"...turn business-as-usual totally upside down."

Periods of uncertainty fuel tremendous opportunity, but they also reshuffle the deck and change the rules of the game. DID YOU KNOW THAT Hewlett-Packard, Disney, Hyatt, MTV, CNN, Microsoft, Burger King, and GE all started during periods of economic recession?
Are you one of those searching for ways to make today's recession an opportunity? Then you better look at "The quintessential roadmap for all those who seek opportunity ..." - that is what Guy Kawasaki, Co-founder of AllTop, Author of Reality says about EXPLOITING CHAOS - the new book by Jeremy Gutsche, the founder of TrendHunter.com, the world's largest network for trend spotting and innovation.

Already named one of CEO Read's ‘2009 Books to Watch', the English version of EXPLOITING CHAOS is set to rock bookstores on Sept. 1, but Trendoffice and Trend Hunter have arranged for you to have a free Sneak Peak of EXPLOITING CHAOS. Click the link below to get the preview:

http://www.exploitingchaos.com/sneakapeak/34

My Favourate Designs from Milan Design Week 2009 Previews

I have published already a lot of previews

of the much expected Milan Furniture Fair that will open next month. And many new are coming every day, especially on the site of designboom.

But my favoritepiece of furniture is the pure white cabinet designed for Bd Barcelona by the French graphic designers Antoine & Manuel. It tells stories through its carved doors and unusual legs. I expected it to be a great success. It was exhibited for the first time in Paris Maison et Objet this January, with a great success of attendance.




I also acclaim the "More" furniture system by Giorgio Caporaso idea for modular unit that can easily
be joined without the use of specific tools, to make a bookshelf, a table, a chair or a separating unit. It can be made of cardboard, too. It is an example of good Recession-Friendly Design. Which, to my regret, not always means high aesthetic value.






But Regenesi's mandate is to use only post-consumer materials treated with original processing techniques that allow for the same quality standards associated with virgin raw materials. With Regenesi's products are connected the names of designers such as Denis Santachiara, Matali Crasset, Setsu and Shinobu Ito, Giulio Iacchetti and Marco Ferreri, and products include this basket made from regenerated leather and the Fruit Bag by Setsu and Shinobu Ito. Regenesi will be exhibiting at FuoriSalone in Milan next month.

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More "Recession-Friendly" Design Ideas

It is interesting to observe what reactions economic crisis provokes in our way of thinking and what designers' solutions appear. In one of her latest interviews trend forecaster Li Edelkoort is convinced that "creativity will help us emerge":

"Design will always be able to find new scenarios. Once you’re creative you’re not afraid, you will always be able to make something out of nothing, improvise, find solutions."

I began posting about recession-friendly design and think that it will be definitely a trend of the near future. Re-using products - like Reestore’s inventive recycled washing machine table with embedded lighting Silvana (above) - and materials will become more and more popular
I do welcome Platform21's Repair Manifesto that opposes throwaway culture and celebrates repair as the new recycling. Great initiative! But that does not mean we should forget about aesthetics. Is it worth repairing a plastic chair? Like in the Reanim: 5.5 designers project - right. For it Sauvez les meubles (save the furniture) designed a special repair kit, consisting of a prosthetic chair leg and elastic.
I hope that creativity will not only help us emerge, but will also confirm the value of good craftsmanship, exquisite details implementation and natural materials.

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home furnishings

"Recession-Friendly" Design

Good design does not always have to equate high price tags. In hard times like these even the Oscars are taking a recession-friendly approach with absence of the over-the-top, couture designs that usually shine on the carpet. Design can also change the pathway of spendings by introducing "recession-friendly" alternatives. A lot of interesting designs appear when we change our attitude.

Have a look at the 'More' cardboard elements by Giorgio Caporaso that are going to be launched at the Milan Design Week this April - aren't they useful and elegant and Recession-Friendly Design?




Or this tubesqueezer at right? I am curious to see what other interesting design products and solutions provoked by the economic crisis will appear. And can a recession actually spark innovation? What about you?