designprovocation + weetu workshop

DESIGN STUDIOS JOIN FORCES

(Chicago) Chicago/New York design firm weetu to unite forces with Berlin based DesignProvocation.  The product development and design labs of ‘weetu workshop’ formal collaboration with DesignProvocation positions both firms toward a new means of cultural production.  

DesignProvocation is a German-based interdisciplinary studio founded by Irakli Kiziria; a network of international professionals working in the fields of art, design, architecture, and research.  DesignProvocation pseudo-objects, products and concepts have circulated on the viral global front, tinged with under-stated humor, and inspiring new perspectives of our cultural and consumer landscapes. 

Carly Cannell, weetu founder, “This merging of efforts and ideas is a thrilling physical expansion of weetu into the European market. I’ve long admired DesignProvocation’s bold creative thinking and design risk-taking. Irakli is [not] just an architect and designer. He’s a DJ, trendsetter, and social icon. The clear differences of each workshop both strengthen and complement one another. It's a great opportunity and we already have several concepts in the works. I look forward to this long term experiment and our new Berlin presence.”

DesignProvocation recently won a design competition for creating original wallpaper, available at Jeder M2 DU. The collection, called “Family Wallpaper” comes in Family Basic, Family Love and Family War. 

(image below is from: http://www.jeder-qm-du.de/platte-kreativ/platte-gestalten/tapeten/family/)

When asked, why this cross-Atlantic alliance? “We like to work with interesting people/professionals we know and trust," says Kiziria, "Call it a flux of social, cultural, geographical, economic and political phenomena. [Together] our studios can overcome geographical and cultural boundaries, while creating new ways of looking at the world around us.  We look forward to this alliance as it will strengthen and unite our ideation teams, further expanding the breadth of what we bring to the world, and with intent, make it a better place.“

about weetu

weetu is a design firm specializing in architecture and branding with offices in Chicago and New York.  Since its founding in 2007, weetu has worked across disciplinary boundaries – bringing together experienced creative professionals from distinct backgrounds – to generate new methods, ideas and products as real solutions for real problems.

Inventive solutions are developed through a design process revolving around the concept of “collaborative play.”  It is through this hands-on approach that weetu's skilled teams are able to envision and explore ideas free of construct or limitation, while still grounding their work in the expertise derived from years spent within their respective fields.   

For additional information on weetu please visit www.goweetu.com, e-mail at info@goweetu.com, call (312) 624-9592. Follow us on Twitter @weetu. 

about designprovocation

designprovocation is a German-based interdisciplinary studio and a network of international professionals working in different fields of creative industry. 

For more information, please visit www.designprovocation.com.

Bier Bike Spotted

Last day in Cologne and I spotted the Bier Bike (you may remember from earlier posts). Good thing, as it was on one of it's last rides. Bier Bike was recently outlawed by the city and will soon be a street legend.

weetu tiny!!

Vitra is now making Helen and Carly miniatures!! Okay, not really. We couldn't resist to putting ourselves into these mini-offices as part of the Bartenbach LichtLabor exhibit to check out their variety of lamp temperatures for office spaces.


Order your miniature today for only 4 euros!

orgatec 2010- the boxes they came in

Showrooms provide the ambience to every show, which is part of the excitement of traveling to different countries to attend them. Though companies continue to spend less each year, parallel to the global economy, trends are not absent from Orgatec.


Boxes were a common theme, made of the packaging the furniture came in - or so it was implied. (A) The Vitra exhibit seemed to be construction of raw palettes, while (B) Ersa boasted of their "box in a box" idea. It was a little reminiscent of the early 90's, but reflective of getting back to basics. Ersa says that "their retail concept consists of natural, deliberately un-designed factory look that are both casual and polished".


C. The perimeter of Wagner's exhibit was comprised of one of their wood chairs. It created a warm, sophisticated look and complex texture. A dark rich wood bar was located in the center of the interior space, along with a small hospitality dining area serving elegant cuisine. A huge departure from the typical tradeshow booth.
D & E. Fringe also dominated a lot of exhibits these past days. Seriously, the same white fringe, sometimes longer than others. Sometimes in contrast to raw building or shipping materials.
F. All we can wonder about this one is, "which automotive manufacturer went under and sold you their car show booth?"
G. Interstuhl was a rare, yet successful, example of intentional wandering. It was approachable from all angles while providing a complementary backdrop to their products. Nicely executed.


H. A definite tree and apple fetish was present at the show, as mentioned in our earlier post. This showroom went the extra mile by branding their apples. These will not be included in our pie.
I. Hall of mirrors... this was the best. Several manufacturers left the fringe on the side to make room for mirrors. Some reflected the product on the ceiling, others went full blown circus- fun! We spent a little too much time in this showroom for the wrong reasons.


This showroom was just asleep. Well, to be fair, that one guy just woke up.

orgatec 2010 - furniture, felt, fake trees, free apples

Welcome to the weetu view of orgatec 2010 - Modern Office and Facility. Orgatec is not unlike NeoCon in the states, a tradeshow that we are all too familiar with, only it occurs every other year here in Cologne. There was a lot of the familiar, but a few things grabbed our attention... not always for the right reasons.
If you've every been to a tradeshow, you know one of the few perks are the free giveaways. There were a few offerings of traditional gummy treats... but there was rarely a booth without a bowl full of apples. Apples everywhere! Piiiiie tonight!

A. Weetu is trading in all of our studio desks for these babies. Sure, we've seen this one before - Sonic Chair - but this was the first time we tried it out. It rocked AND was convenient to work at.
B. The 2 biggest differences between NeoCon and Orgatec: Orgatec is covered in felt and the male attendees have much cooler suits. Check out buzzispace.com for some amazing acoustical additions to any office space. Specifically the buzzihood, buzzibooth and buzzilight.


C. More felt, a lot of work cubbies, but Vitra's has a sexy zipper.
D. Ersa, out of Turkey, offers this cool donut lounge. The cool part is the magazine rack in the center which would also be convenient for displaying records.
E. Also from Ersa, these simple angular sofa sectionals offset from one another.
F. More of a showpiece, Frau Schneider enjoyed a 5 minute nap in Vitra's 15 minute nap lounge.
G. Every big manufacturer, and even a few small ones, have one. This is Vitra's electrically operated table. Stand up, sit down, fight fight fight.


H. Interstuhl introduced a new chair called the AirPad. (I guess all the negative feedback on the new IPad's name didn't hit Germany). Aside from comfy and ergonomic, the sheer panels were a little bit sexy.
I. A more modern, less office-like design for a transformable table. This one had a hand crank, but it's peppery counterpart was electric.
J. Herman Miller also debut their new ergonomic task chair - Sayl... starting with the wood and string model prototypes.
K. Not the best photo angle to demonstrate it, the SAYL is named after it's "sail" like back structure. The rubber webbing was really quite elegant and architectural in it's structure, much like that of a beautifully designed bridge.
L. Certainly not a looker, this chair is deluxe for the super exec who's worker-bee by day and lazy-boy by night. This is the mPosition by Profi.m


M. More felt? These transformable loungers got people in suits onto the floor in public... reminiscent of Vitra's lap belt we saw at both Salone Mobile and NeoCon this past year.
O. We've seen these in craftpaper, but now we see them in fluorescent plastics by Vange.be
P. Vange also showed this intelligent, economical, 100% recycled fold out chair called Desile, after designer Christian Desile.


Q. Interstuhl also has an industrial side... and we like it! Helen was determined to try on the model's size 10 yellow shoes. I seriously need these stools in my kitchen.
R. Drumroll please!!! The official ugliest chair of the show: This one. What's scary is not so much the supply, but the thought this chair is at all in demand in 2010. Yikes!

wash-n-go monday

Nothing in life is free... and today my lovely German host put me to work. After a full day of collaborating on the exhibition, domestic duties had to be conquered. The bank, the bio-market, and the dreaded laundry.

Scouring the products at a foreign grocery store is one of my favorite tourist past times. Not only do the type of products fascinate me, but the variety of packaging design is always entertaining. Today, however, the product winner at the bio-market was chosen for it's hilarious name, not so much the packaging.


Next, we wheeled the laundry to the laundry cleaning establishment place. There was a lot to figure out, but with the help of graphic descriptions and red wine, the tasks were successfully achieved.


Between loads, Frau Schneider and I strolled the grounds of the nearby university. The sun was low, the joggers high, the cyclists FAST! I feigned intellectual for a moment while pretending to read Helen's Dostoyevsky book.

Signing out with a film short...

why do people throw money in holes? Cologne 2010

Upon landing to Cologne, napping and getting settled in, Weetu Carly hit the Gloria Theater with friends Frau Schneider (of The Sustainable Love Corporation) and Irakli for the SMILE Party, featuring DJ's Marc Lansley, Denis Stockhausen, Okinawa 69 and Motor City Drum Ensemble.


Today we went on a walkabout to the Kolumba Museum.
The Kolumba is one of Helen's (Frau Schneider) favorites in her now hometown. The architecture is fantastic, but the exhibit has been the same for a while. We were happy to discover that installations have turned over... and they were so cool. The Kolumba – Archdiocese of Cologne was recently completed by Peter Zumthor. The new building was to conserve the existing pieces of two thousand years of architectural history, while uniting it into a single building: the archaeological excavation finds with the foundations of the earlier Romanesque church, the ruins of the late Gothic Kolumba Church, as well as the Chapel of the Madonna in the Ruins, which was consecrated in 1950.

This is definitely a place where you should take the stairs.


The new architecture is a stunning backdrop to the work and ruins. Simple, yet amazingly detailed. Weetu Carly lusted after the lighting alone. Dario Villalba's La Espera, 1974, was one of the favs. The shadows cast, as it spun in the room, changed with each angle, resembling a peapod to someone in the fetal position.


Another crazy room was an installation by the artist Krimhild Becker. The room allows nature and art to connect where different cultures meet. That ensures that serious & happy; found & thought up things and art & kitsch not be separated from one another. It's playful and astonishing all at the same time. A plastic dinosaur in an atrium with a skull beneath it? Monkey faces and creepy kewpie doll heads? Get some Halloween ideas peeps!


Though most everything is closed on Sunday's in Cologne, we stumbled upon a pretty entertaining flea market. Scales, Fur and Beads dominated the selection. Oddly enough, I could say the same thing after walking into the H & M in Chicago. Though severely tempted by some sunglasses, lace mask and green quilted house frock, no purchases were made. Sorry economy.

smell like cologne

Carly Cannell is headed to Cologne, Germany on October 21 for more exploration and collaboration (and gummy treats). In addition to hitting the Orgatec trade fair, she'll be working with The Sustainable Love Corporation on elements for the "Notes From The Cleveland Underground" exhibition. If you'll be attending the show and want to get on her calendar about your interior/architecture or identity/brand needs, send her an mail at carly@goweetu.com

For a virtual experience, be following her tweets and blogs. Or, and blogspot of TSLC.

Beer for Peace in the Middle East!

Yep, it's Bier Bike. One of the best designs to come out of Germany, maybe ever. Waiting for a nice spring day when WEETU GERMANY takes this thing for a spin and with purpose. Beer for Peace in the Middle East. Now THAT's form follows function! Sign up now....

WEETUSCHNITZEL

WEETU jumped the pond to collaborate with German Event Company, Uniplan, on a festival and dealership event for a leading European car manufacturer. As the architectural partner, WEETU worked closely with the team on concepts for the event strategy and overall experiences, including designing the site layout, architectural structures and interior environments. Despite Carly Cannell of WEETU’s lack of bratwurst consumption, the collaboration was extremely positive. Cannell also learned that gummy candies are made in Germany and eating them daily has negative effects on one’s body, but positive effects on hair and nail growth.

WEETU looks forward to future collaborations with the team at Uniplan.