Finn Magee is a product designer who has come up with a range called “ The Flat Life Series “. He has created a functional range that appears to be in a flat form.
Creative genius… wouldn’t you say? Follow his blog here.
Johannesburg designer, Fiona Goldthorpe launches a new range of 100% Natural handmade soap in collaboration with a South Africa’s Natures Skin Food. Fiona shares the tales behind the birth of this collection:
“The range is inspired by the Mexican ‘Day of the Dead’ theme. I love the graphic nature of this theme and thought it could transfer so well into this type of product. There isn’t really anything like it out there in the market. Locally designed, locally produced – each piece is lovingly and beautifully made by hand. We went through quite a lengthy process of painstaking tweaks – to 3 different moulds (for 3 different variants), laser cutting, silicone moulding etc – along with deciding on which ingredients to use that would work well. I was quite pedantic that only 100% natural ingredients are added (also vegan friendly – no animal fats) and only essential oils added – no synthetic fragrance oils, that could irritate sensitive skin. And we have emerged with a rather beautiful unique product.”
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
[ Great for - Detox ]
CRUSHED PEARL
[Contains: Lemongrass Oil | Crushed Pearls from Thailand ]
[ Great for: Soothing | Anti-aging ]
ASIAN TREE BARK
[ Contains : Eucalyptus | Seaprmint Oil ]
[ Great for: Healing | Sensitivity ]
Fiona, if death’s aroma is like what you’ve created, then I no longer fear death. Thanks for sharing your designs on the MIKU platform. We look forward to seeing more of your designs around! Fiona has whispered excitement of Buckwheat Leaf & Cacao variants to look forward to. Can’ wait!
Catherine Lévy and Sigolène Prébois are a superb product design team. Each modestly claiming that they have no specialities but their range of products suggest otherwise. Their brand, Tsé Tsé has a range of remarkable goodies that adds quirkiness to any space.
Visit their stunning interactive site, and see many more beautiful products from this duo.
Stylist, Emilie Griottes, puts together a piece of pantone inspired tarts for a magazine layout. By far the most inspiring piece I’ve seen this week!
Be kind this Friday, and share this incredible inspiration.
This design iss incredibly clever and cute. Designer & Architect, Naihan Li from Beijing presented his crates that unfold into furniture pieces at the Beijing Design Week in 2011.
Each piece appears as a neat box crate, and as you unfold the hinges, it becomes a practical set of furniture.
The best about this design is: “This is how moving day will be like!”
Chris Weylandts has a beautiful eye, and over the years, created the epitome of understated luxury in his furniture curation for his Weylandts showroom. His wine estate has recently been the buzz of Franschoek, and I could not resist but to trek into the winelands and see the beauty myself.
The Maison Estate’s wine is fairly young and have already received recognition by receiving a few wine awards. The Estate, is a quaint farm that doesn’t boast commercial sizes in production. This makes them the boutique wine makers in Franschoek. I was most curious about the décor of the Restaurant – The Kitchen at Maison which was renovated by Van Der Merwe Miszewski Architects, and the décor was of course to the standards to Chris Weylandts.
My expectations were indeed quite high, and upon entering, I was rather intrigued, as the 1900’s cottage establishment was left raw on the outside. However, it’s rough exteriors certainly drew me like a magnet.
How amazing is this place? Like his showrooms, every element of the décor is meticulously placed.
I soaked this beauty in, and had a wine tasting in a less conventional way – around a Weylandts dining table 
What a sight to end the week end and what a way to start a new week. Feeling inspired!
I have recently returned from my trip to Asia, and my little black book has hundreds of scribbles about products that amazed me while I was on this trip. One thing that appeared on the wishlist was Kay Bojesen’s gaurdsmen and wooden animal family for perhaps, the future nursery? or perhaps just for me!
Kay Bojesen (1886-1958) is the father to these lovely wooden creatures. Kay reminds me of the Geppetto figure in Pinocchio. He wanted people to connect with his creations by creating each piece to possess a certain essence of humanity, where the creatures themselves were imprinted with life, blood and a heartbeat before he declared it complete.
Bojesen trained as a silversmith in his early days, he’s concept about silverware design showed how meticulous he was with his creations.
Like many creatives, he was rather curious with all sorts of materials, he didn’t want to feel restricted silverware. In his course of searching for other materials, he fell inlove with the possibilities in the lines and curves of wood. This led him to create his family of wooden creatures. Kay Bojesen sold rights to production to Rosendalh and today, the lines from the Crafter is still seen living in these creatures.
See the full range available here. Let’s hope this has cured your wood fetish.
I had the loveliest surprise opening my package for my next product launch – The Dear Deer products have landed on MIKU!
As soon as I took the sample pillow out of the packaging, I immediately gave it a big hug, and lingered onto that dreamy touch of it’s natural satin fabric.
The stunning designer, Chelle Lovatt has thoughtfully put together her first range of pillow slips, and won’t stop there …….. there’s exciting talks of more products to come.
I’ve already put a set aside for my dearest mom. The simple chic design makes these slips so easy to match up any existing linens. These slips would be a perfect unique gift gesture for christmas – the packaging of the Dear Deer is just incredibly chic.
The covers come in standard pillow sizes 45cm x 70cm, either in black or white. See the store link here for more information.
Dear Deer is supporting MOvember :{) R5.00 will be donated to the charity cause through out the month for every slip purchased.
MIKU will be taking a peek at Chelle’s apartment soon. Watch the space!
This past Tuesday, due to my unwired personality I had forgotten an important accessory that people use to keep pieces of paper that have printed animals on them. Those pieces of paper are commonly known as the South African currency of Rand notes, that one could potentially use to barter for a cup of hot coffee and lunch on a unexpected cold day! I called in a favour, and dashed to a friends office by Harrington street and while finding parking nearby there was an art installation unravelling on an awkward gate situated between two buildings.
Intrigued by the installation. I met with the artist, and asked him about the project. He told me that it was an installation project for Cape Town’s Creative Week, and kindly asked me to join his crew while he explained the project to me.
He introduced himself as Heath. I took out out my notebook and started jotting notes, only to find that it was Heath Nash in person. I’ve always admired his works, followed his blog, and I felt a rush of my cheeks brightening up with excitement when the Nash word came to play during the informal interview. He has made amazing pieces, and contributed immensely back to society, and all of which is achieved through his gentle and friendly persona. See his website here.
He had previously done a similar project in a Cape Town township, Khayelitsha using just white pieces which can be seen here. Heath brought a stash of his recycled plastic bits from his studio, and with those bits, he’d initiate in creating windmill like contraptions on the grids of the gate. I later noticed that there was no crew! Everyone assisting were by-passers, students, homeless, anyone and everyone. It was a community-driven project.
Putting the pieces together was incredibly fun. However, it was quite challenging to get them to spin when the wind blew.
After my few unsuccessful designs, the strangers that soon felt like friends encouraged, and gave a few tips and tricks. Heath sat down patiently, and showed what he had discovered to work best for this particular design. I finally managed to make one that spun with the wind. That little windmill reinforced the idea of “Simple, and yet functional”
The rain started to pour, and the few left there were still happily creating more pieces. Eventually, the weather wiped the operation to a halt. Nevertheless it still looked beautiful!
One of the volunteers was so inspired while beautifying Cape Town that day, and has organized for the project to continue today from 10am-12pm. It would be really worth your time to add your bit of love into the streets of Cape Town. It’s at the corner of Harrington & Barrack Street, directly next to The Bank offices.
Why was this an unexpected love affair? I left that day feeling as if I were falling in love again for the first time. Falling in Love in with Cape Town! A place where spontaneous sparks are just around the corner on any odd given day.
John Green, a British product designer, who has won many design awards through the sophistication of his simple designs. The craft in his work have clean crisp outlooks, and serve not only to please the eye aesthetically, but the great designs also serve as functional units for a simple and pure lifestyle.
The warm tones of these pieces bring the luxury of design into a space.
His transformation of waste products into functional designs are incredible. He is currently collaborating with Snowhome, and has produced a range of designs for their furniture range. See his products here.
I admire his pantone design. All designers love their pantone books, and he has used it as an inspiration for a quirky magnetic notice board.
It was lovely meeting John Green through the courtesy of the world wide web. Hope you enjoyed meeting him too!
