a. 5+ design: dragon valley retail district [Designboom]
b. Reinvented glass blowing makes lamps look like crunched paper [Fast Co]
c. Shylight by Ralph Nauta and Lonneke Gordijn [Mocoloco]
d. Mille Miglia: Auto Italia [Nowness]
e. Ilot vintage cameras [The Coolist]

Bahrain based design studio Skyrill along with fellow designer Marin Myftiu have conceived a new concept car, this time for Jaguar. The Jaguar XKX takes a completely new look at the classic Jag ensuring this is one electronic car that doesn't forgo on design details for eco-efficiency. The designer explains:

"The concept tries to revive the glorious design lines of the brand, combining fresh solutions [along with] new aerodynamics tailored around the electrical elements of the power system as well as cutting-edge energy feedback."

Resembling a modern day Batmobile, the profile of the car is elegant and slim, forgoing any heaviness aesthetic sometimes associated with muscle cars of this calibre.

How's this for an impressive dinner party setting? Belgian designer Charles Kaisin hosted a dinner titled 'The Fantasies of Charles' during the Art Brussels Fair. It's hard to miss the three metre long table that sports several trees growing through the middle of it. The branches were so large, that they extended right up into the ceiling space. Little birds (we're yet to determine whether they're real or fake - although we suspect the latter) find a home amongst the trees' branches, whilst the 36 odd guests (including royalty from the fashion set Jean-Paul Gaultier and Hubert Guerrand-Hermes) dined on delicacies into the early hours. We suspect it was a memorable evening due in part to the setting, but also attributed to the company.

After a whirlwind Milanese tour, Design Folio Incubator Award Winner Tim Webber has his feet firmly back on our shores after visiting the largest design fair in the world - the Salone del Mobile in Milan alongside Design Folio's Editor-in-chief Claire Sullivan. We asked him to round up the favourite pieces he encountered whilst in the city of design for us.

1. Rui Alves - Woodpecker

Displaying at the Salone Satellite Exhibition, Alves had a great new modular stand system where the user can attach different components, which have different uses, to create their own somewhat custom piece of furniture. His elegant, considered and well crafted use of wood suits just perfectly.

2. Cecilie Manz for Fritz Hansen



The Minuscule chair is a beautifully crafted sophisticated object where its finer details set it apart. Features like the hand stitched leather edging which follows the contours of the shell, helps create a unique, clean aesthetic. The mix of the handmade elements and the industrial production process of the legs and shell is a nice contrast in a single object.

3. 3000 Njord by Kusch + Co

I love the warmth and feel of this mix of materials of wood and pressed felt. It was great to sit in as well, super comfortable especially with a bit of flex in the felt. The chair's detail and workmanship in both the frame and the pressing of the felt showed how much of a well resolved piece of furniture it is.

4. Cyclops light and Woofers by Sander Mulder



Above: Woofers' speakers

I was really impressed with the finish and quality of the whole range of Sander Mulder design studio. It was evident when seeing these products in the flesh how refined and considered every detail is. The Cyclops light was a highlight for me as an innovative and clever design, which is incredibly well made. The user pulls the light down in the middle to switch it off and straightens it out again to flick it back on. Attention to detail on this light is second to none and very impressive from a relatively small studio. I loved the ‘Woofers’ speakers too as a whimsical, sculptural object…and the intentional pun name just tops it off! I'll take 2 thanks.

Patrick Norguet: Kobi Chair for Alias

I’m a bit partial to a good wood and metal mix, so the Kobi chair caught my eye straight away. It was interesting to find out that the legs are in fact aluminium, but covered in an oak veneer. I found the steel basket seat structure produced a 3D vector map aesthetic which contrasted nicely against the solid, clean lines of the aluminium frame and legs. The block colour and the padded options looked stunning too!

www.timwebberstudio.com

There isn't much that Nendo hasn't lent their hands to of late, whether it be new store interiors for Camper, or entirely new furniture collaborations with a variety of companies, this Japanese studio is still firmly on the rise. This collaboration with Bisazza Bagno sees a beautiful bathroom collection come to life. With a crate-like bathtub and mirrors that resemble drops of water, it's another fine example of the minimalist aesthetic they are renowned for. The designers explain:

"Our objective for this bathroom collection was to create a strong singular impression by assembling the various elements of a bathroom suite as though they were 'all in the bath together'."

The Bubble Baby Bed by Lana Agiyan is both incredibly cute and functional - not only does it give the impression that your child is nestled in a bubble cloud but it also allows you to softly (and safely) rock your baby to sleep. The molded acrylic bed is inspired by the traditional Russian Nevalyashka tumble toy and can rock in any direction up to a 17 degree angle - returning always to an upright position due to the weighted centre. The cradle's matress contains buckwheat hulls (ideal for it's antibacterial, hypoallergenic and breathable properties) and is encased in a pure wool cover.

London based design duo Studio Vit, have recently launched their Marble Lights collection - a series of lamps made from marble and glass. Beginning with just an archetypal bulb and socket, different sized glass spheres and marble cylinders can be combined to create various lamp combinations. The collection consists of table, floor and pendant lights. Marble cylinders are used to counterweight the suspended lights, and the cord can be adjusted to any desired length by threading it under the marble.

Made of interconnected triangles of metal, Chinese designer Zhang Zhoujie's Triangulation series 'pays respect to the logic of mathematics and the law of digital environment' and blends traditional Chinese art concepts with Western design methods. The pieces function as both occasional furniture and works of art.

From their 'Recycling Memories' collection by Studio Baag comes the Blackout coat rack. Resembling a bunch of oversized matches, the piece consists of six solid beams of maple wood with charred ends. An incredibly functional installation piece - however it would be tempting to not hang anything on it at all!

  

a. The Skull Bang Watch by Hublot [The Coolist]
b. We say goodbye to Maurice Sendak, revisit a great speech by Dieter Rams and take HR lessons from the Red Baron [Fast Co]
c. Atelier Breuckner: GS Caltex pavilion [Design Boom]
d. $1.6 million special edition Lamborghini Reventon supercar on sale at London motorexpo [Born Rich]
e. Ana Soler's Causa-Efecto [A Gentleman's Read]