Perfect craftsmanship for a half metal, half wooden chair designed by the all American Studio Dunn in Providence, Rhode Island. Founded in 2010, the furniture design studio produces unique pieces inspired by nature and a modernist taste, giving absolute priority to the use of original, honest and sustainable materials. Corliss itself is an interesting communion between a maple flat seat and an aluminum-angled backrest, in perfect coherence with the studio's philosophy. The design is in fact extremely functional and achieved through the use of purely American-made materials. The work was developed as a clear tribute to the integrity of its materials, choosing as protagonist the original wood-metal combination and applying old manufacturing techniques with patience and knowledge. Love for simplicity has led the Dunn team to respect both weaknesses and strengths of the natural elements it employs, a correct use resulting in unique and beautiful designs.

The studio operates with environment-friendly methods, adopting a conscious mindset when it comes to retrieving, selecting, treating and disposing construction materials. The aluminum in Corliss comes from recycled sources, while its timber has high-quality, domestic origins only, recognizable from the distinctive color and grain. In this way, every single chair is a bit different, a small revolution in the use of contrasting materials which rightly takes its name from the one of the most revolutionary thinkers in history: the founder of the independently-powered steam engine, George Corliss.

The search for lightness in volumes and shapes through the use of steel usually generates interesting forms and new balances.
It is indeed the case of Reborn, a collection of porcelain and stainless steel vases created by designer Lin Wei-Teng.

In this case, the classical porcelain urn seems to hover in the air, especially if shot in front of a grey wall, but it is, as a matter of fact, imprisoned in a steel cage that provides lightness and elegance to the creation, adding a modern and contemporary twist to a Grecian and Oriental favorite.

I am a self-proclaimed terrible cook. Not the “can’t even cook eggs” kind (okay, sometimes), but the kind of terrible cook who hates standing over a sizzling pan while some hodgepodge dish inevitably burns. It’s not that I hate cooking, and I certainly love a good meal, but it’s the patience required to cook a great meal that trips me up every time.

Maybe things would be different if I had the Sensi Standmixer. Designed by Peter Braakhuis, the Sensi Standmixer is innovative and futuristic. Instead of standing over your bowl and watching the ingredients slowly, slowly blend into something that resembles a meal, you can detach the top portion of the Sensi Standmixer and monitor your food’s progress through a WiFi-connected camera and display. You can even control the speed, temperature, and time remotely. For an impatient semi-chef like me, this is fantastic news. Think of all the things you could do instead of watching your ingredients blend: reading, writing, online shopping, walking your dog, alphabetizing your bookshelves—the possibilities are endless.

Peter Braakhuis is a Netherlands-based industrial design engineer and researcher of digital and physical products. Of the Sensi Standmixer, Braakhuis states, “I’ve tried to develop a minimalistic and sober stand mixer that excels in intuitiveness. In our fast changing society, cooking and preparing food are regarded as a time-consuming activity. This stand mixer concept provides an innovative solution in which the consumer is no longer tied to just the kitchen.” No longer tied to the kitchen? Sounds good to me.

Sunrise and sunset:  these rare moments of peace and aesthetic enjoyment are indiscriminately available to everyone. The mystical zodiacal light, which occurs at the beginning and at end of the day in spring and autumn, can often be a source of inspiration. After having observed this unusual natural phenomenon, furniture and lighting designer Kalin Asenov, made a sculptural lamp named ''Accretion''.

As its name would suggest, this piece looks like an oversized ring made of the walnut wood for the most part. That being said, its inner side is filled with the gold copper wires, which represent the idea of interconnection, and the bright LEDs whose positions correspond to the stars of the zodiacal constellation.

Despite the attractive combination of materials, the appropriate dimensions of this lamp (L 15” | H 15” | W 5”) keep it under control and an extraordinary experience just by watching this luxurious (with a $3200 price tag) example of industrial design is being created.

The Cradle is not your traditional lounge chair – it’s a lounge chair revamped. British designer, Benjamin Hubert created this fusion chair for the claimed Italian furniture brand Moroso. The idea was to blend the lightness and easiness of a net structured hammock and the comfort of the conventional upholsted lounge chair.

For Hubert it was really all about thinking outside of the box. The designer pairs the sharp rectilinear backrest with the soft, cloud-like cushion in order to create a perfect mix of architecture and comfort. And speaking of comfort, the chair utilizes a custom-made cut pattern a non-elastic textile to perform in a 3d way, which gives correct a perfect support for the body. It sure isn’t called a cradle for no reason.

So there you have it – an au courant furniture piece that is both stylish and practical. With its vibrant color and rich texture, The Cradle is undoubtedly an eye-catcher. And along with your favorite pair of sunglasses and a crispy cold drink, The Cradle might just be the perfect accessory for the warm summer afternoons.

When mixing paint colors, there is always a moment in which the two original colors are swirled and marbled together, each color still distinctly itself, before the colors combine to form a new shade. Perhaps we think this liminal moment in which the colors are comingled but not fused is more beautiful than the end product. Think of gorgeous marbled paper, for instance. With some agitation, the marbled colors could blend to form a uniform shade. Yet preserved in their transitional moment, a beautiful marbled pattern emerges, instead.

Brazilian designer Jacqueline Terpins’s Membrana vase collection formalizes this idea of liminality. When viewing a Membrana vase, we feel that if we look long enough we might witness the glassware shape-shift into another form entirely. Rather, we feel as if we have caught the glassware in this process of metamorphosis. Like all of Terpins’s luminous glassware, the Membrana vase collection utilizes the artist’s medium to capture and solidify the fluid and ephemeral forms that develop at high temperatures during the glassblowing process. The vases call to mind the elements, both for their colors—one vase is in cool shades of blues and greens, another is in warm shades of reds and oranges, and a third is pure and transparent, absent of any color—and their organic and aqueous shapes.

For the past twenty years, Jacqueline Terpins has blown glass in São Paulo, where she founded the Studio Jacqueline Terpins in 2001. Terpins studied glassblowing techniques at Penland School of Art and Craft and Pilchulk Glass School (USA), as well as drawing at the Byam Shaw School of Painting and Drawing (England). Terpins states of her glassblowing process, “Whilst handling this glowing mass, I am in direct contact with nature and strength. An object containing the finished movement and lightness of liquid serves as a memory trace, and a high temperature heat representation. At the time of creation, I let the material speak. Their own movements indicate possible paths and enable the development of new ideas. The less material is diverted from its natural course, the fluidity, the closer the object is to its unique expression” (translated from Portuguese). In addition to glassware, Terpins also creates cutlery and objects in silver or stainless steel, and furniture in wood and Corian.

Heath Ceramics is a manufacturer firm of pottery founded by Edith Heath in San Francisco, California, in 1948. Beauty, without forgetting sustainability, by producing pieces which need a single kiln filing, at a lower than normal temperature. This means less energy for a long-lasting and non-porous product.

Sixty years have passed since its foundation but Heath Ceramics is still considered as one of the most enduring examples of mid-century design, with its masterpieces living in the permanent collections of temples of design such as the MOMA and LACMA.

Among its creative tableware and tile, a remarkable example is the new seasonal collection for spring and summer.

Try to think of being on a beach during a wonderful clear and sunny day. Now look at the horizon. Is it a bright saturated blue, right? Well, take that color and share it with the world in the form of hand craftsmanship. Simple design, but great quality with real history behind it.

Ceramic, wood, cotton and also leather are skillfully mixed in a perfect collection of elegant, clean and bright freshness. These pieces are available from April to October 2013 in limited edition. Don’t waste more time, summer in your house couldn’t be cooler!

What an extraordinary flower-lamp, it can deceive even a bee! A tiny baroque  chandelier suspended inside a glass giant lightbulb and hung on braided silken cable. The King Edison pendant lamp designed by Young & Battaglia combines the laconic simplicity of a Thomas Edison & Alexander Lodygin light bulb with baroque glamour of a Kings chandelier. It consists of a miniature brass chandelier inside a hand blown clear glass shade and satin chrome fittings. The King Edison lamp’s size of 15 cm diameter x 21 cm H guarantees a perfect view in the library.

British designer Brendan Young and Italian designer Vanessa Battaglia first appeared on the international design scene with their up-cycled furniture collection at Salone Satellite in Milan in 2003. Working initially under the name Studiomold, their early pieces included their 'Love 36' chair using reject Dunlop tennis balls, and the award winning 'Recycled Sound' speakers made from old vinyl records.

In 2011 they founded their own design brand Mineheart, which produces a range of interior accessories that includes wallpaper, rugs, art, lighting, and furniture,
all made in England. Anglo-Italian design duo Young & Battaglia presented King Edison pendant lamp for their design brand Mineheart at ICCF 2013 in New York last month.
Article provided by Russian Design Hub

How about sitting on the clouds? The designer duo of the Serbian studio called Yonder Magnetik, composed by architect, Natasa Vukosavljevic, and self-taught creative, Nebojsa Gornjak, made a unique chair named  SNÖBÄR (a Swedish word for snowberry).

This attractive piece of furniture, that resembles the juicy white berries, is composed of the oak wood, which was used for the four triangular feet, while the seat and low back are covered with the soft velvet upholstery. Thanks to the many contrasts that are an integral part of this composition, this relaxing piece is very versatile and can complement different environments – from the bedroom to the garden.

Yonder Magnetik was founded in the winter of 2009. The studio tends to mix the simplicity and functionality. The designers' concepts have been featured on several design exhibitions and furniture fairs. This particular chair was exhibited on ''Dan D'' Zagreb 2010 (Exhibition of 100 designers up to 35) and Belgrade Furniture Fair in 2012.

The Archibald King Armchair from Italian furniture maker Poltrana Frau looks as elegant and regal as its name sounds. The chair is a remake of the 2009 Archibald Armchair, an iconic piece designed by the French architect Jean-Marie Massaud. A stately piece, the Archibald King Armchair looks like a cross between a luxurious seat in Marie Antoinette’s salon and a metal-framed Bauhaus chair. The Archibald King Armchair and its matching footrest come upholstered in exclusive Pelle Frau leather on the outside, and molded polyurethane foam padding on the inside—perfect for a soft yet supportive rest in a luxurious and modern living room.

The Italian furniture company Poltrana Frau, founded in Turin in 1912, specializes in high-quality seating in the tradition of fine Italian craftsmanship. With products exclusively made in Italy, Poltrana Frau sells furniture internationally. The company’s pieces are found in both domestic and office settings.

French architect, designer, and inventor Jean-Marie Massaud was born in 1966 and graduated from the École nationale supérieure de création industrielle (ENSCI) in 1990. Massaud founded Studio Massaud in 2000, and has aimed to create designs that question “the existing, in order to achieve progress and eventually propose answers to contemporary problems,” ever since. The architect’s designs focus on integrating design and environment in a holistic way that advances current styles. “A man of change,” Massaud has been named Designer of the Year many times, and has worked with Cacharel, Lancôme and Renault, among other companies.

Rainy days are not the best ones - we all know that. So this stand is perfect to start the day well and take your umbrella with you.

Handmade in the royal Scottish burgh of Linlithgow, this umbrella stand comes out by a synergy between London Undercover and Method Studio, and combines traditional woodworking techniques with artisan leatherwork and stunning elements of precision engineering.

All of these are obviously mutual features between the two ateliers and allow the creation of rich timeless and meticulous furniture.

The design itself is inspired by the very items it has been designed to hold, and why not by the sun rays.

Twelve solid oak staves, clear varnished and polished, are individually jointed around a specially designed waterproof upper ring and drip-tray base to create the typical splayed construction of umbrellas and to let air circulate and prevent rainwater from collecting in the tray.

A complex web of elastic spokes then grips the umbrellas in place, featuring pop colours like London Undercover’s signature orange and military green, an original touch that illustrates the label’s creativity and quirkiness.

Fine-tuned in size as well, the overall height is 70.5 cm whilst the overall width is 36.5 cm.

This umbrella stand is the excellent addition to London Undercover’s collection. Adding character to your entrance hall or living room, it is a superb object of design and virtuoso craftsmanship.

Minimalistic and suave can best describe Maija Puoskari’s latest design project. The Finnish artist came up with a sympathetic and endearing lamp duo inspired by nature, timberland and reminiscing of acorns and mushrooms. Maija’s work is a tribute to her cultural heritage and her creations often remind us of Finland’s endless forests and their hidden treasures. Terho and Tatti make up for one funky pair, delicate and incredibly cozy.

Terho, the ceiling lamp, can be perfectly complemented by Tatti, it’s more down-to-Earth counterpart. Both of them are made out of opaque blown glass, garnished with a stylized hat coming in countless shapes. When lit, the little bubbles turn translucent and dimly shed their mild iridescence around, casting a wondrous allure over any space. The Finnish alder used for the top hats enhances the natural appearance and the lightness of the concept.

Wilsonic Design is a Slovenian studio, established in 2000, that has developed a clear specialty in product development, thus becoming an important partner with the most propulsive companies in the region. The design team is lead by Nina Mihovec, who is an industrial designer. As a rule, Wilsonic Design maintains a long-term commitment to the cooperation with its clients, which enables both parties to benefit fully from the collaboration. Wilsonic Design has an interesting philosophy of a three-step process of developing high-value products: Concept, Idea, Execution.

One of their last creations is Googy, a reinvented rocking horse, awarded by an International jury with a Red Dot Award. The concept on which the studio worked is that this kind of toys usually are not suitable for living rooms. As a conquence, the idea of a total reinvention of the toy that with its revamped design and materials can be used either as a toy or as an interesting piece of design to add a juvenile touch to the environment.

Focusing on the materials, usually rocking horses are made of wood or other solid materials that can turn out to be dangerous for a child, while Googy is made with a really soft material and rounded surfaces. And for the grown-ups that want to take a ride on it, don’t worry, because it has a metal substructure capable to support also adults.

From Sebastian Bergne's able hands and brilliant mind, ''Curl'', the new table lamp branded Luceplan, has been conceived.
The London based designer is already celebrated on an international level despite his young age. A graduate from ''The Royal College of Art'' of London, class of 1990, he boastscollaborations with some of the most important manufacturers, different international design awards, frequent publications, exhibitions and inclusion in permanent collections such as The Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Design Museum (London). With his last effort he has given life to a complex design thinking in which function is balanced with interaction and play.
Curl is a lamp of a linear, clean and modern look; but its innovation is noticeable from every point of view due choice of materials to the manufacturing process: from product durability to product maintenance.

Looking at it, it seems to be in front of a sculptural version of Hokusai's Great Wave off Kanagawa, in its linear, energetic and current essence.
This piece of lighting is fixed on the borderline between technology and functionality, and  gets by without charming aesthetics nor following a particular temporary trend.

Curl contains a special LED module that permits variation of the temperature of white light, from 2400 to 3500 degrees Kelvin, thanks to simple rotation of the diffuser. The switch at the center of the base also has a dimmer function, and gives the possibility of creating light games and various atmospheres.
You could not expect nothing less from a collaboration so interesting. Along this lines has born a lighting fixture that has not been designed for short-lived wonder, but to be the natural outlet of a continuous, ongoing drive dedicated to the essence of every project, a fastidious care of detail and steady improvement. The result of this consistent experimentation that in turn implies skilled technological research. It is the outcome more of an ''intellectual'' production then the pursuit of a trend or a fleeting mode, according to Luceplan's philosophy.

Young Slovenian designer, Anja Dragan, showcased her fall/winter collection at the 33rd Belgrade Fashion Week as a part of ZONA 45 platform which associates and represents capital regional designers.

Dragan explored divinity with her Mes Dix Vies collection and told a fashion tale of the infinite eagerness of a human to transcend the carnal and reach the celestial. The idea translated to an all-white line up with daring volumes. The accent was certainly on the structured pieces that took the ready-to-wear collection to a higher artistic level and showed designer’s craft in terms of transforming and sculpting the fabric. Dragan opted for feminine, origami-reminiscent forms that looked very angelic and truly corresponded with the theme of the collection. A piece that was certainly a showstopper was the voluminous shell of armor-like coat. The designer’s manipulation of the material and the detailing on this piece was outstanding - the fabric really seemed like it was a concrete wall. Opposing the bold, solid pieces were the whisper thin, translucent garments as well as clutch bags with long silky straps that softened the collection and gave it flow.

Accentuated but not exaggerated, artistic but not pretentious, surreal and yet believable, Dragan’s collection offered the best of both worlds.

Anja Dragan is a Ljubljana based fashion designer. She graduated from University of Ljubljana, Fashion and Textile design in 2012 and also received a degree from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. She won numerous design awards including the latest Elle Fashion Award for Mes Dix Vies collection at this year’s Belgrade Fashion Week.

The Milan based design team of Caroline Bauer and Pier Francesco Galuppini once again focused their efforts in achieving an ideal balance between aesthetics and functionality with the creation of Stasis, one of their signature pieces. Through an ingenious game of opposite forces cancelling themselves out, the lamp visually proposes four bowl-shaped forms stacked one on the other, holding their position in perfect balance.

The design, although unconventional in its overall organization, is made up of extremely clean and simple lines, resulting in a pleasant contrast of rationality and eccentricity. The Swedish and Italian developers decided to use light materials and colors, realizing Stasis in metal sheet powder and coating it with pastel tones of rubberized paint. The pile of domes hangs from a long and thin metal axis, from which it can deliver its subtle light in all kinds of interiors.

Skintex is an interesting Japanese brand which made the concept of “the second skin” as the trait d’union among all its creations: Skintex fabric contains Lycra, an elastic fiber, traditionally used for apparel garments, re-proposed to complete their furniture and industrial complements. Lycra is well known in the fashion sphere, due to its properties of being thin and transparent like a spider web, with superior stretching and recovery powers. Everybody knows that even if one stretches this fiber up to seven times its initial length, once released it will spring back to its original length.

This physiological principle has been applied in the recent release by the brand, the amazing Hammock Chair, designed by Shinya Katsuya. The brand describes it as “universal design on which everyone can sit”, and actually this is universal: the simple structure of the frame, made up with morbid metallic shapes, is integrated with the durable and elastic fabric, which assumes the shape of the sitter’s body.

The chair is composed of two parts: the first one is for letting the sitter lay down his or her body, while the second part can be used both for laying feet and as a funny and modern chair. The main color of this masterpiece is black, but customization is a feasible alternative option, since these chairs are produced one by one.

Morbid and minimal curves are the prevailing trait of this composition, which could be suited for a spacious living room, but also for a modern exterior part of a cosmopolitan villa. A definite must-have.

The Volcane and Lagune coffee tables by Bellila will add a touch of zen to any room you put them in. Volcane’s shape is reminiscent of a pebble, the gentle curves similar to the shape of stone slowly worn down by a river current.  This piece is more likely to serve as an obvious centerpiece of a room than its counterpart, Lagune – a much more expected, rectangular table with thin, simple legs – but both tables certainly evoke a very bright, natural feel. The removable “jar” can be used as a sunken bonsai as pictured, although a collection of pebbles or sand, a bed of wildflowers or a miniature coy pond would also compliment the design of the tables… but the idea of fresh-off-the-branch fruit only a reach away from the sofa does seem like a really great idea.

Both pieces are available in multiple colors and finishes, and the removable “jar” makes for easy cleaning or changes of scenery. Whether you prefer the softer, more organic and flowing feel of Volane or the geometric, definite corners and lines on Lagune, either design is perfect for adding a clean, natural element to the space it occupies.

The Norwegian duo strikes back once again. The two young designers from Bergen Academy of Art and Design have released a lovely and playful table lamp conceived with a brilliant link to“the cake with the file”, a classic slapstick story wherein a loving mother inserts a file into a cake that she baked for her beloved imprisoned son to let him escape from jail.

This table lamp is purely delightful: made out of oak wood and smoked colored glass, it is also extremely functional, since it just requires to lift up the glass in order to change the bulb. Thanks to the tinted glass, a dim light is effectively mimicked.

If at first sight this contemporary lamp seems the best complement in every master chef’s kitchen, a perfect reproduction of cake display cases. The most interesting part of the story is off-stage: hard to guess, this amazing project has been reproduced by the inmates in Bergen prison, thanks to a smart collaboration among the designers, Kriminalomsorgen region vest (the Norwegian correctional services) and Northern Lighting.

As a matter of fact, the project itself is aimed at challenging the inmates’ way of thinking and acting through the creation of high quality pieces of design inside Norwegian prison. This time social initiative meets functional design: inmates have the possibility to carry meaningful activities while living behind bars, and the result of this non-conventional collaboration is just striking. The “Bake me a cake” table lamp is a charming approach to the vast world of cakes, an unpredictable proposition of a tool traditionally destined to another usage. It’s not only a match between social and visual, but also between culinary tradition and technical innovation.

The Saji Chair is a furniture piece designed by Laura Kishimoto. She is currently pursuing her BFA in Furniture Design at the Rhodes Island School of Design. The designer’s aim is to create spatially complex pieces through intensive handwork and material studies.

Inspired by geometry, the Saji Chair is a product mainly made of ash veneer bent-laminated wood with a metal frame. Kishimoto showed a lot of skill in terms of mastering and controlling the material: she managed to bend the wood seamlessly in order to create a beautiful abstract form that looks very avant-garde. The form of the chair offers not only a unique design, but also, great comfort and freedom of body movement for the user. The designer kept the metal frame very sleek and simple, placing it wisely in order to give the chair stability and support.

Artistic yet simple, daring yet inviting - we believe that the Saji Chair will find its place in numerous modern, design-conscious homes.

Michele Daneluzzo wanted to go back in time and recreate a kitchen tool that looked like one our ancestors would have used. A prehistoric knife made of stainless steel: the Italian designer aimed to restore the intrinsic relation between men and utensils, generating a piece of cutlery that shaped as a sharpened pebble stone.

Instead of a common handle, this knife has a straight crest that allows a firm and secure grip. The utensil’s shape slims and widens producing a sharp cutting edge. Daneluzzo’s product, branded after the cutlery house Del Ben, evokes early flint cutting, which gives combines great results and incredible aesthetics for an undeniably modern kitchen.

Elliat Rich is an Australia-based designer and innovator. The thing that makes Elliat so special is her ability to find beauty in everyday moments. The designer manages to transform a simple ritual, such as a cup of tea with friends, into an object that is not only of fine design, but also of great utility.

A billycan, commonly known as billy, is a traditional Australian lightweight cooking pot, which is used on a campfire or a camping stove. This iconic pot from Australlia somehow got left behind in the culture of fast cars and even faster lifestyles. Therefore, the designer wanted to revive the ritual of shared cup of tea with a billycan that translates to modern days. Hence, the Urban Billy was created. Elliat’s take on the famous teapot is elegant and minimalist: the revamped product consists of five pieces of hand-formed borosilicate glass, with turned and bent mountain ash sleeves and lids, while the white spirit fuel used for heating the water is housed inside.

Since the Urban Billy is transparent, the stunning transition of water from liquid to gas is for you to see. We have a feeling that that the billycan just got its glory back!

The Kustom armchair, signed by Bark, is made in the UK but inspired for the US.  With its strong visual impact, it immediately recalls the ‘50's Americana feel. Appearances aside, Bark is a British collaboration between husband and wife - Jonathan Walter and Lakshmi Bhaskaran - both trained bespoke cabinet-makers. Established in 2010 in North Cornwall, Bark is becoming synonymous with brilliant craftsmanship and excellent design.

The dynamic but clean figure and the high quality of natural materials make this handmade piece of furniture very unique. Solid walnut varnished arms frame the seat and the cozy rectangular cushions, which are available in a wide range of leathers and fabrics made by the Scottish Bute Fabrics, range from the ethnic tangerine to a more stylish emerald.

With its lounge style and a comfortable look, this armchair is perfect either for hotels, clubs, offices or private houses. The Kustom armchair is part of the Kustom collection, and includes a glass and wood coffee table and a two-seat sofa. The whole collection can be found and pre-ordered on Bark site.

I once heard a saying that everyone is king in their own home; while this might be true, what is a king really without his throne?

Leolux, a Dutch design Company which has been creating innovative living solutions for almost eight decades, once again demonstrates its ability in meeting those desires you didn’t even think you had.

Darius, is a cosy chair designed by Jan Armgardt, a German designer that has been at Leolux since 1974. His creation is actually more than a chair, it is a veritable throne designed to make you want to fall in its arms, and from there dominate your reign.

Due to its almost perfect dimensions (W 84cm, D 102cm, H 96cm) Darius can fit anything who wants to chill out on a super comfy, cool and stately chair; and as if that weren’t enough, Darius comes with a matching ottoman to boost your relaxation and bring it up to another level: enjoying the pleasures of a chaise-longue.

Its curvy and sinuous lines can be further emphasized to the consumer's liking due to the range of different colours of interchangeable upholstery for the front and the rear seats. The silhouette is even more eye catching if you consider the sprung “freischwinger” frame, which is available in high-gloss chrome, satin chrome or lacquer/epoxy.

This King surely stands out among all other Leolux luxurious armchairs, being the quintessential example of the Company’s aim: make sitting a pleasure. Darius is the balance you wanted in terms of traditional craftsmanship and high tech, and slowly paving the way for evolution.

Nowadays, over-sharing is a lifestyle: with social networks spreading all around the world and involving a wider range of people than ever before, taking and sharing photos has become an integral part of life for millions of people.

The German-based brand Leica has taken this demographic tendency as source of inspiration for its upcoming project, named Leica X3 Concept Camera, which is aimed at marrying the features of big professional cameras with hi-quality images and smartphone cameras with limited quality/control.

The Swedish product designer Vincent Sall did a great job in conceiving this little masterpiece, a project that takes inspiration from the shape of a monocle and colour wheel: this ultra compact, circular shooter allows users to transfer photos instantly to any handheld device via Bluetooth, and it is powered on just by flipping out the lens. Specs include both manual and automatic control for aperture, shutter speed and ISO.

The simple user interface makes this device super easy to use, just like any other compact camera, but the design definitely stands out from any other product of the same category. This camera is minimal, with silver grey body and black-leather sliding cover, where the commands are positioned: a structure that strictly mimics that one of old Leica reflex cameras. A distracted user could actually mistake this little camera with a lens cap.

The Leica X3 is an innovative couple of functionality and aesthetic appeal: those keen on narrating their life with a smartphone will definitely consider it as a valid alternative to their favourite handheld device.