago.
The concrete wall mimics the slope of the hill outside as a reference to early Maori structures that were dug into the land. The simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The ceramic works on the built-in seat at right are by Raewyn Atkinson and Robyn Lewis.
The concrete wall mimics the slope of the hill outside as a reference to early Maori structures that were dug into the land. The simple kitchen has strandboard cabinetry and an MDF island that conceals a fireplace at one end. The ceramic works on the built-in seat at right are by Raewyn Atkinson and Robyn Lewis.
After living on and studying a woodsy acre of land in North Zealand, Denmark, architect Jesper Brask cleared a stand of pine trees and, from the timber, built a getaway open to its surroundings. The house, which Brask shares with his wife, Lene, and sons, Kristian, Jens, and Niels, is used mainly in summer, when the weather is optimal for throwing open the glass doors.
After living on and studying a woodsy acre of land in North Zealand, Denmark, architect Jesper Brask cleared a stand of pine trees and, from the timber, built a getaway open to its surroundings. The house, which Brask shares with his wife, Lene, and sons, Kristian, Jens, and Niels, is used mainly in summer, when the weather is optimal for throwing open the glass doors.
Mami and Goo the Kishu dog return from a frolic in the forest, which the couple, along with Hideaki, has thinned and trimmed back over many weekends. It’s an idyllic escape and a world away from the concrete expanse of Tokyo.
Mami and Goo the Kishu dog return from a frolic in the forest, which the couple, along with Hideaki, has thinned and trimmed back over many weekends. It’s an idyllic escape and a world away from the concrete expanse of Tokyo.
In Seattle's rapidly developing South Lake Union neighborhood, the Art Stable is a classic example of urban infill. Built on the site of a former horse stable, the seven-story mixed-use building carries its history into the future with highly adaptable live/work units.
In Seattle's rapidly developing South Lake Union neighborhood, the Art Stable is a classic example of urban infill. Built on the site of a former horse stable, the seven-story mixed-use building carries its history into the future with highly adaptable live/work units.
“Our design fee was very, very little,” says architect Cristian Stefanescu. “That was part of the arrangement. It’s also why we tried to design something very simple—there was less demand to spend time detailing complex intersections.”
“Our design fee was very, very little,” says architect Cristian Stefanescu. “That was part of the arrangement. It’s also why we tried to design something very simple—there was less demand to spend time detailing complex intersections.”
The Sutla table also uses white ash and powder-coated metal. The top is birch plywood top with a white laminate finish.
The Sutla table also uses white ash and powder-coated metal. The top is birch plywood top with a white laminate finish.
Parisian designer Benjamin Graindorge is completely content in his chosen métier, professing that “learning is freedom.”
Parisian designer Benjamin Graindorge is completely content in his chosen métier, professing that “learning is freedom.”
Born and raised in Japan, Yoshizawa has studied textile design in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, where she is currently finishing her master’s degree at Helsinki’s Aalto University.
Born and raised in Japan, Yoshizawa has studied textile design in Sweden, Norway, and Finland, where she is currently finishing her master’s degree at Helsinki’s Aalto University.
A Southern California native, Casey Lurie honed his aesthetic in art programs at Cal Arts and Northwestern University, but it wasn’t until he met Teruo Kurosaki, founder of the influential Japanese furniture brand Idée, that his true purpose took root.
A Southern California native, Casey Lurie honed his aesthetic in art programs at Cal Arts and Northwestern University, but it wasn’t until he met Teruo Kurosaki, founder of the influential Japanese furniture brand Idée, that his true purpose took root.
Italian designer Daniele Bortotto has worked with a number of masters, including glassblower Massimo Lunardon, perfumer Lorenzo Dante Ferro, and 125-year-old textiles company Rubelli.
Italian designer Daniele Bortotto has worked with a number of masters, including glassblower Massimo Lunardon, perfumer Lorenzo Dante Ferro, and 125-year-old textiles company Rubelli.
Swiss designer Margaux Keller is currently working on a line of home goods for SIA and pieces for Roche Bobois.
Swiss designer Margaux Keller is currently working on a line of home goods for SIA and pieces for Roche Bobois.
Stockholm-based designer Nick Ross calls on historical events for inspiration for his works.
Stockholm-based designer Nick Ross calls on historical events for inspiration for his works.
German designer Karoline Fesser aims to create customizable works that owners can put their own stamp on.
German designer Karoline Fesser aims to create customizable works that owners can put their own stamp on.
Calen Knauf and Conrad Brown are simpatico in a way that only best friends can be.
Calen Knauf and Conrad Brown are simpatico in a way that only best friends can be.
Sebastian Scherer's steel stand Tisch table.
Sebastian Scherer's steel stand Tisch table.

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