Category: Design

Tärnsjö Garveri

Tärnsjö Garveri is a Swedish tannery which has hand-crafted leather accessories since 1873. Owned by Axel Bodén and Torbjörn Lundin since 1993, Tärnsjö Garveri employs 50 artisans and produces premium leather accessories for their own label and clients such as Our Legacy, Frederica Furniture and Gant Rugger.

We talked to its creative director, Simon Hjälte, to find out more about this iconic company.

Photos by Laura Iisalo.

www.tarnsjogarveri.com

Please tell us about yourself. What was your background before working at Tärnsjö Garveri?

Before my position as creative director at Tärnsjö Garveri I ran my own clothing store through which I came in contact with Tärnsjö Tannery and its unique possibilities. In fact, most of my experience comes from creating extraordinary retail experiences and professionally I have been working as a buyer as well as a tailor. To summarise, you could say that I curate experiences coming from more than the end product…

What are your main responsibilities at Tärnsjö Garveri?

My title is Marketing Director, My execution is as creative director and my dream is becoming a partner. This means that I have a finger in everything that leaves Tärnsjö Tannery if its purpose is to extend the tannery experience beyond our zip code. I see it as a responsibility to make our leather and products synonymous with a rustic elegance aesthetic, and our persona understood as affordable luxury.

While making it very clear that everything we do has a clear purpose and always shows the greatest respect towards Mother Nature by making our business and production process as sustainable and ecological as possible.

What makes Tärnsjö Garveri different from other leather manufacturers?

A lot of things. First and foremost, we are amongst the remaining 5% of tanneries still tanning vegetably using bark extract instead of chrome excel.

However, I wouldn´t limit our uniqueness as a company to being only involved in the tanning business. We have been around since 1873 and “time gone by” has developed us so that today we are a company manufacturing products in a near closed-loop model.

We receive raw hides and tan it to premium leather on the ground floor. On our second floor we finish to different type leathers varying greatly in thickness and suitable use. On the third floor we craft products out of this leather in our saddlery.

Tell us about The Icon Collection? How did this idea originate?

The idea originates out of the uniqueness described above. We felt that we should take more advantage of our closed-loop solution by adding the “end consumer” to our target group. Also, we felt that the time was right since, if we are reading trends right, the WTP (will to pay) is increasing. Gladly so!

What are Tärnsjö Garveri’s future plans?

Since we adhere to the concept of organic growth our future plan is to take it slow, leaning against our core values on our journey to increase awareness with the “common man” positioning us as “No mather what the intended use might be, Tärnsjö leather is the natural choice for high quality.”

September 15, 2015
The Poundshop

Founded in 2010 and currently run by George Wu and Sara Melin, The Poundshop is a pop up shopping project based on the idea of selling quality designer products at affordable prices.

The Poundshop’s mission is to make design accessible to a wider audience and all products are sold within the £1, £5 and £10 price bands. Working with a wide range of designers, most of whom are new to making products, The Poundshop is the perfect testing ground for them to experiment with new and interesting products. Over the years, The Poundshop have organised pop us shops at numerous spaces across the world, including Selfridges, Somerset House, Loft Tokyo and Science Museum in London.

We talked with its founders to find out more about the project and what makes a perfect submission to the Poundshop.

www.thepoundshop.org

Could you tell us a little bit about your background and what you do apart from running The Poundshop?

Sara: I am from Sweden originally , but have now been here for 14 years! Studied at St Martins and then RCA in London, where I met George and Sarah. We pretty much set up The Poundshop shortly after leaving RCA .

I do a lot of different things but most of it runs backs to The Poundshop. At the moment I am working as a consultant for a charity putting together a new product range for their online shop and also designing a pop up shop for them. I am also planning two workshop that will be take place in Brazil in October.

George: I am originally from Manchester and studied graphic design in Bath before moving to London for work. A few years later I took part in the BB New Music Shorts and decided to switch to film so went to the RCA where we met. Now besides creating Poundshops, I am a director at Nexus Productions creating videos and installations. Currently I’m working on a new short film in collaboration with photographer John Short which should be coming out at the end of September.

What inspired you to open The Poundshop?

Sara: The credit crunch I think and wanting to do something together.

George: I always had the dream of having my own shop one day. Pretending to be shop keeper and stocking shelves! I think it’s because my family has always run businesses, it must be in me!

What makes a perfect submission?

Sara: Cleaver solutions to a small problem, beautifully designed with the minimal usage of materials to keep costs down.

George: Something that you would definitely use yourself that’s has a real purpose which is a challenge at such a low price point.

How do you approach the interior design and visual merchandising of each of the spaces you use for The Poundshop?

Sara: Generally I collect lots of images of things that I like the look of as a start. Shop interiors, patterns, colours etc. George is definetely the better one at coming up with ideas and she has a more graphic design / installation background than me, so she tends to take the lead on the design and then we discuss it.

George: Yeah I think usually we have a big brainstorm. Because we don’t work together all the time it’s good to get to know what the other is into at that moment. Then the starting point can either be the venue: The Science Poundshop was inspired by equipment transit cases. Or by the function of the shop: The ICA shop needed to be set up in a very short space of time so we created it out of repurposed ladders. The most important consideration is that the materials are all low cost to compliment the idea of low cost design shop.

What are your ambitions for The Poundshop? How do you see it developing in the future?

Sara: At the moment we are discussing a few changes and new routes but we tend to not plan to far ahead… So we will just have to see where this year will take us!

George: I think our next challenge and always the biggest is the Christmas Poundshop, but the most exciting (and intimidating) is our forth coming appearance on Poundshop Wars on BBC 1!

All images, courtesy of The Poundshop

August 26, 2015
Minimalist Home Design Tips

If you feel like the interior of your home has become crowded and overwhelming, it might be time to consider a new design approach. One style that more and more people are turning to is minimalism. By decluttering and embracing open spaces rather than an abundance of things, you make your space feel more intentional and less overwhelmed. It can change not just how your home looks but how you use it too.

This might be the solution that you’ve been looking for. If it’s a design style that you are looking to implement, we’re going to run through some tips that will help you get it right in your home. It’s relatively easy to do, but there are some things you should know and understand before you get started, so read on now.

Pick Timeless Furniture

First of all, you should think about what kind of furniture might best suit a minimalist home design. It should be timeless and relatively adaptable. That way, you’ll be able to ensure the home looks and feels suited to your minimalist aims. Trendy and ostentatious furniture doesn’t really fit with the minimalist ethos, so that’s the kind of thing you should stay away from. Remember, fashions and new trendy styles are popular for a while and then times changes and they look outdated. You should aim for the opposite of that.

Use Texture

Using texture is a good idea as well. Just because you’re designing your home in a minimalist way, that doesn’t mean that you have to accept a complete lack of texture. Instead, you should embrace textures and use them to shake things up and offer variety to the design of your home. You can add a simple rug that adds a new texture to your floor space (check out this list of recommended condo flooring for more ideas). There are many ways in which you can get this right, so don’t be afraid to experiment and try new things.

Get the Lighting Right

Getting the lighting right is really important and it’s something that you should work on. You want the home to feel light and airy because that’s what the minimalist aesthetic is all about. First of all, you should focus on natural light because the more of that that you have flooding into the home, the better it’ll be for the overall appearance of your interior space and its functionality. Using plenty of lamps and lights is important so you’re not left with any dark corners.

Image Source

Aim for Clean Lines

Generally speaking, you should look for clean lines when designing your home. Minimalism is about keeping things simple and organised and it pays off when you get that right. You’ll notice that everything feels clean and structured and you won’t be overwhelmed by clutter and possessions that take up too much of your space.

Keep Photos Simple and Meaningful

By keeping your photos simple and meaningful, you’ll be able to keep things minimalist while also maintaining some visual stimulation in your home. And, of course, photos are important because we all love to surround ourselves with snapshots that are important to us. Find good frames and use custom photo mounts to improve the overall aesthetic of the photos as you prepare to display them in your home. And be sure to find the right spot for them.

Find the Neutral Palette That Works for You

Selecting the right colour palette for the room is important as well. You want it to feel simple and not too overwhelming. Most people who design homes with a minimalist aesthetic in mind choose white and other neutral colours that don’t make the space feel too heavy and overwhelmed. But this is something that has to work for you, so explore the options and find the way forward that you feel is best for your home.

Keep Things Fluid and Adaptable

Finally, you should remember that it’s always best to keep things adaptable and fluid. That way, you will have the option of making changes and switching things around later if you decide that that’s the direction you want to go in. Things don’t have to be set in stone right away. It’s much easier if you allow yourself the scope to change because it should be easy to do that with a minimalist design.

When you get your minimalist home design just right, you’ll feel like you’re living in a space that’s calm, relaxed and spacious. That’s why so many people are now turning to this design option and you should too. Make use of the ideas above and you’ll soon be able to strike the right balance in your home.

August 2, 2015
CreativeMornings/Edinburgh: Sarah Drummond

Sarah Drummond is a service designer, graduated from Glasgow School of Art. She runs Snook, an award winning service design agency based in Glasgow, specialising in creating exceptional customer experiences.

Not intentionally, Sarah also became one of the co-founders of CycleHack, a global movement with a mission to tool up citizens to take a pro-active, DIY approach to make cycling easier, more accessible and fun. Hacks created in 25 participating cities can be searched in an open catalogue – some of our favourite design solutions include Penny in Yo Pants, allowing woman to cycle in skirts, and Stack Rack, a more efficient way of parking your bike on the street.

Sarah was the last speaker at CreativeMornings/Edinburgh. In her brilliant talk, Sarah spoke about design as a non-violent way of creating a revolution. Whatever the challenge, she believes in the power of inspiring people with design tools to take change into their own hands and take on the world.

As part of the CreativeMornings/Edinburgh team, we filmed Sarah’s talk. Get inspired watching her presentation below!

Photos by John Duncan
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July 13, 2015
Octaevo

Octaevo is a stationery brand from Barcelona founded by graphic designer and art director Marcel Baer. Octaevo’s products are inspired by the Mediterranean and produced in partnership with artisan workshops using the highest quality materials.

Born in Zurich, Marcel found inspiration to start Octaevo from a a family photo album containing images of his father, Kurt, deep sea diving and Super 8 footage from his Spanish grandmother, Marieta, documenting her trips across the Mediterranean in the early 60’s. This family passion for the sea and, in particular, for the Mediterranean is translated into Octaevo’s pieces, made to be held close and built to last.

We chatted to Marcel about his interest in stationery, design process and favourite places in Barcelona. Read the interview after the images.

www.octaevo.com

Photos by Olga de la Iglesia

You are an art director and graphic designer at Studio Marcel Baer – how did you get interested in stationery and what inspired you to create Octaevo?

I have always been fascinated with printed products and craftsmanship. One day I realized I had amassed a huge archive of stationery I wasn’t even aware of. My passion must have started when I was about 6 years old. My grandfather would take me often to the local stationery shop, where I loved looking at the things on sale. It’s one of my fondest childhood memories. As a designer in Barcelona I am used to working with brands and start-ups. The idea grew to create a project that unites my passion for travelling the Mediterranean and enchanting stories – transforming them into beautifully crafted goods. We now sell in about 20 countries and will present 45 new products this September at Maison&Objet in Paris and then at DesignJunction in London.

We’re very interested in the process of making your products. Where do you source the materials and manufacture the products? Where do you find inspiration for your collections?

From the beginning I have had the mandate to support local producers as much as possible. As a Mediterranean brand we want our products to feel warm. Sourcing the right materials and combining them is a big part of the process. We invest a lot of time finding the right providers and getting to know them. Spending time at printers and workshops is one of the most rewarding aspects of production. A close relationship shows in the results.

Travelling the Mediterranean offers a lot of inspiration as it’s such a dynamic area on the world map! It’s a small sea, but the greatness of its history makes it seem larger than it actually is. Just think of the blue of the sea, the Greek philosophers, the bazaars in Morocco, Fellini, the French Riviera… it’s infinite.

Please tell us a little bit about Barcelona. Do you consider it a creative city? What are your favourite spots in the city?

Barcelona has changed quite a lot over the last few years. The creative scene is definitely reinventing itself and re-emerging. A lot of new restaurants and cafés have opened and as I love food, I am very happy about that. OMA Bistro is currently my favourite. I like the outdoors and gardens, therefore my preferred spots in Barcelona are the Teatre Grec on Montjuic, the Hivernacle garden centre and the terrace of the Hotel Alma.

Who are your favourite local designers and makers we should know about?

I like design that is relevant, mature, contemporary and timeless… There are quite a lot of local designers whose work I admire and I am happy to know some of them personally. Teresa Estapé is a local artist and jeweller that creates beautiful one-off pieces. Woody Allen is one of her clients. Lucia Vergara from Après Ski creates minimal jewellery made of geometric shapes and amazing colours. Ceramic artist Olga Tomas has her studio ¨Atuell¨ in the center of Gracia and also offers workshops besides her own creations . Andrew Trotter and Mari Luz Vidal are the directors of Openhouse Magazine, a publication about people who open their spaces to the public and the life they share -it’s great. When it comes to flowers, Manuela Sosa from Gang and the Wool and Estudio Sauvage make the most beautiful creations in Barcelona. Regarding furniture design, I am a fan of Lobster’s Day by Albert Garcia and the marble design objects by Aparentment… to name just a few.

June 25, 2015