2008
EUROPE TRIP
In September David returned to Europe to teach another class at the Vitra Museum summer design school in France. Afterwards he traveled to Amsterdam to give a lecture as part of Elle Decor's design event. This was immediately followed by another speaking engagement in Brussels as part of Design September, where there was also an exhibition of his work at ditto gallery. Both talks stressed the importance of designs responsibility for reducing our mass consumption in order to slow down climate change and create greater social equity around the world.
CRAFT SEMINAR
In November David went to San Francisco where he was invited to take part in a two day seminar, jointly organised by the American Crafts Council and California College of the Arts. The seminar explored the way that craft and design can both be part of the solution to finding a more sustainable way of living.
MILAN 2009
Spiral Islands is a completely new installation created specially for Milan 2008 where it was shown in Zona Tortona. Delicate cloud lighting forms float over, and mirror, island seat forms below -- like the puffy white clouds that sit over the countless islands scattered over the Pacific Ocean. Aotearoa, the Maori name for New Zealand, means the land of the long white cloud. Both light and seat forms are made from a skin of two interlocking spirals, which were originally developed on a smaller scale in a set of wooden bowls. We have repeated the pattern and structure on different scales in exactly the same way in which nature does, as it forms the basis of life. Press can get more high resolution photos from the press page on this website if you send a request for the password.
Milan also saw the launch of SeaT alongside Spiral Islands. SeaT is a joint project between David and essenze. It is a collaboration between a group of New Zealand designers who came together to create a collection of objects for the ritual of outdoor eating, based on the theme of the seaside. They aimed to recreate the relaxed, outdoor atmosphere of the New Zealand beach, using the textures, colours and patterns of the seaside.
GREAT EXPOSURE IN PARIS
Printemps store in Paris have a window display called 'Sublime Shapes' until March 8th, which features four settings of our lights along with fashion designs of Lanvin and Stella McCartney.
"As Nature is the base of all things and of all bodies occupying space (the very definition of the word "volume") it adds an aspect of sustainable development by using natural materials."
Also in Paris there is an exhibition of lights at the Pompidou Centre in the main entrance foyer. And our lights and furniture are included in the VIA exhibition 'Matieres a Cultiver'. This is all thanks to MOA who are our French agents
JOHN BRITTEN AWARD
At the annual Designers Institute of New Zealand BeST Design Awards in October 2007 David was given the country's highest design recognition, the John Britten Award. Martin Sidoruk, speaking for the DINZ Council, said, "David is a true advocate of New Zealand's design industry, speaking regularly overseas and mentoring young designers, while at the same time achieving international success and recognition for his incredible designs." Tony Parker, also for the DINZ council, called him a "visionary -- an inspiration in his thinking. . . a legend in the field of design. He is a man who understands the importance of nurturing design, especially regarding the passing on of his knowledge and generous mentoring of fledgling designers."
