designwire daily | ICFF 2011: Off-Roading at the NoHo Design District

ICFF 2011: Off-Roading at the NoHo Design District

by Ghislaine Viñas | Monday, May 16, 2011 | 1 Comment

Some of the most interesting design to be seen in New York during ICFF maybe the “off-road” locations. Last Friday, I hoped on my bike and headed to the NoHo neighborhood and, more specifically, Great Jones Street to the old lumber building to check out NoHo Design District.

This show was curated by Sight Unseen, and I found the design there to be about unconventional inspiration. Nothing slick, sleek, and shiny but rather work from a group of designers who were thinking on their own terms. This is exactly the kind of design that gets me excited—clever and creative uses of materials, as well as revised and refreshed craft techniques that allow us to take a new look at classic products.

The first object that caught my eye was a hand mirror by Grain which had been bound with different colors of cord, the next a beautiful leather basket by Alissia MT who you might know from by AMT (she designs unique jewelry, amongst other things). While on the second floor, I was fascinated and delighted by the reworked baskets that Areaware was sporting. RoLu brought to us a stunning simple cubist sling seat chair that could have been cold and stark, but his use of materials gave it warmth and character. A well-proportioned table from iacolli and mcallister always makes me feel that everything is alright with world, and then a crazy beautiful pendant fixture from Lukas Peet stole the show for me. Shaped like a giant paper clip, I was enchanted by its form and simple sculptural quality.

Next for me is going to be a stop at Wanted Design in the Meatpacking District and Brokenoff Brokenoff, which is an exhibit inspired by the work of the late Tobias Wong at Gallery R’Pure in Chelsea.