From bold prints inspired by public transport upholstery and a striking piece by Douglas & Company to Christopher Jenner’s new silverware range and a happy London installation, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 145.

1. Menja Stevenson’s German Transport-inspired Patterns

“I know some people may think these are hideous, but I think that they are seriously cool,” says Content Producer Michaela Stehr. “Creating fashion with the patterns people see everyday is cutting edge and relevant.”

Image credit: thisiscolossal.com

2. AHEC, Alison Brooks Architects and Arup Collaboration: The Smile

“This urban installation is fascinating,” says Features Editor Tracy Greenwood. “The Smile showcases the structural and spatial potential of cross-laminated timber, using American tulipwood.”

Image credit: londondesignfestival.com

3. Stonekeeper MMXVI

“Douglas & Company are known for their striking pieces,” says Online Editor Lindi Brownell Meiring. “You can view this beauty at the New Wave exhibition at Southern Guild in Cape Town – on until 23 September.”

Image credit: douglasandcompany.co.za

4. Christopher Jenner’s New Silverware Range

“These nostalgic silverware pieces by Christopher Jenner put a modern twist on the traditional,” says Managing Editor Lise Avis.

Image credit: christopher-jenner.com

5. Ann Christine Baegte Scatters

“I love it when designers are environmentally conscious,” says Assistant Managing Editor Samantha Charles. “Ann uses hemp to create her scatters, which leave a very low carbon footprint.”

Image credit: annchristinebaetge.wixsite.com

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From a pink paper model of Barcelona and a walnut Wewood sideboard to a day bed designed with pets in mind and a beautiful woven chair, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 135.

1. Zim and Zou’s Pink Campaign for Freixenet

I love this hand-made 3D paper backdrop of Barcelona by French studio Zim and Zou,” says content producer Michaela Stehr. “So much intricate detail!”

Image credit: designboom.com

2. Wewood Carousel Sideboard

“This new release from Portuguese furniture design studio Wewood immediately caught my eye,” says online editor Lindi Brownell Meiring. “The frame is made from solid walnut and features a carousel in the middle of the piece for easy access to bottles, glasses or your favourite objects.”

Image credit: wewood.eu

3. Sebastian Wrong’s Font Clock

“Watch this nostalgic video where Sebastian Wrong explains the idea behind the old flip clock adapted with a variety of fonts,” says art director Anton Pietersen.

Image and video credit: dezeen.com

4. Christopher Jenner Rush Chair

“This chair was created over a 12-month period by one of the last rush weavers in Europe. Absolutely incredible,” says managing editor Lise Avis.

Image credit: christopher-jenner.com

5. Tiera+pet Day Bed by Deesawat

“As an animal lover it’s great to have the perfect spot for me and my furry companions to relax. This day bed is spot on and roomy enough for my giant Maine Coons,” says features editor Tracy Greenwood.

Image credit: dog-milk.com

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 135 on picks of the week 336.

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From a trendy Scandinavian sofa and an interactive documentary to designer privacy pods and a silent hairdryer, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 129.

1. Cathrine Rudolph’s Astrid Seater

“The quilting on this Scandi couch (available locally through SofaCompany.com) is definitely on trend,” says editor-in-chief Sumien Brink about Danish designer Cathrine Rudolph’s Astrid Seater sofa.

Image credit: za.sofacompany.com

2. The Garden of Earthly Delights Interactive Documentary

This interactive online experience allows you to explore Dutch artist Hieronymus Bosch’s famed triptych, The Garden of Earthly Delights. You can zoom in and out and inspect the work closely and listen to sounds and music that accompany each section of the painting. “So clever!” says online editor Lindi Brownell Meiring. Explore it here.

Image credit: tuinderlusten-jheronimusbosch.ntr.nl

3. Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Design Studio’s Nascondino Collection

Deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes loves these private alcoves by Pierre-Emmanuel Vandeputte Design Studio, created for quiet and contemplative moments.

Image credit: pedvp.com

4. Dyson’s Supersonic Hairdryer

Dyson’s new supersonic hairdryer purports to not only dry hair faster, but do so silently. “Now I can dry my hair without waking up my husband!” says special projects manager Cecilia du Plessis.

Image credit: designboom.com

5. Christopher Jenner Nest Tables

“I adore these atypical nesting tables designed by South African-born Christopher Jenner, which were launched with Nilufar Gallery at Salone del Mobile,” remarks editor-at-large Malibongwe Tyilo. “Gorgeous!”

Image credit: christopherjenner.com

Find more like VISI Picks of the week series – week 129 on picks of the week.

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From a converted Gothic chapel to a new Disaronno bottle designed by Roberto Cavalli, these are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 103.

1. Yayoi Kusama’s In Infinity

“I just adore this installation by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama at the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art,” says editor-in-chief Sumien Brink.

Image credit: Kim Hansen via designboom.com

2. Christopher Jenner Sculpture

South African-born Christopher Jenner was recently commissioned to create a sculpture to mark the sixth anniversary of Thomas Erber’s Le Cabinet de Curiosités in Paris. The result is a captivatingly intricate “Menagerie des Miroirs” made up of stainless steel cogs and set on a marble plinth. “It’s spectacular!” exclaims online editor Lindi Brownell Meiring.

Image credit: Supplied

3. Disaronno X Roberto Cavalli Collaboration

Features editor Tracy Greenwood thinks this stylish bottle is a great example of a cool collaboration. “I can’t wait to start making cocktails!”

Image credit: Supplied

4. Wewood Pensil Chair Designed By Tom Kelley

“I just love the sophisticated design of Wewood’s new Pensil chair,” says managing editor Lise Avis. “I would love a few for my new home…”

Image credit: wewood.eu

5. Evolution Design’s “The Chapel On The Hill”

“I absolutely adore this Gothic-style chapel conversion in the UK,” says content producer Michaela Stehr. “Please can I live there?”

Image credit: design-milk.com

6. Ligne Roset Showroom

Freelance advertising sales executive Nicolette Davids-Petersen is excited for the opening of the new Ligne Roset furniture showroom in Johannesburg’s Kramerville in January 2016.

Image credit: Supplied

7. John Pace: Winner Of The 2015 Sanlam Portrait Award

“Well done to John Pace,” says special projects manager Cecilia du Plessis, “the winner of the 2015 Sanlam Portrait Awards, beating 809 entrants!”

Image credit: Supplied

Check out more articles like VISI picks of the week series – week 103 here.

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From a cute watermelon slicer to a designer suitcase and a Tom Dixon copper coffee set, here are the top VISI picks of the week series – week 92.

1. Pepo Watermelon Slicer by Avihai Shurin for Monkey Business

Both editor-in-chief Sumien Brink and special projects manager Cecilia du Plessis love this nifty watermelon slicer. “What’s the best thing since sliced bread?” asks Cecilia. “A watermelon popsicle slicer! Bring on summer!”

Image credit: designboom.com

2. Simone Sofa by Sputnik for Missana

“I’m a fan of anything that reminds me of a musical instrument, especially things reminiscent of the piano!” says content producer Michaela Stehr.

Image credit: design-milk.com

3. Tom Dixon Brew Coffee Set

Features editor Tracy Greenwood would love to take her morning coffee avec this beautiful copper coffee set.

Image credit: designboom.es

4. Christopher Jenner X Globetrotter London Suitcase Collab

“I really like this modern twist on the classic suitcase,” says managing editor Lise Avis.

Image credit: christopher-jenner.com

5. The Pugloaf

After the success of the Catloaf, the baker behind Lou Lou P’s Delights was recently challenged to bake a Pugloaf too (see gallery above). “I would find it really difficult to slice this!” says online editor Lindi Brownell Meiring.

Image credit: boredpanda.com

6. GUILD International Design Fair: VIDEO

We as a team really enjoyed watching GUILD’s video about this year’s fair. It reminded us all how much we love this event every year!

Browse more like VISI picks of the week series – week 92 on picks of the week 307.

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It’s Milan Design Week from 8 to 13 April. We’re sure we don’t need to tell you that this is the biggest design event in the world and that we’re pretty excited – deputy editor Annemarie Meintjes, who will be attending, especially. To share our mood, we’ve put together this list of 10 designs we just can’t wait to see for realsies – hashtag-counting-the-sleeps!

This year the core furniture expo, the Salone Internazionale del Mobile at the Milan Fairgrounds will turn 53 years old and expects to attract over 300 000 visitors from 160 countries with its some 2 400 exhibitors. There will be a special focus on kitchens and bathrooms with the biennial EuroCucina and International Bathroom Exhibition.

The special collateral event this year will be an exhibition called Where Architects Live, giving visitors a peek inside the private residences of Shigeru Ban, Mario Bellini, David Chipperfield, Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, Zaha Hadid, Marcio Kogan, Daniel Libeskind and Bijoy Jain/Studio Mumbai.

As usual, the fair will be split into three style categories – classic, modern and design. All the beeg names like Moroso, Tom Dixon, Kartell, Kvadrat, Magis and so on will be there, however as the fringe festival throughout the city has grown, these brands have also found value in more experimental installations in areas such as Zona Tortona and Ventura Lambrate. No doubt, Spazio Rossano Orlandi will be a hotspot of edgy designers pushing the envelope, as it always is.

Bon voyage Annemarie, we’re looking forward to your report backs. A special shout out to South African designer Martin Doller too, who will be exhibiting on the fair’s emerging designer platform (read more here).

cosmit.it/en

1. giulioiacchetti.com, internoitaliano.com
2. lexus-int.com/design/lda.html
3. christopher-jenner.com
4. tokujin.com
5. richardhutten.com, kvadrat.dk
6. studiojob.be, nlxl.com
7. maartenbaas.com, venturaprojects.com
8. formafantasma.com
9. studiotoer.com
10. tomdixon.net

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More and more South African designers are cutting it overseas. With his kaleidoscopic Dali-esque retail designs for luxury brands drawing great acclaim, Christopher Jenner is one such diamond. Daniel Scheffler spends time with the Londoner.

The Cape Town born designer Christopher Jenner has this amazing way of creating inspiring work, remaining humble and loving life. As the head of a studio that celebrates knowledge and specialty from all angles, Christopher is the glue that somehow cements it all together.

He has lived on a few continents in cities like Tel Aviv, Paris and Hong Kong, and worked for some of the most edifying brands. In 2010 however, he settled in London – a sort of centre of the world if you will.

Let’s start at the beginning, not of time, but where design is right now in the second decade of the 21st century. A time of recession, war and political mess, but also a time of considered design, meticulous details.

Tell me about design in 2012.

It’s emotive, textured, detailed and justified.

Where do you think design is, at right this very moment, the most interesting for you?

Increasingly individuality is praised. Thus allowing for a deeper exploratory approach.

You have a certain belief in magic. Tell me about that in your work.

Magic is creating a sense of wonder, an essential element to the success of our work.

So then how do you feel design is regarded in current society?

Aspirational. I do think it should be part of all our lives; but you know we have yet to reach such a stage.

Why did you end up settling in the let’s call it capital of the world, London?

No specific reason – but my studio is here because it allows us to straddle three focus areas and they are Asia, Europe and the US in a days work.

Did you want to specialize in luxury brands? And how has it affected you as a designer?

Well again there was no specific reason, it just happened to be like that. But I see the importance since I believe it is true that to design we need patrons and luxury brands that have the revenue to invest in design. As Edwin Lutyens said “there will never be great architects or great architecture without great patrons”.

What was it like to work on the Diptyque store in New York on Bleecker Street?

It was an amazing experience – I love New York and it was a great opportunity for me to spend 6 months in the city. But I can’t say it was easy, work has these amazing challenges. The brand is amazing to work with.

Give me some more.

Well, Diptyque is an amazing brand and I think the world wants more than just store design and we can now also look at fragrance and sensation and how that plays a role in the process.

christopher-jenner.com

Christopher’s diptyque boutique in Leadenhall Market features in our steampunk feature. See our 10 favourite steampunk designs here.

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Browse the pictures above and use the links below for more information.

Carlex Design, www.carlex.pl

Laikingland, www.laikingland.co.uk

Roche Bobois, www.roche-bobois.com

Thomas Heatherwick, www.heatherwick.com

ThinkOrange, www.thinkorange.pt

Katie Thompson’s Recreate, www.recreate.za.net

Xavier Clarisse, clarissedesign.com

Christopher Jenner, www.christopher-jenner.com

Szymon Klimek, www.byk01051953.user.icpnet.pl

Richard Clarkson, richardclarkson.com

More from the SPRING FLING edition of VISI

• New and second-cycle
  Renovation and interior design is seldom a stagnant, once-off affair. The best spaces grow into themselves. See the before pictures of the houses featured in the magazine.

• Deft blue strokes
  Fabric, surfboards, shacks… Something is afoot, and not just in South Africa! From Babylonstoren to Russia, browse our full Delft trend report.

• Popcorn architecture
  We have inspiration from the Architecture ZA 2012 Biennial Festival to share. Watch our online film festival and read our report back.

• Mechanical futurism
  Some say steampunk is what happened when Goths discovered brown. Others say it grew out of a literary genre.

• Joburg Art Attack
  For at least one week in September, Joburg was hit by an art attack. Read the post-mortem and our guide to starting an art collection, written by the experts.

• Winning wishes
  In October, Warren Lewis will be giving away four paintings. Up for grabs over October and November is a Bodum Bistro Coffee Maker from Banks Kitchen Boutique. Enter the competitions here.

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