The Blog

From Russia With Duds...

Not even the space race is immune to the detrimental side effects of poor quality counterfeit goods.

The recent failure of one of Russia's unmanned space launches has been put down to the use of counterfeit computer chips that were inadvertently employed on the multi-million dollar device.

Russian officials and NASA have in the past faced complications in operations due to the counterfeiting of integral computer components.

This latest set back and loss of a great deal of invested money serves as a reminder that inferior copies are ultimately quite a risk.

FILE - > PRINT -> SOFA....

It was only a matter of time…

Counterfeiting everything and anything in the third dimension, just got that little bit easier. The broader design and manufacturing industries could soon fall victim to the kinds of technological advancements that they have benefited from in recent years - the ability to print three dimensionally has now moved into the consumers hands.

The UK’s Daily Mail recently covered a piece on the new “Physibles” service being offered by online pirated Music and Film sharing giant The Pirate Bay. Essentially anyone can download the blueprints and technical drawings for any given object on offer and with a 3D printer, copy the item in their own home.

Whilst technology this advanced may not be readilly available in homes right now, experts are predicting that within 20 years we could be creating our own replica items in our own homes.

Copyright groups are understandably watching this practice very closely, with calls to ammend laws to protect against this new threat to intellectual property rights.

Helsinki 2012...

The Australian Design Review recently took a look at the projected impact the World Design Capital program has on the International Design landscape, with particular interest paid to this years chosen capital: Helsinki.

Author Michael Carr suggests that whilst the breadth of the program and the content quality is important, the benefits that are more broadly imparted to an entire community and the enrichment that results from being immersed in the program – are the greatest legacy the WDC can offer. Not to mention the bonds that develop across borders and across the globe in the process of planning, visiting and covering the event.

“The WDC program essentially serves as a template for cities to participate in a global dialogue, to fix a sharp focus on design and how it can help our societies progress, while at the same time offering the chance to place their local industries at the centre of the conversation.”

Helsinki, already very much an aesthetes city, has embraced the opportunity with strong support from the Finnish goverment and a renewed interest in designed outcomes, organisers hope that locally the importance of design - indeed the need for authentic, original design - can transcend furnishings and lighting and is a matter applicable to public and private sectors on many levels.

Employing the tagline: Emedding Design In Life  this message is reaching into society beyond the limits of the design community - which can only serve to strengthen support for the cause.

Read Michael Carr's piece here.

For more on World Design Capital: Helsinki 2012 click here.

Helsinki 2012...

The Australian Design Review recently took a look at the projected impact the World Design Capital program has on the International Design landscape, with particular interest paid to this years chosen capital: Helsinki.

Author Michael Carr suggests that whilst the breadth of the program and the content quality is important, the benefits that are more broadly imparted to an entire community and the enrichment that results from being immersed in the program – are the greatest legacy the WDC can offer. Not to mention the bonds that develop across borders and across the globe in the process of planning, visiting and covering the event.

“The WDC program essentially serves as a template for cities to participate in a global dialogue, to fix a sharp focus on design and how it can help our societies progress, while at the same time offering the chance to place their local industries at the centre of the conversation.”

Helsinki, already very much an aesthetes city, has embraced the opportunity with strong support from the Finnish goverment and a renewed interest in designed outcomes, organisers hope that locally the importance of design - indeed the need for authentic, original design - can transcend furnishings and lighting and is a matter applicable to public and private sectors on many levels.

Employing the tagline: Emedding Design In Life  this message is reaching into society beyond the limits of the design community - which can only serve to strengthen support for the cause.

Read Michael Carr's piece here.

For more on World Design Capital: Helsinki 2012 click here.

Faking It In The Name of Fair Trade...

Where value and quality are proven to suffer as a result of forgery and replicating fashion and furniture - the act of faking the genuine article has also taken a nasty turn that poses a threat on the integrity of charitable and worthy practices.

Counterfeit use of a causes good name or ‘piggy-backing’. In recent years the awareness of Fair Trade and its place in securing a safe guard for supply workers in developing nations has increased tenfold. The importance for consumers in knowing their purchases are not attained at the expense of another persons health, livelihood or well-being is much more prevalent - though there is undoubtedly a long road to travel in this regard.

Most galling is the active deception by suppliers who boast Fair Trade practices in selling consumables yet do nothing to ensure the proper and expected processes are actually in place at the source point.

Yourolivebranch.org have posted a revealing article on the opportunistic distributors making profit through misuse of the Fair Trade name in the coffee industry. Pop over to yourolivebranch to read more about the challenges faced in sustaining a credible and efficiently administrated charitable cause – making sure that AUTHENTIC fair trade matters.

Designed in China, Made In Spain...

In a turn for the books, the Spanish Design house BD Barcelona (famed for their historically unrivalled stable of designers: Salvador Dali, Antoni Gaudi, Jaime Hayon and many more...) will be marketing their new Narcissist Collection with the cheeky but no less imprtant tag line - "Designed In China, Made In Barcelona".

Having debuted the collection at Milan in 2011, the Narcissist vanity, storage and mirror collection was a collaboration between Shanghai based duo Neri & Hu, BD Barcelona and Swarovski. In a push to buck the perception of the design scene in China as a merely copycat market, this meeting of greatly skilled manufacturers, designers and suppliers has resulted in a pleasant trend reversal.

Designed in China, Made In Spain...

In a turn for the books, the Spanish Design house BD Barcelona (famed for their historically unrivalled stable of designers: Salvador Dali, Antoni Gaudi, Jaime Hayon and many more...) will be marketing their new Narcissist Collection with the cheeky but no less imprtant tag line - "Designed In China, Made In Barcelona".

Having debuted the collection at Milan in 2011, the Narcissist vanity, storage and mirror collection was a collaboration between Shanghai based duo Neri & Hu, BD Barcelona and Swarovski. In a push to buck the perception of the design scene in China as a merely copycat market, this meeting of greatly skilled manufacturers, designers and suppliers has resulted in a pleasant trend reversal.

Lazy Architecture…

It's no secret that China is currently riding an unprecedented wave in economic growth which has seen great expansion and development across the country.  Design and Construction sectors are booming but in the biggest Chinese municipality of Chongqing some are calling for some deep breaths, a little slowing down and a touch of originality!

Over at the Go West Project critics are scathing about plans to erect a likeness of Singapore’s Mandalay Bay Casino on the banks of the Yangtze River intended as a mixed-use development. 

Citing reference to sailing ships and reponse to the location for the design outcome, the developers are not backing down on the proposal.

In a high profile precinct that is being dubbed “China’s Manhattan” on account of the high density residential layout on a large river island, the work is being steered by Moshe Safdie from Safdie Architects. 

 What do you think? Unfortunate coincidence or blatant knockoff?

 

 

Apartment Therapy Address Knockoffs: Flattery or Theft...

 

US based website Apartment Therapy host monthly panel discussions that address issues effecting the A&D community, we came across this insightful US persepective on the issue, that was streamed live back in July of 2011. Well worth a look. You can watch the recording of the discussion or read the transcript. We commend Apartment Therapy for their frank and honest handling of the subject.