VCR Home Page Blog

Book Pick: Do Good Design

2009-01-03T16:50:00.000-08:00

An active ethics and environmental campaigner with the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada since 1984, Ottawa-based David Berman recently authored Do Good Design, a book about sustainable business practices.

Brazilian Furniture Exhibition

2009-01-03T16:47:00.000-08:00

This PDF press release from La galerie de Pierre Bergé & associés in Brussels provides images from their upcoming exhibition of Brazilian furniture designers, including the work of Carlo Hauner (1927-1997), Sergio Rodrigues (born 1927) and Jorge Zalszupin (born 1922).

China/Canada Trade

2009-01-03T16:46:00.000-08:00

New Changes in China's Furniture Industry, an MS Word-format research document from the Alberta China Office at Canada's Embassy in Beijing, briefly describes current furniture trade issues between Canada and China.

Finnish PR

2009-01-03T16:44:00.000-08:00

Motto the customer magazine of Finnish furniture manufacturer ISKU Interior, demonstrates self-promotion as stylish and informative.

Ryan Frank's Eco-designs

2009-01-03T16:43:00.001-08:00

The eco-friendly designs from South African Ryan Franks London studio rate this coverage by his home country's Sunday Independent newspaper.

Furniture with Lightwave

2009-01-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

Onur Mustak Cobanli, a master's student at the Politecnico di Milano in Italy, told VCR he uses the 3D modelling software Lightwave, because it allows him to work on organic designs as if he were sketching freely by hand.

Examples of Eco-Finishing

2009-01-03T16:39:00.000-08:00

ISWOline reviews three furniture manufacturers who achieved high-quality finishes on their products while maintaining productivity, profitability and sustainability.

Season's Greetings

2008-12-20T20:16:00.000-08:00

Student Furniture Competition

2008-12-20T20:15:00.000-08:00

Dwell's blog list of entries from the student furniture design competition, sponsored by New Orleans-based Billes Products LLC, includes MIT Media Lab research fellow Dimitris Papanikolaou's flat-pack chair with its innovative application of CNC router technology.

IDS Exhibitors

2008-12-20T20:14:00.001-08:00

The Toronto Interior Design Show provides a list of exhibitors. February 5-8 at Exhibition Place, Toronto.

Plant Closure in Allegan

2008-12-20T20:13:00.001-08:00

Office furniture manufacturer Haworth Inc., closing its Allegan seating plant by next summer and cutting up to 200 jobs, plans to eliminate 350 jobs in total from its North American plants. Source: Grand Rapids Press.

RCA Leadership

2008-12-20T20:12:00.000-08:00

DesignWeek interviews Paul Thomson (currently head of New York's Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum) on his appointment as rector of London's Royal College of Art (RCA) in September 2009.

Help Conserve

2008-12-09T21:12:00.000-08:00

The West Vancouver home designed and built by artist B. C. Binning in 1941, complete with original furniture, is now under the stewardship of The Land Conservancy of BC. Please consider donating to the endowment fund established for the ongoing maintenance of this historic house.

Furniture Wizard

2008-12-09T21:11:00.001-08:00

Design Week provides insight into the work of Munich-based design furniture designer, Stefan Diez.

Swift Award

2008-12-09T21:10:00.000-08:00

Sue Patrolia, founder of the Sample Waste Initiative for Furniture and Textiles (SWIFT), received first place in Net Impact's 2008 Green Challenge.

IDEA Award Deadline

2008-12-09T21:08:00.000-08:00

The deadline for regular entries to the 2009 International Design Excellence Awards (IDEA), co-sponsored by BusinessWeek and the Industrial Designers Society of America (IDSA), is February 6.

US Orders Decline

2008-12-09T21:01:00.000-08:00

Smith Leonard's monthly newsletter, Furniture Insights, states year-to-date new orders for US furniture were ten per cent below the first nine months of 2007.

The Grand Rapids Press reports the US office furniture sector also faces challenges, resulting in Steelcase "trimming" 600 jobs and closing a plant Atlanta.

MFI Fails

2008-12-03T12:40:00.001-08:00

The Times reports that MFI, Britain's biggest furniture retailer, collapsed into bankruptcy administration on November 26 for the second time in two months – putting more than 1,000 jobs at risk.

Top Ten Tips

2008-12-03T12:39:00.002-08:00

George Hedley of FurnitureWorld claims his "top ten" list of direct actions will help furniture manufacturers survive today's tough economic times.

US Design Summit Report

2008-12-03T12:39:00.001-08:00

Leaders of major US professional design organizations and government agencies met November 11-12 in Washington, DC, to develop a US national design policy blueprint, as observed by summit organizer Dr. Elizabeth (Dori) Tunstall on her blog.

Noxon Exhibit

2008-12-03T12:37:00.000-08:00

Toronto's Dominion Modern Gallery exhibits the work of Canadian architect and industrial designer Court Noxon and includes a wide range of the furniture produced by his company Metalsmiths between 1954 and 1982.

Ron Arad Talks

2008-12-03T12:35:00.000-08:00

Marie-Laure Jousset of ArtDaily interviews Ron Arad about his current exhibition at the Centre Pompidou in Paris.

Obama Lacks Design?

2008-11-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

Business Week columnist Bruce Nussbaum fears Barack Obama hasn't grasped the important relationship between "creativity skills" and positive economic development, as plans outlined on the president elect's website exclude support for art and design education.

Inside Ikea

2008-11-25T10:58:00.000-08:00

Time Magazine's interview of Ikea CEO Anders Dahlvig offers a peek inside the Swedish company's empire.

LEED Update

2008-11-25T10:57:00.001-08:00

The US Green Building Council has passed LEED 2009, the long-awaited update to the internationally recognized LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification program.