An interesting insight on Italian Furniture for the past 500 years- from the view of author Enrico Colle, a professor of the History of Decorative Arts at the University of Bologna, and an expert on Italian furniture and interiors.

With over 350 colour photographs and drawings, and an informed critical text, this exceptional exhibition catalogue shows the evolution of taste in the Italian and European courts from late mannerism through to the first decades of last century. Writing desks, tables, beds, chairs, thrones, mirrors, vases, and objects made of or decorated with precious materials, such as gold, silver, semiprecious stones, or mother of pearl are reproduced in the book. Each feature work also come with detailed captions- to assist the reader in understanding and appreciating the technical craftsmanship of engravers, cabinet makers, bronze workers, as well as the creative genius of architects, such as Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Filippo Juvarra, and Pelagio Pelagi, at the service of the courts.

In overall. this is a book that collectors, scholars, and enthusiasts of the decorative arts cannot miss, it’s an essential and invaluable book for anyone interested in the evolution of aesthetics and style through the ages.

This book is published by Rizzoli New York. You can check it out on your local bookstore or buy it here online! 

An experimental project, Scan & Scale is all about looking for ways to broaden the visual language of computer-based design and its production. It is an attempt to bridge a visual language that originates from nature and a new visual style that is derived from current digital and technological developments. It begs the questions, do our technological choices dictate our forms, or vice-versa? How can we enrich the visual language of computer-based design? How can we stretch the boundaries of various technologies? Scan & Scale is in fact a journey of a pebble through contemporary technologies. 

Japanese designer Youta Kakuta has created the Tree Ring Clock for 'more trees'- an intermediary organization with support of over 100 people from various industries to activate and promote Carbon Offset by maintain forest. This is a simple clock made from a log cut from the cedar/sugi woods. The wood circles look like if someone drew them on the face of this clock. Natural & beautiful. 

Barber Osgerby, the name behind the fame 2012 London Olympic torch designers have unveiled their latest prorotype for the Olympic torch recently. With its triangular form and 8,000 holes referencing the number of people who will carry it, the torch is 800mm and 800g crafted from an aluminium alloy developed for the aerospace and automotive industry. The 70-day Olympic Torch Relay starts from Land's End on 19th May 2012 and an average of 110 people per day will be carrying the Olympic Flame across the UK before the lighting of the Olympic cauldron on the 27th July. Barber Osgerby is formed by designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby in 1996.

To celebrate the students graduation day, the Wuhan University faculty set up a special photo session by placing a walkway under water on a flooded lakeside park. The students are so excited at their graduation ceremony they're walking on water & posing for unbelievable photos!

Spain and Kuwait-based AGi Architects has designed this 'simplexcity' family house in Kuwait.

'To adapt to the desert climate, the distances between the built volumes are minimal, resulting in shaded spaces between houses. But these spaces, that work well as temperature regulators, result in facades with little privacy and limited views,' explain the architects, who aimed for a design that would allow both seclusion and some long views out at the same time. 'Given these circumstances, our focus was to design a home that expresses the clients’ needs, clearly marking the buffers and transitions that any guest could understand.'

The result is a house that look contemporary from the street, but with passages and hidden spaces within- giving the house its name, the Secret House.

In conjunction with Le Méridien Taipei’s first A New Perspective event, renowned Chinese artist Li Hui has completed an original artwork created exclusively to be displayed in the lobby of Le Meridien Taipei. Titled "Giraffe – Camouflage for the Industrial Era” the art work depicts a stainless steel giraffe lowering its head and resting. Hui’s use of stainless steel coupled with the sculpture’s placement symbolizes the conflict between industrial civilization and the environment.

Created by Jin Kuramoto Studio for iida phone company, the JUPITRIS Battery Charger is a user carry AC adapter with an unorthodox form. Born in response to that desire, JUPITRIS is the colorful AC adapter with the striking round shape. But there’s more to see than just high-impact looks. With its retractable cord, JUPITRIS makes for neat and smart recharging. Say so long to the hassle of tangled cords in your bag, and introduce your smartphone to this cool new partner.

Born in Saga, Japan in 1967, Tokujin Yoshioka has worked under Shiro Kuramata in 1987 and Issey Miyake since 1988 before established his own studio, Tokujin Yoshioka Design in 2000.

While working with Issey Miyake for nearly 20 years, Tokujin has done many projects such as shop design and installation for A-POC and ISSEY MIYAKE. At that time, he has collaborated with various companies in and outside Japan such as HERMES, TOYOTA, BMW, KDDI,SWAROVSKI, and other noted ones.

In the Milano Salone del Mobile in 2002, Tokujin has attracted a great deal of public attention with his design-

the "Honey-pop" paper chair. Since then, Tokujin produced Driade's "TOkyo-pop", Yamagiwa's lighting ToFU", cell phone "MEDIA SKIN" for au design project, chandelier "STARDUST" for SWAROVSKI Crystal Palace, polyester chair "PANE Chair", "Chair That Disappears in the Rain" made of special glass, installations for LEXUS, MOROSO and many others. They have been highly evaluated as art works simply more than design works.

Some of his most important works are displayed as a part of permanent collections in the world's well-known museums such as Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, Centre National d'Art et de Culture Georges Pompidou, Victoria and Albert Museum, Cooper Hewitt National Design Museum and Vitra Design Museum.

Mainichi Design Award, 2001

Cultural Affairs Section of Government of Japan, Encourage Prize, 2006

BVLGARI Brilliant Dreams Award, 2007

Good Design Award, 2007

Design Miami, Designer of the Year, 2007

Wallpaper Design Awards, 2008

Design for Asia Award (DFA Award), 2008

Elle Deco International Design Awards (EDIDA), Designer of the Year, 2009

TOKYO Design & Art ENVIROMENTAL AWARDS, Artist of the Year, 2010

A&W Architektur & Wohnen, Designer of the Year, 2011

Selected as one of "100 Japanese respected by the world" in Newsweek magazine (Japanese edition)

An anonymous leading Malaysian businessman has spent £3 billion (USD4.25 billion) on a yacht made from solid gold and platinum. Named 'History Supreme', the 100-foot bespoke yacht was designed by Liverpool-based jeweler Stuart Hughes, who took three years to complete the vessel.

"The businessman just approached us and asked us whether we could do it. He wanted a plane done as well, but the thing would never take off if we did," Hughes said.

"So he said, 'Can you do the yacht?' and I said, 'We'll give it a crack.' Then it was pretty much a case of can you make this gold, can you make that gold?"

"We just did what we were told and are delighted with the result."

A circa of 100 tonnes of solid gold and platinum were used to build the History Supreme, from the gold-wrapped base to the deck, dining area and anchor. The main sleeping quarter was adorned with platinum accents of which included , wall feature , made from meteoric stone , with genuine Dinosaur bone shaved in from the raptor T – REX. At a cost of £3 billion , the most exclusive yacht was born !

The guys at REsign are really good at making products from a selection of recovered materials. Working with different materials allows to re-discover the value of things combining them in new objects with a high intellectual and symbolic value.

This time they make a series of 'new chairs' from unwanted/ broken old chairs found from second hand shop. An art piece in itself, just a single 'new' chair will definetely make a space special. The chair will become the focal point of an average space, a subject of conversation between family and friends.

A diploma project deals with the medication at home,ECAD design school graduate Celine Forestier has created a series of faceted pillboxes on a multilevel plinth, with each level representing a different day of the week.

The original intent: to adopt a careful attitude towards the drug. The questions and issues raised concerning the place of design and designer in the world of care and medication. Is there a medical design? When dealing with medical subject says can we talk about design?

The goal of the project was to change attitudes towards medication at home and ultimately de-stigmatize the pillbox. Says Forestier. The plinth and the pillboxes are designed to maintain a daily rhythm, make it easy for the user connect the day of the week, and time of day, with that days' requirements. "These objects in their aesthetic and sensitivity question the psychological link between the drug and its users."

Sosia could be two chairs, but also a sofa or a small sheltered bed, but it could also represent the metaphor of a living room because of its extreme formal reduction and composition. Sosia by Emanuele Magini for Italian brand Campeggi is a dynamic object ready to adapt to the different situations that everyday life brings.

Created by Antonio Aricò in collaboration with Garage Design, the transformable 'watering kettle cans' unite the aesthetics of tea kettles and watering cans into a multifunctional object.

The ceramic pieces are cast from two reappropriated antique molds for english tea kettles. A removable tip placed on the end of the spout transforms the kettle into a watering can.

Changing the concept and the use of these two common objects: a watering can and a kettle was a way for Antonio to magnify our usual life and putting some fantasy and magic in boring gestures.