Everything Communicates

iPhone picnic

  

When I first arrived in BA in 2006 all the cool people still had Motorola RAZRs. Being a very image-conscious country this wasn't so surprising considering the new wave of mobile devices tended to be high on confusing technology that wasn't supported by the local infrastructure, and not much in the way of aesthetic desirability. People thought my N93 was hilarious. Everyone also said that tech products were too expensive. 

Well all of that changed when the iPhone arrived. As soon as it was released in the states in appeared on tables next to lattes in the cafes of Buenos Aires. Now my favourite designers have released a special edition line of iPhone skins that make me want to ditch my Nokia for an iPhone... and a new nano...

Lovely stuff. Just need to work out how to get them to the UK.

www.picnicdecor.com

Objects of decoration for happy surroundings

I've just picked up my other chair from the tapicero. I was really excited about how this one would turn out because I took the plunge and bought some funky fabric (not exactly Henry XV) from some new designers whose studio I visited last week.

The girls at Picnic have only been in business for a year or so but they are designing gorgeous prints and applying them to fabrics, wallpapers and laptop bags, among other things, and getting lots of attention. I liked their style so much I also bought these cushions:

All in all I think it's going to do what it says on the box "Objetos de decoración para un entorno feliz" (or the title of this post).

0800-chairdesigner

This isn't really about brands... but it's something that I love about Buenos Aires. Whether it's the influx of foreigners buying up and decorating rental apartments, or just the natural resourcefulness and creativity of people here, there's a heck of a lot of attention paid to interior design.

I've spent many a weekend wandering around the flea market over the past year, imagining all the fabulous furniture I could restore and sell for tons of money in the UK if only there weren't exorbitant export barriers that make it just too much hard work.

Since we're here for work, we have a shipment allowance that makes it possible for me to do up a couple of things... and they've been keeping me pretty busy lately (who'd have realised how much running around and creative stress goes into it!)

So I bought this:

And turned it into this!

Yay! I'm hooked.

.

100% Love

I went to Feria Puro Diseño 07 yesterday, the design fair in Buenos Aires. There were some semi-interesting speakers talking about future trends in interior design, and the influence of Street Art, Urban Style and Vinyl Toys on design and culture.

I wasn't blown away by the interior design trends "As water becomes more precious, shades of blue will become more important in 2007/08 and beyond" <hmmm> but I loved the work of a graphic designer who has created a fashion label around the idea of "power to love".

According to the designers, Kurcho is a character with a message to share with the world. The messages appear on Tshirts and in a cute little kit that equips the buyer to share the love.

Here is the manifesto:

I KURCHO, DECLARE THAT HAVE EMPIRICALLY PROVED THAT HEARTS SPEAK. UNFORTUNATELY, THE ONES THAT CAN LISTEN TO THEIR HEARTS ARE FEW AND MY STUDIES INDICATE THAT THE NUMBER IS GRADUALLY DECLINING BECAUSE HEARTS ARE TIRED OF SPEAKING WITHOUT BEING LISTENED...

THEREFORE I DECLARE OF URGENT NECESSITY THE PRACTICE OF LISTENING TO OUR HEARTS, TO FACILITATE A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT TO THIS PRACTICE AND WITH THE ONLY PURPOSE OF REACHNG THE GLORIOUS DAY IN WHICH THE WHOLE HUMAN RACE LEARNS HOW TO LISTEN TO ITS HEARTS... I SCREAM: POWER TO INNOCENCE AND LOVE! (exact transcript)

The creators have made a nice little street campaign and have also managed a bit of product placement on some upcoming commercials. I like the meeting of information design & fashion and the current global Tshirt obsession as a medium to spread a bit of goodwill.