Dutch furniture brand Pastoe has long been a favourite of ours with their clean lines and simple furniture range. Recently, they premiered a new range designed by Sholten & Baijings at the 2012 IMM Cologne Fair, which embraces another one of our favourite directions - the use of the ombré effect. They explain that "by working with translucent sliding doors in different colours in combination with a colour gradient, an intriguing play of colours is created when the cabinet is opened and closed." The result pays homage to Pastoe ranges of the past with an advancement on colour.

Introduce some scenic surroundings to your fishy friends with this beautiful fish bowl designed by Aruliden for Gaia & Gino. Made from hand-blown glass, we like to think it's the minimalist's take on the various fish paraphernalia that one normally expects to see in this environment.

Forget simple triangular kite forms of yesteryear, this architectural looking kite designed by Sash Reading is comprised of carbon fibre rods and cuben fibre aerospace fabric. The 'Little Shining Man', is one kite sure to win you some well deserved kudos at the local park.

With firsthand experience making some of the country's finest design pieces for local designers such as Simon James, David Trubridge and David Moreland, it comes as little surprise that cabinetmaker Benjamin Charles also picked up a keen design sensibility along the way. Based in Tauranga, his love of making things was fostered from an early age, which eventually led to something he liked even more, designing his own furniture. From his own design studio he works on collaborative projects with other brands, bespoke commissions and his own line of furniture under the brand Benjamin Charles Design. We recently sat down with him to find out more about his submission in the Design Folio Incubator Award presented by Peroni.

What will you be looking to design and produce for the Design Folio Incubator Award?

I have entered a low table with bronze cast legs, and a single slab of New Zealand native matai that has been hand burnished to a glassy finish. The use of age old forms of craftsmanship like the dove tail joint create a table that has a deep lasting quality about it.

This table can be shipped flat as the legs slide into place with no fixings required. 

 

My other entry is my black tawa puzzle lamp, adapted from an old wooden puzzle that my parents found on one of their travels. It had a wooden ball inside it and the whole thing could be dismantled. I replaced the wooden ball with a light bulb and extended three corners to form a base. I will have this lamp available in a range of native timbers. This can also be shipped easily as a flat parcel. We have found it to be a great conversation piece for our living room, and some guests can’t put it down until they have cracked it. I have a growing collection of puzzles but this one has to be my favourite.

What key elements do you think define a successful piece of design?

I think there are three elements that define successful design.
1. Refresh me. Fresh and simple construction that resolves.
2. Remind me. It’s about connections, history and culture...things worth being reminded of.
3. Fascinate me. This is the genius factor - the way materials interact, the engineering and artful balance of the object... the ease and delight of use.

What are your key design influences?

I have been exposed to many designers' works and have travelled to many countries, so my life thus far has been full of influences. My top two designers would have to be Charles and Ray Eames and Philippe Starck. I love the way they both display connection to the past in their work. To quote Charles Eames, “The details are details. They make the product. The connections, the connections, the connections. It will in the end be these details that give the product its life.” I think that quote has really helped me see design for what it is at its core...a means of surrounding oneself with life.

What would be your dream future design commission?

I would love to do a commission for British brand Established and Sons.

Place an iPhone or Ipod Touch running a flip clock app onto this dock by Jonas Damon, and see an iconic and meaningful form return to your nightstand. The iPhone or iPod’s dock connector can also be pulled through the system, enabling it to recharge whilst serving as a dependable alarm.

Available locally from Simon James Design’s online store

A piece of Arcade Murano Glass is something to cherish for generations to come. Rarely do we see glass vases that are this sophisticated and beautiful in form. Place a lone stem in the vase for a dramatic effect, or simply put them side-by-side for a sculptural element within the home.

Available locally from Cavit & Co

The Tufty-Too sofa follows its successful predecessor, the Tufty-Time sofa. Designed by Patricia Urquiola for B&B Italia, this sofa is made for socialising with its corner and lounge appeal. Embracing comfort, softness and modernity, the sofa is distinguished by contrast stitching and is available in a variety of complementary colours.

Available locally from Matisse 

A ten story public art installation made from 1,000 reused doors is no small feat. 'Doors' designed by artist Choi Jeong-Hwa, was installed back in 2009 in Seoul. The result? A colourful art installation that promotes reusing discarded objects in a collective way.

This modular framed paper lighting system puts the onus on the owner to customise the lamps. Named 'Tekio' (which means 'adjustable' in Japanese) it's designed by London-based design studio Anthony Dickens studio. Made from folded paper tubes, several shapes can be made by adapting the form. It would look impressive in large commercial projects.

Josef Schulz's series of work Sachliches and Formen features photographs he has taken of architecture after he has edited them, removing windows and lettering, and in some instances, changing the surroundings. Without their own defining features, the buildings are void of their character, allowing them to appear sculptural transcending time and place.