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100%
Design > October, 2000
Most trade fairs offer a bewildering mix of the good, the bad and the ugly, with
emphasis on the latter. 100% Design, held in London October 5-8, though, has
higher aspirations. Spanning a broad spectrum of furniture, furnishings and accessories,
the four-day event feels like an upmarket department store. A process of screening
maintains standards with only half the wannabe exhibitors accepted, and to compensate
for the dampening effect of the anonymous Earl's Court venue, a leading interior
designer is brought in each year to create ambience. This year, it was Ben Kelly,
best known for his clubs and bars.
100% Design attracted big name manufacturers from design superpowers such as
Italy, as well as the latest crop of YBDs (Young British Designers). The Italians
have dazzled the world for the last four decades with their stylish furniture
and lighting, and heavyweight companies represented at this year's fair included
B & B Italia, Cappellini, iGuzzini, Cassina and Driade. This is where you
headed to see the likes of Antonio Citterio and Mario Bellini, and at Cappellini's
stand you were also treated to the cream of British talent in the form of Jasper
Morrison and BOA
Among the British manufacturers, Hitch Mylius and SCP shine like beacons. Hitch
Mylius, who specializes in exquisite upholstered furniture, launched their second
collection of seating by architect David Chipperfield, while the latest offerings
from SCP include a table by Michael Young, a daybed by artist Rachel Whiteread
and new designs by the perennially creative Matthew Hilton.
But in spite of a wealth of native talent, design-led British furniture companies
are still rare at the main show. Even at the off-site show DesignerBlock - held
at the closed down legendary St. Pancras Fire Station - the most interesting
new designs were from outside of England. The five Norwegians in [Norway Says]
impressed everyone who dropped by - including Bellini and Tom Dixon - with their
wide range of Scandinavian - and still playful - furniture and accessories. Sputnik
from Japan once again dazzled us with the most original and striking stand in
all of London, and keep an eye on ___ who with their clever, funky and original
furniture designs are bound to be a huge hit.
Back to the main show, following the success of twentytwentyone's Childsply initiative,
this year saw the launch of Biscuit, a collection of upmarket plywood children's
furniture by newly-formed Oreka Kids. Biscuit is co-ordinated by Jerwood Prize
-winning Michael Marriott, and along with examples of his work, it includes imaginative
pieces by Shin and Tomoko Azumi, Sebastian Bergne and Andrew Stafford. Encompassing
virtually the whole of the contemporary British furniture scene, this stand was
one of the show's busiest
100% Design is unique in that it attempts to showcase the establishment alongside
the off-beat. The Spanish collective El Ultimo Grito, who have benefited enormously
from its attention, will be hoping for continued success with What Goes Down
Must Come Up, a laundry bin which rises and falls according to weight. El Ultimo
Grito is in Totem's searchlight for special projects, as is designRAW, a collective
of 7½ San Francisco that never seize to amuse. Their conceptual designs
puts design into new contexts, so look for designRAW at the Totem Gallery early
next year.
For design aficionados with boffin tendencies, 100% Design has plenty to offer.
Inflate are guaranteed to be entertaining and innovative. Recently, they discovered
the joys of rotation-moulded plastics, and this year marks the launch of Sir
Stickle, a lamp which can be stacked in multiples and doubles as a seat. You
can't quite imagine something this crazy happening at the furniture fairs of
Milan or Cologne.
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