Modern Carbon

I saw this at the MOMA today. I have a love/hate with carbon fiber: you can do beautiful things with it, but it's not entirely environmentally friendly. But aside from that, these early forays into the use of carbon and furniture, I feel, have been weak. Such as this piece. Yes it is very beautiful, and it looks really cool. But to me, its a big wicker chair. Just as in the bike industry, there are some cost and experimental learning curves. Nowadays, we have large grasp on the potential of what carbon can do (just look at the Boeing 787). I also just watched a youtube on making carbon cellos. They said it had better sound quality than wood!
Although this a nice piece, I think I could do better. I think designers looking at using carbon need to study what other industry's have done with it, and use that knowledge to go further. If 8 lb bikes can be made, how about a 2lb folding chair?

Bridging materials

Inspired by a bridge of the same name on a Scottish golf course, the Swilken Bench is a perfect blend of form and contrasting materials. The top is made from reclaimed hardwoods, the base/legs are concrete.

New threads

This is actually part of a larger line of "knit" furniture. But when I saw this piece in peticular I was like "wow, that is cool". Most screens and dividers are of the Asian type, with 3 folding panels. I love the endlessness, infinite curvature, and small openings of light this offers. Also the feeling of flow, placed right, it could direct a space very nicely. The designer, Emiliano Godoy, actually got his Masters in ID at Pratt, so I should be inspired, which I think I am. But the designer within me is more like why didn't I think of that?