Institute of Contemporary Arts

The ICA and Veuve Clicquot: One object. One Lifetime.

The ICA is delighted to partner with Veuve Clicquot on the design project One Object. One Lifetime. which was exhibited at the ICA Figures of Speech Fundraising Gala. Six renowned and respected designers were invited to respond to a new and exciting creative challenge by creating a bespoke piece inspired by the theme of Figures of Speech: treasured possessions, and the distinctive bright yellow of Veuve Clicquot's signature label. We held a competition to find a seventh designer and invited up and coming designers to respond to the brief through the ICA Club. The winning design produced by Oscar Diaz was also included in the exhibition. A selection of the designs were auctioned during the Gala event to raise funds for the ICA New Commissions Fund.

The unique design pieces created are an innovative, contemporary reflection of the theme One Object. One Lifetime.

 

Timorous Beasties

 

Timorous Beasties, a design-led manufacturing company based in Glasgow, was established in 1990 by Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons. Noted for its surreal and provocative textiles and wallpapers, their early work has been described as "William Morris on acid", and could be seen as a wayward take on the often "twee" world of textiles.

In 2005 Timorous Beasties were shortlisted for Designer of the Year, and were commissioned in 2006 to design the window display for the Wellcome Trust in London.

Their Inspiration: "The stones represent positivity and thoughtfulness. We have chosen a version of our Tree of Life pattern which will grow around the stone and not follow the usual bounds of symmetry. The colours we are using, the yellow or orange, signify life and growth and combined with the black of the granite are representative of caution in nature, wasps, and bees. The text, in its slightly abstract composition, is a light hearted response to design culture and is not meant to be a statement, more an idea. This contrasts well with the immediately sombre nature of the product. The stone is anonymous and individual it is not necessarily to be seen as a grave stone but up to the individual to find a use."

 

Jordi Canudas

 

Jordi Canudas, born in Barcelona, studied at Elisava design school before moving to London in 1994 to work in design studios before starting his Master's Degree in Design Products at the Royal College of Art in 2005. Jordi's work evolves around the idea of action. An action that guides the project to create, change or even destroy the object. His projects challenge existing object typologies and stand between product and installation pieces.

His Inspiration: "The inspiration comes from the event itself. For me, the experiences and memories surrounding a possession are what make it treasured; memories of special moments give a special value to an object.

"I am creating a machine that will leave a trace of the Gala on an object during the event of the gala itself. The machine will be dripping the Veuve Clicquot orange colour on top of a rotating spherical lamp. The randomness of the dripping paint will create a unique pattern on the lamp, and record the night of the Gala."

 

Oscar Diaz

 

Oscar Diaz is a product designer who works with ideas applied to objects, furniture and spaces, both on commissioned and self-initiated projects. Diaz studied Fine Art in Spain, holds a diploma in Industrial Design and an MA in Product Design from the Royal College of Art. Diaz mixes influences from craft and technology. His approach is often multifaceted, investigative and playful, transforming the ordinary by challenging conventions. His work has been exhibited in England, France, Czech Republic, Italy, Germany, Switzerland and Japan.

Diaz received first prize at the 2007 "Jeunes talents" competition organised by De Dietrich and Madame Figaro Magazine in France.

His Inspiration: "Veuve Clicquot's identity colour is translated and decomposed into the red, green, and blue colour values which form the additive RGB colour model. With those values, three different hand-blown vases are made in coloured glass.

"When the vases are nested the colours mix and as light passes through the Veuve Clicquot yellow-orange colour reappears. The colours mix visually but not physically, creating a very subtle but vibrant perception of it.

"Mixing the additive colour model usually found in monitors and screens with a two thousand year-old craft technique provided a unique object combining tradition and modernity."

 

Tom Dixon

 

Established in 2002 by Tom Dixon and David Begg, Tom Dixon is a British design and manufacturing company of lighting and furniture. With a recognised commitment to innovation and a mission to revive the furniture industry, the Tom Dixon brand is inspired by the unique heritage, the individualistic innovation and the robust, no nonsense engineering of these small islands.

Tom Dixon exhibits at major design venues and exhibitions including the Milan Fair, ICFF and 100% Design. The company has launched iconic designs including Mirror Ball, Copper Shade, Rubber Band chair, Fresh Fat Plastic, Wire Series and Beat Light. Tom Dixon products have been acquired by the world's most famous museums and feature in permanent collections across the globe.

His Inspiration: "A climbing frame or a birds nest or a ball of string, I'm not sure where the origins of this chair came from but probably a mixture of all above... this is a big chair - a chair for putting your feet up, curling up in, but also a throne for encouraging authoritative decisions, but visually not too bulky as it is mainly empty space, transparent, like a line drawing but a three dimensional line drawing. This reflects the way I prefer to work, by making full size sketches, rather than flat drawings, or computer models or maquettes. The object is defined all the better for being in a bright, high visibility safety orange."

 

Martino Gamper

 

Martino Gamper was born in Italy, studied sculpture and product-design in Vienna, before moving to London in 1998 to complete a masters at the RCA. Gamper develops and produces a wide range of objects from limited edition to semi-industrial products and site specific installation. His work has been exhibited internationally including at the V&A and the Design Museum.

Gamper received the Wallpaper* 2008 'Best Alchemist' award, an award created especially to honour the particular position he occupies in the design world.

 

Mater

 

Mater is the home accessories brand that makes corporate social responsibility timeless and alluring to consumers all over the world. Founded in 2006, Mater is a Copenhagen-based company with a strong vision to create timeless and beautiful design based on an ethical business strategy. Mater combines exclusive high end home accessories with working methods that support people, local craft traditions and the environment.

Mater received the Wallpaper* magazine award for Best Debut Design Brand in 2007.

Their Inspiration: "Designing the champagne cooler Fancy Marble for Veuve Clicquot offered the opportunity for a designer to connect with local artisans to exchange ideas. This piece bridges between the alluring, the exclusive and craftsmanship. Marble was the natural material to use to create a champagne cooler because of the natural cooling it offers. The yellow in the design creates a beautiful contrast that highlights the iconic shape and makes the piece more soft and elegant by mixing colour and materials."

 

Moritz Waldemeyer

 

Moritz Waldemeyer is an artist, designer and engineer. He combines these disciplines to bring art and design installations to life and create unique effects in product design. Waldemeyer often works with internationally acclaimed artists, designers and architects including Zaha Hadid, Ron Arad and Hussein Chalayan, for corporate clients but also increasingly as a solo artist. Waldemeyer has used LEDs to create beautifully crafted electronic designs including awe inspiring, chandeliers.

His Inspiration: "The bicycle is one of my most treasured possessions. Recently there is a new trend for stylish designer bikes. The bicycle in the images is my own interpretation for elegant and fashionable urban transport with a unique mix of high tech and classic design elements. The design will personalise your bicycle, make it stand out as you cycle home and add a smile to the evening of onlooking strangers."