Sunday 25 December 2011

A very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!


A very Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!

2011 was a busy and exciting year:
With Array Fruit Bowls being launched by Aarevalo and retailing in Paperchase.
Modus Furniture launching the Drew range, which made its debut as part of Designjunction at the Milan Furniture Fair.
Made.com launching the Limpet Wall Hooks after popular demand in the ‘Vote’ section of the website.
Having two designs selected for Heals Discovers 2011. The Twist Occasional Table and Nesting Candlesticks, launched in September.
…And finally moving to Shanghai as a Product Manager for Made.com. Designing and developing Upholstery and accessories!

2012 is the Year of the Dragon which is a symbol of good fortune and sign of intense power. Hopefully its characteristics will be fulfilled for new projects.

Keep an eye out for a new look website, that is more interactive, easier to use and constantly updated.
Also look out for new exciting Made.com pieces that I’m working on now. 

Tuesday 15 November 2011

Kirsty whyte Designs Launched on Nspired

Nspired is an Australian online company revolutionising the furniture industry by offering originally designed and truly chic furniture at a fraction of current prices. On their website , you'll discover beautiful designer furniture to fall in love with - all at incredible prices.

By making our products on demand, we have no inventory or costly retail outlets. This means we can offer boutique style furniture, at 50-80% cheaper than regular retailers, without sacrificing build quality.

We share your love affair with style and believe that design integrity and affordable pricing should go hand-in-hand. That's the Nspired difference.

I have been lucky enough to be selected as one of the first 8 designers to launch the website with our designs.

On the VOTE section of the website you can choose which design you would like to get manufactured, it would be brillinant if you can just take a few moments to vote for my designs, as I would love to have more of my designs avaliable for people to buy and enjoy in their homes.

My designs on the website are:


1. The AXIS floorlamp, which combines lighting with a multi functional table. Perfect for reading or having some Tea and cake!



2. The AXIS Occasional Tables, that have a Hexagonal top so several tables can tessilate together, suiting our more modualr urban lifestyle. Plus they are splash of fun and colour into the home!  





3. The TYTE tables, each table base is made from the same shape leg, meaning it is easy to assemble and can be delivered in a flat packaging. A simple design that looks complex. 







4. The NICHE bedside table, made from bent plywood with a bright interior, perfect for stashing your nightime reading and specs. 



It would be great if you can vote, you can also find aout more infomration about Nspired and the designs on their Facebook page.

Friday 11 November 2011

Busibuddies Podcast interview

Recently, I had a podcast interview with Edward Daniel  for Busibuddies, which is a business media network for business owners and professionals designed to increase guest and member visibility and collaboration. 

To listen to the podcast please follow this link; the quality makes me sound a bit like I've been auto-tuned, but it is me.


Sunday 11 September 2011

Limpet Hooks now available at MADE.COM

KW_MADE.COM LIMPET HOOK LAUNCH Sept 2011

The original Limpet design launched in 2009, were manufactured from timer off-cuts by a UK timber manufacturer. They were retailed in the Kirsty Whyte website for £12.99 each.

After being submitted by Kirsty to the VOTE section of the MADE.COM website and receiving one of the most number of customer votes.

The Limpet Hooks have now been launched by Made.com due to popular demand.

They come in a multi-coloured plastic set of 6 at only £29. Kirsty Whyte has creatively combined a contemporary design with a classic satin finish. These timely, organic, mollusc shaped hooks are a striking addition to any room.

The hooks are warm, tactile and practical; the vibrant red and blue colours combined with the muted grey and eye-catching design make interesting wall art.

BUY THEM TODAY!

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Saturday 13 August 2011

Shanghai Bound!

I'm off to Shanghai! I've been given a very exciting opportunity to work over in Shanghai for 6-8 weeks, so due to China's strict internet laws I'm not sure if I'll be able to blog, so it might be a bit quiet from me for a while! 


So here's some info about where I'm going; thanks Wikipedia!


Shanghai is the largest city by population in the People's Republic of China. It is also the largest city proper[8] and the seventh largest urban agglomeration[9] in the world. The city is located in eastern China, at the middle portion of the Chinese coast, and sits at the mouth of the Yangtze River. Due to its rapid growth over the last two decades it has again become a global city, exerting influence over finance, commerce, fashion, technology and culture.




再見/ - Goodbye


Thursday 21 July 2011

NEW DESIGNERS 2011 WEEKS 1&2

My pick of what caught my eye.
Every year a new crop of aspiring graduate designers make their way to the Business Design Centre in Angel, for New Designers.
Competing individually and across university’s, to catch the eye of a retailer or journalist.
I was lucky enough to visit both weeks 1 and 2 this year, so have included allot of 2d print and illustration for a change to my usual product heavy blog!

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Below are a few peoples work that caught my eye as ‘ones to watch’.
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Tanya Ventress’ work had a great sense of fun, with traditional subjects printed in a contemporary way.

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Rachel West’s illustrations had a vintage feel, and I really loved her quality of line and use of a selective colour pallet. Below are one of her scarves.
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Lucy Porter’s surface pattern was really interesting as her base material was wood rather than fabric. The mix of pattern and animal silhouettes stood out among the surrounding work. 

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I’m really keen on this whole range created by Scott Coleman, each poster depicts a significant historical event on a particular year. The Channel Tunnel was 1990. The simple graphic style suits the poster format perfectly.
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It was the naive quality of line that caught my eye with Rhi Pardoe’s illustration. I like how you can see where the pen has been; it’s not over polished and honest.

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Simon Cooks work was my favourite from all of New Designers. Simon uses origami paper, collage and then digitally manipulates the image to create his work. He has already been commissioned for professional work (including Design week) and also has more commercial pattern based work.
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Sofi Fleming had a Good use of material, and construction of image pattern and colour.
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Lucinda Ireland, has already been snapped up to do work professionally, and I’m sure her commercial style will be seen allot in the future. I like the simplicity and feminine style of the text.
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Imogen Heath’s pattern has a simple vintage style with a modern look. Her work is really well executed and t should already be retailed. 110713_New Designers Presentation_Highlights-12
Now for something 3D! I would buy one of Elin Green’s vessels straight away! One of the few people with innovative accessories, good use of material and colour.
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This storage by Shu Aoki, was genius, such a simple block construction idea, but adding the modular stacking element gives it an edge.
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I’ve seen James Melia’s work before and both his deck and desk lamp were really strong resolved designs. With all elements carefully considered and finished, right down to the subtle dip in the desk surface for coins, paper clips etc.
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Suet Yi was part of the Decorative Arts stand (my old degree course) the small ‘bird’ vignette’s were enchanting. I don’t usually like things that don’t ‘do’ something, but these really caught my eye.
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The Tune-tune musical stool by Jo-yun Wang , combined kinetic fun with simple lines.
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Ornella Stocco’s designs (recently featured on Dezeen) use materials where you wouldn’t usually expect them.


In week 1, Decorative Arts from Nottingham Trent Uni were on the Mezzanine floor. The course has evolved quite a bit since I studied there, with even more materials and specialist options. Some lovely pieces.



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Other visuals feasts for visitors were stands by Tigerprint and Absolute.  The Tigerprint ‘Gifted’ competition is still open to submissions until July 30th.  Designers (who graduated in 2010 and 2011)  have been invited to design a card, a cracker and a decoration. These querky gift bags were kindly demonstrated by two members of the Tigerprint team!
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That’s it for another year, lets see if any of my predictions are correct in the future!

Thursday 16 June 2011

Launchpad at Pulse 2011

Just a super quick review from Pulse London, featuring the Launchpad area.

Pulse ran from Sunday 5th to Tuesday the 7th of June this year, and took up it’s usual residency at Earls Court, London.

Below are some quick snaps of what caught my eye, apologies for the image quality, I only had my phone!

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In the Entrance were a selection of Pulse highlighted products. I loved the buttons!

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As you will have seen in my previous post, Design Exchange magazine and my self joined forces for their stand, featuring the Hound Occasional Tables; a modular design with a tessellating shape, so the user can change the configuration to suit their needs, or just stack them away after use.

DeMagazine, were offering half price subscriptions £10 for 5 editions; a bargain. To see the most recent online e-edition or to subscribe, visit the DEMagazine website.

IMG_1254My favourite products in all of Launchpad were on the Fun Makes Good stand.

With a refreshingly simple stand layout, letting the products do the talking.

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The designs are by Elenor Young, who I met back in 2009 at 100% design. The use of shape, colour, print and textiles really appeal to me.

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With small affordable gift ideas.

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And also high end, hand made Origami inspired, cotton and leather patchwork pouffes. I would like one!

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Peter Ibruegger, has expanded on his The Moustache Mug range, adding a bowler hat sugar bowl. So no mug ever need to be under dressed again! It think these two look like the Thompson twins from TinTin.

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Some new cute additions to Shan Annabelle Valla’s ceramic animal range. In front you can see the porcelain bunny range, with gold lustre decoration Available as a pair for £50.

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Over to We Love Kaoru next, with her new range inspired by the Rorschach Test. What can you see?..Butterfly, horses, fox and rabbits? Well depending on what Kaoru saw, the subtly overlaid images of the animal within the ink blots. Below; horses, how clever is that!

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I wasn’t bribed to say that with her sweets either.

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Designedmade exhibited their Molecular range. The pattern, which represents the combination of iron and carbon atoms that make up the material itself.

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Onto some 2D designs, here is a card by Lesser Spotted, which brought a smile to my face. All cards used are photos of real locations, with no Photoshopping. On the reverse of the card is a map of the UK and where the place is located.  I feel sorry for the people that live in Nobby!

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On a more naughty note where cards and products by Polite.DS_Hungover_600_largeThey are most recognised for their ranges by David Shrigley, above is a limited edition from a card set.

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One of their new products is the Venice box set by Peter Blake.

The Box contains 20 Postcards, Lithographically printed in Britain, and is presented in a hand finished box, designed by Blake and made in Stockport.

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Tamsin Howells has been busy with some new ranges. I really love the brooches using vintage clothes patterns.

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There were textiles and knitwear by Hilary Grant, these knitted cushions were great, the layering effect was a great idea.  This is one way I’d always keep my cushions tidy!

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Then Finally this brightly coloured stand, created quite a stir, most of the day surrounded by keen buyers. The Animal mugs, bowls and hooks by Yas-Ming Ceramics.  you can catch them again soon at New Designers, as part of ‘One Year On’.

I hope to see them and lots of budding new designers work there myself.

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