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Sustainable Design

Dreamtime for Indigenous Australian Textile Designs

In anticipation of the British Museum’s forthcoming Indigenous Australia exhibition, we look at the rise of Aboriginal textile designs in fashion and interiors. Indigenous Australians’ oral tradition and spiritual values are based upon reverence for the land and a belief in the Dreamtime – a sacred era when ancestral totemic spirit beings created the world. […]

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Inventing a More Caring Future: Designs of the Year 2015

The main difficulty with an all encompassing design competition is that, ultimately, it does not compare like with like. Some of the entries are life changing, or could affect us all in the future. Others seem more of an artistic expression, designed purely for our amusement. There is the added complication that, whilst some of the […]

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Back to Nature: Primitive Materials in Design

Ancient tribal crafts were based upon the faith of Animism – the worship of nature, and the belief that natural physical entities possess a spiritual essence. Traditional tribes hunted for food, then used every last piece of the animals they slaughtered to create useful products. They were resourceful and respected the natural world. We may […]

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Timeless Design: The Dream Catcher

The night air is filled with dreams. Good dreams are clear and know the way to the dreamer, descending through the feathers. The slightest movement of the feathers indicates the passage of yet another beautiful dream. Bad dreams, however, are confused and confusing. They cannot find their way through the web and are trapped there […]

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The Visuology Lecture: Richard Anderson – Tailoring for the 21st Century

This is a first for Visuology. We are sponsoring a Last Tuesday Society lecture at the Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities, Fine Art and Natural History. Savile Row Tailor, Richard Anderson will be in conversation with Amber Butchart, discussing the history and evolution of Savile Row and how it has adapted to the 21st century. Richard […]

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A Sustainable Future for Fashion Trends?

The constant stream of new collections presupposes that consumers have an unquenchable desire for something new. In an article earlier this week, BOF (Business of Fashion) considers whether trends are relevant in a world where everyone wants the latest thing now. Seasonal order patterns have changed beyond all recognition, with some designers ditching them altogether, whilst others […]

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2015: A Vintage Year for Bright Old Things?

Contrary to the media portrayal of older people, not all are sitting at home feeling lonely. This is just as well, because according to Age UK, there are now around 14.7 million over-60s in the country – that’s nearly 23% of the population. It is predicted that the number aged 65 and over will rise by […]

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Multicolour Marbling and Mosiac in Craft and Design

We mentioned this trend a while back. Handcrafted marbling and mosaic effects that have caught our attention encompass clothing, textiles, rugs, tableware and furniture, including: Carpets by Beldi and Boccara. Turned paper vases by Pia Wustenberg and lamps by Becky Creed. Studio Silo plates and textiles by Wendy Tsu. Console table with magnet tiles by […]

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Plants As Pets: Succulents Get Stylish

In our overcrowded cities, where space is in limited supply, small plants make ideal pets – and can help to improve air quality, as part of a sustainable lifestyle. Cacti are perfect, as they don’t need much water and require little looking after. Succulents store water in their swollen leaves, stems or roots, are easy […]

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Playing with Disruption: Designers in Residence at the Design Museum

The Scots aren’t the only ones playing with disruption. London’s Design Museum doesn’t stop at giving airtime, or in this case museum space, to emerging young designers, it also helps them along the way with advice, suggestions and, presumably, access to some very useful contacts. In this case it has also asked them to be […]

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