Fabio Novembre is well accustomed to designing exaggerated pieces of furniture that are well and truly off the beaten track. Take Nemo, released at last year's Milan fair, with its Phantom-esque feel and steep back as an example of recent work. And this year is no different. His Robox shelving unit for Casamania reignites a childhood passion for Mazinga and Transformers. He explains:

'Boys of my generation had always had a robot on their side, and I was searching for a new function able to justify still, its presence next to my desk. [I aimed] to create this new domestic hero: a device with heart, a hard-disk pre-digital to store our memories.'

Available in different colours - but all with a red heart, we think it could quite easily appeal to the child in all of us.

Casamania is available locally from here.

Poltrona Frau have presented Ginger - a new chair design to accompany the Fred desk, both by skilled designer Roberto Lazzeroni. Equipped with a soft leather shell comprised of 5mm thick saddle leather extra in either dark brown or camel, the skillful leather-work evident throughout Poltrona Frau products, is on show once again. Precious details like visible top-stitching  run along the outside edge creating a subtle decorative effect. Available in a fixed or swivel base, it lends nicely to either a dining chair or desk chair.

Poltrona Frau is available locally from here.

With a reputation for manufacturing large-scale contemporary chandeliers, American lighting company Roll & Hill have made their debut in Europe at the Milan Salone, the Superordinate Antler Chandelier is one of the more impressive chandeliers in the collection.

Constructed from steel and recycled teak, the Koi chair by Innermost makes reference to fish scales where hundreds of small metal arcs are fused together to create the intricate pattern that forms the back of the chair.

Doshi Levien's latest design for Moroso embraces a new material known as Liquid Wood. With a very different visual effect to any other industrial plastic, its thermoplastic composite is comprised of 80% wood fibre and 20% polypropylene that can then be processed by conventional injection moulding techniques. The pressure and heat from the mould releases moisture from the wood fibre which in turn burns on the surface of the aluminium tool - creating a random and leather-like tarnished effect.

The designer explains: inspired by the characteristics of liquid wood, we decided to create a chair that references the genre of light, graceful, bent wood frame chairs but would be impossible to make in any other way than by injection moulding, hence the name "impossible wood".

The chair itself has a delicacy and sense of refinement to it and reinforces Moroso's ongoing success at pushing the boundaries with traditional technologies and designs.

Moroso is available locally here.

With an ability to see money as more than just a means to an end - artist Dan Tague knows a thing or two about how to fold a bill and create impact. Take these US dollars as examples.

Creative agency L012 comprised of artists Angelo Bramanti and Giuseppe Siracus transform existing objects and materials with a nod to surrealism. Preferring to work with waste materials and recycled objects,  this piece of work 'Through the Barricades' utilises these elements with existing records reworked into haunting faces. They work across a range of disciplines including painting, sculpture, installation and graphic work.

To view more of their work go here.

You may remember Tim Webber as one of the promising young designers that was part of our Design Folio Incubator Exhibition last year - his work is fun with a sculptural element reigning supreme throughout his designs. Tonight he's launching his first solo exhibition at BoConcept, and it will be on display from tomorrow for one month for the public. If you're in the area, be sure to check it out - he uses a variety of materials that result in a very different outcomes - we think he's going to go far.

Tim Webber Exhibition
Beginning 30th of March for one month
BoConcept (upstairs)
20 Normanby Road
Mt Eden
Auckland

You can see more of Tim Webber's designs here.

Above top to bottom: Mission Bay rug by artist Max Gimblett, Monarch Rug by Boh Runga, Crossroad Rug by Zambesi, Love Rug by Kevin Roberts, Cardinale Rug by Codi Design, Veggie Stall Rug by Dick Frizzell.

Seven of New Zealand's leading creative talents have worked in conjunction with Designer Rugs to produce stunning large scale handmade floor rugs made completely from 100% NZ Wool. Designs by fashion designer Kate Sylvester along with artists and designers Dick Frizzell, Max Gimblett, Zambesi, Codi design & Kevin Roberts from Saatchi & Saatchi form part of the ongoing Kiwi Icon collection.

Boh Runga explains the inspiration behind her Monarch rug... 'it came from me thinking about something specific to New Zealand but that also has greater recognition worldwide. The end result is the Monarch rug. Having something like this for me in a medium I am not familiar with is so much fun to be part of. When I see Monarch butterflies in summer it reminds me of beautiful weather and our wonderful New Zealand environment.'

We should also shortly have the video available that shows all the creatives' inspirations.

For more information visit Designer Rugs.

a. In defense of delight [Core 77]
b. 10 re-habbed homes that turned ugly into unbelievable [The Coolist]
c. Oscar Niemeyer - Centro Niemeyer now open [Designboom]
d. Whiteness by Julia Krantz [Dezeen]
e. Do you still have a bathroom or are you already at home? [Stylepark]