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Talent Spotting: Part 2
Bridget West: Made In Chair
If you want to find the designers of the future there’s no better place to look than the 100% Design exhibition. Here’s our pick of some of the best new talent we found at the 2007 show. Buy their designs now, and you could be investing in an antique of the future...
Bridget West
Showing under the Hidden Art banner – an initiative established to promote small designer-makers – African-born designer Bridget West caused quite a stir with her range of quirky ethical textiles. Bridget recycles products where possible to make her textiles. Anything from abandoned corduroy trousers to old clothing labels can be used – the latter make for surprisingly lovely surface patterns.
As upholstery for chairs, cushions and stools the textiles work brilliantly whether you agree with Bridget’s ethical principles or not. But how can you not?
Belgian designer Sylvain Willenz received rave reviews for his innovative Torch light
Sylvain Willenz
Inspired by everything from chewing gum through to Post-it notes and spray cans, you know you’re in for a treat with RCA-trained Belgian designer Sylvain Willenz, and yet his products are a lot more polished than these eclectic sources would imply. At 100% he showed his Torch light, an ingenious light that’s a hybrid of a hand-held torch and a car head light, and his cartoon-like Slide mirrors with fat graffiti drop-shadows.
The latter perfectly encapsulates Sylvain’s originality, but also has ability to produce precision-made products of real quality.
