World of WearableArt Show to Feature 91 Finalists in 2024 Competition

The 34th annual World of WearableArt™ (WOW) Show in Wellington, New Zealand, will showcase 91 finalist entries in the 2024 WOW Competition. The garments, crafted from diverse materials such as car parts, human hair, digital waste, antique silk, roadwork safety equipment, old mattresses, lamp shades, gutter guard, and New Zealand wool, were selected from entries submitted from around the world. The competition includes three recurring sections - Aotearoa, Avant-garde, and Open - and three unique categories: Crazy Curiosities of the Creature Carnival, Natural World, and Geometric Abstraction. The winners will be announced at the WOW Awards Night on September 27, 2024, and the judging panel includes WOW Founder Dame Suzie Moncrieff, James Dobson, Creative Director of New Zealand fashion label Jimmy D, and Wētā Workshop Creative Art Director Gino Acevedo. The WOW Show will run from September 26 to October 13, 2024 [91d9780a].

The recently concluded Knowledge of Design Week (KODW) in Hong Kong brought together leaders from various creative industries to discuss the future of design. The event, which took place from June 25-27, featured over 30 sessions of forums, networking events, workshops, and masterclasses. With the theme of 'Inter/Section: Crafting Tomorrow's Design,' KODW aimed to foster the exchange of ideas in an industry where cross-disciplinary collaboration is becoming increasingly important. The event was sponsored by Create Hong Kong (CreateHK), a government organization, and partnered with France as the official partner country. Notable speakers at the event included Alan Chan, founder and creative director of Alan Chan Design Company, Nathalie Crinière, CEO of Agence NC, Shirley Surya, curator of design and architecture at M+, Penelope Luk, creative director and founder of Crafts on Peel, and Dong Gong, founder and design principal of Vector Architects. Each speaker shared their expertise and insights on design and its impact [f949ec6a].

In other design news, the 2024 Design Guild Mark recipients were announced at Clerkenwell Design Week in London. The Design Guild Mark is a non-profit award program that recognizes excellence in British industrial design. Established in 2008 by The Furniture Makers’ Company, the program highlights innovation of materials, creativity, and sustainability. This year, 16 outstanding submissions across three categories received the Design Guild Mark, with three also receiving the Jonathan Hindle Prize. The winners were chosen based on their commitment to sustainability, reflecting the program's emphasis on eco-friendly design. The presentation took place at Humanscale during Clerkenwell Design Week on May 21, 2024 [80c5ac70].

Among the winners were the OE1 Sit-Stand Table by Industrial Facility for Herman Miller, Aran by Morgan Studio for Morgan, and Revolution by Jodie Padgett for Camira. These products stood out for their innovative use of materials and their contribution to sustainable design. The Jonathan Hindle Prize winners were Aran, Re.Wrap, and Apex. The Design Guild Mark is unique in that applicants are required to present their actual piece in person, ensuring the highest level of craftsmanship and quality. The program is now accepting entries for the 2024 awards [80c5ac70].

Kisa Harrison, CEO of Christopher Guy, discusses her views on good design and its importance in capturing the essence of the wearer or environment. She emphasizes the need for pieces that resonate with individuals and embody sophistication. Harrison balances creativity with commercial viability in leading Christopher Guy, staying true to artistic roots while adapting to evolving tastes. She draws inspiration from her travels, exploration of new cultures, and various artistic expressions. As an arbiter of style, Harrison recommends a focal point to set the tone for interior spaces, blending functional and aesthetic elements. She aims to create spaces that are beautiful and reflective of the lives within them. [ae466379]

Arke Creative, an office interior design specialist, has experienced annual sales growth of 102.91% over the past three years. Founded by Anthony Ellis in 2018, the company focuses on office design and fit-outs in London and southeast England. Arke Creative achieved sales of £21.3 million last year [1bc6f8be].

In other design news, the curated personal collections of architect and interior designer Max Clendinning and theatre set designer Ralph Adron will be sold at the Sworders auction rooms in Stansted Mountfitchet on July 9th. Clendinning, who was raised in Co Armagh, is known for his interior design work and his slot-together Maxima chairs. The couple's home in Islington featured flamboyant murals and avant-garde furniture. The sale will include Clendinning's own pieces, as well as rugs, cabinets, ceramics, and tiles by William De Morgan and Salvador Dalí. The auction will also feature works by Finnish designer Alvar Aalto, Austrian-born Italian architect Ettore Sottsass, and Irish designer Eileen Gray [7fc94d28].

Design brand AXOR and designer Philippe Starck are celebrating their 30-year collaboration. AXOR, a design brand established by Hansgrohe in 1993, has worked with architects, interior designers, and designers to develop visions of the bathroom as a living space. The collaboration with Philippe Starck began in 1994 with the launch of the AXOR Starck collection, which revolutionized the image of the bathroom. The collection has become an icon of bathroom design. Over the years, AXOR and Starck have introduced innovative products such as AXOR Starck Organic and AXOR Starck V. The partnership continues to innovate and reinvent the bathroom in our living spaces [bf1015a0].