Archived September 12, 2005
Adhesive Mussel: Five years ago, Kaichang Li, an assistant professor at Oregon State University (OSU), was inspired by the "adhesive" action mussels use to cling to their rocky habitat. Recently Hercules Inc., Columbia Forest Products and OSU announced the development of a new adhesive using soya flour proteins in a formulation that mimics the mussel's capabilities.
According to a Columbia Forest Products press release, the company has begun the conversion of all its veneer-core hardwood plywood plants to the new formaldehyde-free adhesive.
A report by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently found that formaldehyde (commonly found in plywood and particle board adhesives) "is carcinogenic to humans."
Archived September 9, 2005
eBay to 10: Furniture World Magazine reports the top eBay furniture-buyer search terms for July 2005 are:
1. Furniture
2. Sofa
3. Pottery Barn
4. Desk
5. Couch
6. Ikea
7. Bed
8. Futon
9. Beds
10 New Ikea
Archived September 9, 2005
Retail? This letter to the editor of the Vancouver Courier from Gordon Watson concerns the closure of a local independent bookstore. VCR includes it here because the analysis can also be applied to the future of all independent retailers, including stores selling locally manufactured furniture.
Archived August 31, 2005
New CEO: Haworth has appointed Franco Bianchi, an advocate for sustainability and good design as CEO. One of his most recent projects is the Zody Chair, which contains up to 50 per cent recycled content.
Archived August 31, 2005
New Technology: A revolutionary dowelling technology has been developed by Woodwelding Technology SA and Titus International PLC.
The process uses an ABS plastic dowel, which liquifies under the application of ultrasonic energy. The inventors claim the assembly of cabinets is reduced three to six times and joint strength increased by 30 percent when compared to traditional methods. More. (PDF)
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Archived August 30, 2005
Hettich Awards: The first prize in the 2005 Hettich Student Furniture Design Competition was awarded to Torsten Klocke for his combination seat and shoe storage unit.
The international panel of judges, chaired by Michael Schumacher from the Frankfurt-based firm of architects Schneider + Schumacher, assigned prizes totalling 12,500 Euros to 1,153 entries representing 24 countries. More
Archived August 26, 2005
Canadian Furniture Sales: Aktrin reports the Canadian residential furniture market has been growing steadily since the third quarter of 2002. Sales (using retail prices) in 2004 reached $9559 million, an increase of 8.2 percent over 2003 sales of $8834 million.
In 2005, saturation in the housing construction sector is expected to slow furniture sales to 7.6 percent, although still surpassing the $10 billion mark for the first time at $10285 million. More info
Archived August 26, 2005
Area 51: The next time you are in Seattle drop by Area 51 on Capitol Hill. This modern furniture store offers unique items made from recycled and sustainable materials. (Courtesy Seattle Times)
Archived August 15, 2005
Betting on Vegas: Wood & Wood Products quotes Las Vegas mayor Oscar Goodman as saying, “We are about to make our debut as the furniture capital of the world."
One of the Canadian companies betting on the success of the first Las Vegas Furniture Market in July 2005 is William Millénaire, showing the sofa designed by Charles Godbout (see page two).
Archived August 15, 2005
Cool '60s Design: an exhibit at the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa, captures the vibrant, upbeat spirit of this legendary decade.
See how craft and design kept pace with dramatic changes such as Canada's first space satellite, the new maple leaf flag and Expo 67 — a high point and a turning point for a proud and optimistic nation.
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Archived July 31, 2005
DWR Featured: The aggressive US contemporary furniture retailer/e-marketer DWR (Design Within Reach) is featured in the June 6, 2005, edition of Business Week. The magazine reports that DWR posted a net income of $3.74 million, an increase of 26% from the previous year. Sales, almost half of which came from its catalogue and website, rose an impressive 49%, to $120.6 million, placing it at eighth position on Business Week's ranking of Hot Growth Companies. DWR expects to open a minimum of 18 stores this year.
Archived July 31, 2005
IFDA Awards: The award winners for the sixth IFDA furniture design competition were recently announced in Japan. The judges were Mr. Toshiyuki Kita (chief judge), Mr. Motomi Kawakami, Mr. Kunio Shibuya, Mr. Hans Sandgren Jakobsen (Denmark), Ms. Gunilla Allard (Sweden) and Mr. Yeoh-Hang Yoon (Korea). There were a total of 909 entries from 43 countries.
Archived July 26, 2005
Edmonton: The fourth annual Edmonton street furniture competition was held June 25, 2005, at Churchill Square.
The design brief specified teams of three and the design and construction of street furniture using a limited range of materials and tools.
Judges were:
+ Michael Phair, Edmonton City Councillor
+ Vince Gasparri, Edmonton Art Gallery
+ Shoko Cesar, IDEA
Deepak and Indira Bhasia won first place. »» More info.
Archived July 20, 2005
Plant Closures: Alan Swift reports for Canadian Press that Shermag Inc. is closing its Victoriaville plant (east of Montreal), resulting in the loss of 95 jobs, and warns it may close two more Canadian plants.
Archived July 20, 2005
Green Conference: If you have a spare $495, Steelcase is hosting Green by Design 2 at its facilities in Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 28-29, 2005.
Keynote speakers include Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and William McDonough.
Archived July 5, 2005
THAW: Marking the change in seasons, the 2nd annual *THAW exhibit brings together designers from Edmonton, Vancouver and beyond. It provides a unique opportunity to view and purchase products as well as interact with Edmonton's unique design community.
The exhibit runs June 24, 2005 to July 6, 2005 at the Red Strap Market, Edmonton, AB
Archived July 5, 2005
No Spam Directory: If you're fed up with bogus Internet directory sites, check out the human-run Artifact Directory, courtesy of the UK Resource Discovery Network.
This extensive searchable database is divided into five main sections: Architecture, Art, Communications and Media, Design, Fashion and Beauty, and Performing Arts.
Archived June 27, 2005
100% Goes East: The 2005 London 100% Design show has spawned an up-start sibling named 100% East. This professionally curated, organized and promoted alternative environment will provide exposure for experimental and emerging design talent.
100% East is located at the old Truman Brewery on Brick Lane in East End London, an area of revitalised furniture design studios and smaller-scale industries (see VCR issues 15/16 and 22/23).
Archived June 22, 2005
Rikrea Competition: an Italian company developing a catalogue of home and leisure products made from recycled or ecological materials, is sponsoring a recycling competition with 2,000 Euros as first prize.
Submitted designs must be made of materials, objects or components derived from waste and be sustainable with commercial potential.
Submission deadline is October 1, 2005. The five best works will be exhibited at the Fiera di Milano, April 2006.
Archived June 20, 2005
Hiring a Designer?: An excellent summary of the designer-client relationship. Outlines various employment options (royalties, fixed fees and advances).
Written by Tony Wills of the London-based product design studio Wills Watson + Associates. Wills participated in the Isos project, see this page.
Archived June 17, 2005
DX News: Designers interested in being considered for inclusion in the Canadian booth at 100% Design, London, should contact the Design Exchange before June 16, 2005. Your submission should include images and descriptions of your products, a company resume and/or website and a short strategy outline for entering the British market.
Archived June 15, 2005
Green Washing? American corporations are increasingly promoting their green credentials in ads aimed at the ethical consumer. A recent report from The Green Life terms most of this self-promotion greenwashing and lists the top ten offenders.
Archived June 14, 2005
ATC Deadline: Vancouver-based design collective BARK seeks submissions by June 15, 2005, of Canadian-designed products for its All Terrain Cabin (ATC). The project focuses on innovative Canadian products and technology that support the operation of a self-contained,
sustainable environment. The 420-square foot, fully outfitted cabin for the 21st century will be mobile, low-impact, smart, tough and all-Canadian. Based on the ISO container format, the ATC can be transported to any place in the world.
Selected products must be delivered to BARK in Vancouver by July 15, 2005, for shipment of the completed ATC to Tokyo in late September 2005.
For more information email .
Archived June 8, 2005
Furniture Translations: Do you need to translate "sofa bed" (or dozens of other furniture terms) into Portuguese? You can use the online Furniture Dictionary to find that it's canapé-cama.
This online resource, courtesy of Fun Step, translates in 10 languages.
Archived June 3, 2005
Not just for real estate sales! Now, you can take a virtual tour of the Mackintosh house.
This interior reconstruction of the home of architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh and artist Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh is located at Glasgow's Hunterian Gallery.
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Archived June 3, 2005
USA Sales: Household furniture consumption in the United States was sluggish from 2000 to 2003. Fortunately, the sector experienced a strong recovery phase and recorded 7.8% growth in 2004. The Aktrin Furniture Information Center does not foresee a repeat of this strong growth in 2005; they predict this year's growth rate at 3.3%, bringing the market value to $ 77.3 billion. »» more info.
Archived June 3, 2005
Design in Norway: A recent pdf format report, by Nils Henrik Solum and Marit Hubak, on the Norwegian Design Industry has application worldwide.
They explain how the recent increase in Norwegian design graduates has resulted in the establishment of more contemporary design firms employing fewer than five people. This phenomena, as in other countries, has seen an increase in activity at design-related fringe shows and press coverage of "hip Norway." The report concludes with some cautionary thoughts on the issue of enthusiasm versus experience.
Archived May 29, 2005
ICFF: Canada Furniture design from Canada is well represented at this year's International Contemporary Furniture Fair in New York.
Two booths show collective works - 452 (organized by Design Exchange) and 428 (organized by BC Wood Specialties Group).
Canadian designers / manufacturers with independent display space include Speke Klein, Kline Design, Messier Designers, Montauk, Nienkamper and Non-Useless Furniture Studio.
Archived May 29, 2005
ICFF: Green Fringe Green building supplier Bettencourt sponsors "A Little Green," an exhibit of sustainable furniture and lighting. Under the banner of Joint Ventures, this three-day event shows designs made of bamboo and coconut palm plywoods, compressed sorghum board and Dakota Burl, a composite board of sunflower seed husks.
Archived May 29, 2005
ICFF: Alternate Space Two off-site shows running concurrently with ICFF are Design Downtown at Chelsea's Drive in Studios and Joint Ventures in several Brooklyn venues.
Archived May 29, 2005
SIDIM 2005: Montréal hosts the 17th annual Montréal International Interior Design Show (SIDIM), May 26-28.
Furniture designers and manufacturers will find two new concept areas of special interest: Zoom, an exhibit of designs from Canadian firms outside Québec, and Éco-Vie, an exhibit of environmentally sustainable products.
As VCR reported in October 2004, this year's show will feature the results of Mobelier d'ici à demain (Furniture for today and tomorrow), a project initiated at SIDIM 2004. Organized by designer Pierre D'Anjou, the project pairs designers and manufacturers to develop conceptual furniture prototypes.
Archived May 29, 2005
Conran leans on cuisine The UK's Independent newspaper reports that Terence Conran's contemporary furniture stores are being kept afloat by revenue from his restaurants. Two stores closed recently, leaving three stores in London, three in Japan, one in Paris and one in New York.
Archived May 2, 2005
Book Pick: Made In Canada: Craft And Design In The Sixties by Alan C. Elder. Leading Canadian artists, curators and art historians, from Douglas Coupland to Paul Bourassa, look at questions of design and national identity in the 1960s.
Archived April 18, 2005
Virtual Hardware: View a photo-realistic representation of Hettich cabinet knobs/pulls, interactively presented on your choice of cabinet style and wood species.
Archived April 18, 2005
Montréal International Interior Design Show
(SIDIM) goes Éco-Vie (Green Design) by adding a new section for companies concerned about the environment. Email soon to participate in this year's show (May 26-28, 2005).
Archived April 7, 2005
Preview: Toronto's Nice Design Collective is holding a one-evening preview to showcase work they will be exhibiting later this month at the Milan Furniture Fair.
April 6, 2005, Spin Gallery, Toronto, ON
Archived April 3, 2005
Design Competition: The Aldo Morelato Foundation, sponsor of the "Significant" Furniture design competition, invites submissions of hotel furniture designs. Prizes range from $10,000 Euros (first), 5,000 Euros (second), 2,500 Euros (third) to 2,500 Euros as the student award.
The seven-person jury is drawn from design, media and academia and includes foundation president Aldo Morelato. The awards ceremony will be held at the Villa Dionisi, Verona, Italy, on September 18, 2005. The entry deadline is May 16, 2005.
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Archived April 3, 2005
Data forecasts by Aktrin show in 2003, Canada's 12.3 million households spent $9.1 billion on household furniture (measured at retail prices including sales taxes).
Sales in the two largest provinces accounted for $5.7 billion - Ontario $3.7 billion and Quebec $2.0 billion. With increases in Canadian population, households and after-tax income, Aktrin expects continued growth in Canadian household furniture sales.
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Archived April 1, 2005
Design Awards: Results of the MACEF 2005 RE-think + RE-cycle design awards are available courtesy of Design Boom.
Furniture design entries included the Blimp, a moulded wood fibre stacking seat by James Glencross, and Idor Mor's Pulp chair.
Archived March 15, 2005
SIT? opens February 15, 2005, at London's Geffrye Museum and runs until June 12, 2005.
This exhibit of contemporary chairs challenges normal seating design by incorporating unusual materials and non-traditional forms and functions.
(Shown: Rupert Chair by Alma Home.)
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Archived March 10, 2005
Looolo Textiles (Toronto, Ontario) introduces a line of environmentally sustainable, biodegradable fabrics in a wide range of colours and innovative textures.
Archived March 8, 2005
How Ikea sold us a Puup (courtesy of the Observer). If you haven't met the infamous van den Puup, visit his website. Caution is advised.
UK Ikea store opening causes consumer riot (courtesy of the Design Observer).
Archived March 8, 2005
INDEX: design award nominations has been extended to March 15, 2005. Submissions of furniture in the Home category must meet these conditions (link removed).
There are five design categories (Body, Home, Work, Play and Community) each with a 100,000 Euros prize.
Archived February 22, 2005
Finland celebrates: 2005 is the year of design, showing how design complements technological know-how.
Scheduled events are open to everyone to view design projects, meet professionals and learn about design-led businesses.
Archived February 15, 2005
Competition: submit up to three chair designs for the Hot Seat Competition sponsored by OFS Sales
Corp. and Metropolis magazine.
Criteria: incorporate wood, aesthetics, environmental consciousness, technological relevance, sustainability, progressiveness and accessibility.
Archived February 15, 2005
Strategis released in November an updated, must-read statistical profile of the Canadian residential furniture industry.
Readers unaware of the problems of comparing pre-2000 and post-1999 Stats Can data can refer to VCR's Statistics Resource page.
Archived February 15, 2005
Data forecasts by Aktrin show a return to 2000 Canadian office furniture purchase levels by 2004-2005 (2000 sales were $3,884 million CDN).
 
Production of seating and casegoods is almost equal in Canada, although seating is gradually increasing its share of the market. Non-metal office furniture is also gaining market share over metal office furniture.
Manufacture of traditional 75 cm x 150 cm office desks has been mainly replaced by systems furniture. The emphasis today is on furniture that can be adjusted to changes in office equipment technology, such as "modules" that can accommodate cabling, network hubs, multiple monitors / screens, video conferencing and the Internet. More info.
Archived February 15, 2005
Becca stools/tables by Adapt Design received one of the 2004 organicAWARDS from San Francisco-based organicARCHITECT, a green architectural firm and think tank.
Archived January 22, 2005
RSA Award: UK furniture designer Matthew Hilton was appointed to the Faculty of Royal Designers for Industry by the RSA. Hilton's work can be viewed on the SCP website.
Archived January 21, 2005
Competition: Designboom and Cow by NSR are sponsoring a design competition for teen furniture (deadline: January 26).
Archived January 21, 2005
ICE: Working with partner and Java inventor James Gosling, Mogens Smed has developed ICE, an industrial design software package that integrates 3-D, Java and AutoCad. Source
Archived January 21, 2005
Canada House in London's Trafalgar Square has partnered with the Design Exchange in Toronto and the Bark Design Collective in Vancouver to host two new design exhibitions.
"Canada House," curated by Doug Coupland, is an insight into Canadian identity using familiar Canadian materials and products in unexpected settings.
"Red+White" features contemporary products from more than 15 designers that exemplify the way Canadians use innovative materials and manufacturing processes.
Archived January 21, 2005
Tembec awarded FSC certificate for its Parson (near Golden), BC, 350,000-acre tree farm licence. Designated by SmartWood, it is the first certification to use the new FSC-BC standard.
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