Design and making happens over a period of time: anyone who wants a quick fix doesn’t understand or even respect the process. In the same way I like to talk about different designers and makers all year around, not just when I’ve seen their work. I saw Jennifer Collier at Origin which isn’t long ago but more […]
One-minute blog of interesting things
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As a working contemporary artist I visit many exhibitions and shows, but sometimes it is the things I see that are part of daily life that capture my interest. My one-minute blog of interesting things reflects the fact that although we are increasingly time-poor, there is creativity all around us. Email me at info@carolinebanks.co.uk with your name and email to receive a weekly post that only takes 1 minute to read.
Raw Dice
Ever been stuck for a gift that is useful as well as design-oriented? Then visit Raw Dice and browse at your leisure. Their pop-up shop during London Design Festival was targeted at people like me who need to touch and see before buying online. I loved their city tube and rail maps, shown here framed but […]
Designersblock at London Design Festival
So much wonderful work I can’t keep up writing about it! I was delighted to see Imogen Luddy‘s textile and ceramic pieces again and to catch up with what she’s been up to this year. Nadine Spencer’s cityscape chandelier looked good unlit at New Designers but is magical in this picture. There is so much more […]
London Design Festival – John Galvin at Designersblock
This event just keeps growing; I feel as if I’m looking at things non-stop – actually I am – and it carries on through till next week. Wednesday night was the Designerblock private view and I spotted cabinet maker John Galvin‘s work from across the room. To begin with I wasn’t sure what this slab […]
Open House Weekend – the first passivhaus retrofit conversion
One of the buildings I visited last weekend was the almost finished Mayville Community Centre in Islington. Originally a machine shed for the London tram system built in about 1890, it became a community centre in the 1970’s and was looking very tired. The refurbishment has brought light into the building and released 35% more […]
Flux at Maison & Objet
Flux Stoke-on-Trent was established in 2010 as a new brand offering work by designers from the MA Ceramic Design course with the manufacturing capability of Stoke-on-Trent , the traditional ceramic region in the UK. Staffordshire pottery was distinguished by cobalt blue, a tradition retained and updated here for the 21st century. The contemporary designs are […]
Maison & Objet Paris – Ella Doran
Just back from Maison & Objet which closes today. It seems to grow ever-larger or maybe my feet give in more easily these days: phew! I bumped into Ella Doran whilst walking the aisles in Hall 6 and she told me about the development of their bespoke service as well as their new wallpapers. Here […]
British design – Re-worked with coffee
As they say on their site, Re-worked is a non profit industrial design and product manufacturing company that invests in green technology and social enterprise. What caught my eye was their composite board made from recycled HIPS (high impact polystyrene) and coffee grounds. All sourced and made in the UK, this material, Çurface, is water […]
London Design Festival – Open House London
Although not officially part of the London Design Festival, Open House celebrates buildings or parts of buildings which we wouldn’t normally be able to visit. These include such iconic institutions such as The Bank of England, Lloyds of London and BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir to The Redundant Architects Recreation Association. Every London borough has something […]
Urban Landscapes in the 20th Century
A fascinating series of events begins this month at the Garden Museum in London : From Garden City to Green City, examining different aspects of urban landscapes. Topics cover, amongst others, food in the metropolis, realising the green city, landscape in the garden city. Visit the website to find out more.