Lessons from Paris II

WHO: Gera Smuts WHERE: Paris, France 

Lesson: Design for assembly  

It’s no surprise that the modern Scandinavian style of Ikea has grown to have such global appeal. Its flatpack furniture and stylish accessories are simple, beautiful and, above all, practical. And they’re having a strong influence on the way designers are thinking.

From 2D to 3D

While ready-to-assemble designs are not new, they’re becoming increasingly popular as designers embrace the notion of two-dimensional sheets of fabric, cardboard, plastic, metal and other materials that can be folded to create three-dimensional works of style. Such as these stag heads and bird house by Miho Unexpected Things. Available at Big Blue www.bigblue.co.za

Limited components

Simplifying a design and reducing the number of parts used in its design process ultimately reduces its cost – and broadens its market. The M2 foldable table by Zoocreative for Delica being case in point.

Reason

In the words of industrial designer, Dieter Rams, “good design makes a product understandable”. Components must be easy to handle, practical to transport, quick and easy to assemble with limited tools, and uncomplicated to store. The Be My Guest chair cover by Grain de Couleur Crèation is a dry twist on that sentiment. www.gdccreation.com

Modular systems

Designers are finding innovative solutions to unifying a design and its components, concentrating on the essential aspect – providing less but better. Minimalist flatpacking is at its best in the Bauchair modular chair by Gianni Rossi + Selab for Seletti. www.seletti.it

Social commitment

Assembled furniture tends to conserve natural and physical resources, and minimise pollution. Once the design has reached the end of its life cycle and is disassembled, its components lend themselves to being recycled or reused. An example is the dish drainer from the Aurea collection by Ernest Perera for Delica.

To celebrate the rejuvenating season of spring we’re giving away a Braai Cube and case of Henry Shiraz from Zandfontein to two lucky readers.

To enter, tell us what your top spring trend is. Either Tweet it to @visi_mag with #springvisi or post it on our Facebook page, before Saturday 1 September 2012.

More trend reports

Lessons from Stockholm: Alma Viviers visits Stockholm Furniture and Lighting Fair and learns that we should look to our heritage for authentic design expressio

Lessons from Paris I: Tracy Lynch, our Cape Town decor editor, visits Maison & Objet in Paris and learns that the humble is turning heroic.

Lessons from Paris II: Gera Smuts also visits Maison & Objet in Paris and learns that design is going practical by prioritising assembly.

Lessons from Frankfurt: Annemarie Meintjes, Visi deputy editor, visited Ambiente in Frankfurt, Germany, and learnt about designing less, but designing better.