Min-Kyu Choi, a student from London, has won the British Insurance Design of the Year 2010, for his elegant reinterpretation of the humble plug, beating over 90 international nominees in the process. Antony Gormley presented him with the award at the Design Museum last night.
Antony Gormley lavished high praise on the folding plug design 'Thought-through, responsive and modest, the folding plug shows how intelligent, elegant and inventive design can make a difference to everyone's life.' We like it too.
Check these new paper art creations for your eyelids. The series of works starts serial inspiration design from the Chinese paper-cutting art. Very clever Paperyourself
Fancy getting some classic Danish chic at affordable prices? Get to the Danish pop-up furniture sale this weekend - we will be lining up...
The genius members of the band OK GO have produced another classic vid to rival the treadmill classic they produced several years ago (the one recently ripped off by berroca the world over) Its all about chain reactions this time baby - take a look - we particularly like the sledge hammer that hits the tv showing the last vid. 'i-am' Director Pete Champion goes so far as to say it's "one of the best videos i have ever seen, if not the best...." - watch the vid
I have decided recently that I would relish the life of one of the ladies that lunches and spend my days at leisure. There is one pursuit in particular that has inspired this change of life direction - AFTERNOON TEA.
Soho Hotel (£18 with no champagne)
I was lucky enough to be taken for an afternoon champagne tea at the Soho hotel (we sat on the green sofa in the pic) for my birthday. What an amazing afternoon, a truly delightful experience. The interiors of the tea room are beautiful; bedecked in hot pinks and lime greens it adds a modern twist to some of the more staid versions of tea rooms in London and yet keeps enough classical features to ensure you couldn't possibly forget you were embracing the somewhat formal British tradition of afternoon tea. The service was impeccable - the staff obliging, available and smiling throughout. The food was along the same lines with every detail considered - beautifully presented and deliciously fresh we were offered top ups. The sandwiches consisted of divine concoctions of crayfish and rocket, chicken and avocado and mini fruit tarts and macaroons followed on from a midle course of freshly baked scones with lashings of home made jam. When realising it was my birthday we were treated to a freebie top up on our champagne. The upshot - we spent nearly 5 hours on the sofa and spent more money on on early evening cocktails and as i don't think either of us were keen on leaving we invited friends to join us. I think there a very few other ways quite so divinely indulgent and resoundingly british to spend an afternoon and as soon as i have a viable excuse i am back there for another round of scones and cucumber sandwiches...anyone's birthday coming up..anyone?
Harrods (£24 with no champagne)
A week later and i was shopping with another friend - we have a tradition of going to coo at the Puppies at Harrods then once again resolutely deciding it is not fair on the dogs to be gawped at and besides £1800 for a puppy is ludicrous. As a late birthday treat my friend suggested indulging me in my new favorite pass-time - another afternoon tea. I have often walked through Harrods tea room and paused a moment to listen to the grand piano but never indulged in actually stopping and in the large dining room.So with the Soho hotel experience fresh in my mind i sat down expectantly and we ordered two afternoon teas from the most miserable and surly looking waiter with some form of cream wiped halfway down his waistcoat. We lapped up the melancholic tunes from the piano player but he stopped two songs in and we were left with overflowing background music and remote control car noises from surrounding departments. The lack of piano player also induced a quick glance over of the 'seen better days' interior of the, i imagine, once grand Harrods tea room. Dust laden fake flowers and carpets with ground in food and deep chanell tread marks were some of the obvious signs of neglect. It almost felt like a tea room that time had forgotten. I was hoping it would be resuscitated somehow when the tea finally appeared....but alas no it did not. Mini cheese and pickle and egg sandwiches on bread with chunky bits of crusts remaining (a real no no of afternoon tea etiquette) - other elements didn't fair alot better with cheap pots of cafe jam and stamp sized portions of cake so hard i would have been reluctant to feed it to the puppies round the corner. We battled to get the waiters attention for the bill which was about as much as both we both (the waiter and ourselves) could bare to manage and we hurried out of the tea room time forgot back into 2010 as fast as our legs could carry us.
The Soho Hotel created a real customer experience of such a wonderful british tradition and at the prices above it is a nice TREAT to go and enjoy...Harrods could learn alot from the tea room at the Soho Hotel but i fear it may be so set in it's ways it may be stuck in that dusty dining room for a good few years longer....
I recently had the most exquisite pleasure in visiting the spa at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in London. There were so many individual and thoughtful touches that made it such a enjoyable, if not magical experience (and its very rare i say that).
The doorman tipped his hat as i entered, smiled and resolutely granted me a "good morning miss", instantly gaining a smile and a little skip through the door from me. When entering the hotel it's grandeur and lack of main focal reception desk is somewhat overwhelming - this is soon dispelled by the 5 or 6 smiling concierge dotted throughout reception, one of which was by my side offering assistance within seconds. I asked for directions to the spa and was promptly led there. I thought it odd after such a dedicated service initially i was left outside the spa door and not taken to the spa reception..when i stepped inside i knew why...to walk in with anyone else would have ruined the personal experience as you enter the Spa.
I was greeted by a smile from a lady with a tray of hot pink Lillies and nestled in the middle was the smallest cup of lemon grass tea - as i entered she poured me a cup of the steaming tea and said "hello, you must be Mel". It was truly like entering another world, one where people have been advised to talk to you in soft tones and make it their life's mission to ensure you are comfortable and relaxed. This is enhanced by the decor; dipped lights guide your eyes to a water feature that runs throughout the entire spa guiding you from one area to another and the natural peaceful atmosphere is enhanced by the sound of running water from the waterfall set into the stairs.
I was promptly issued my robe, towels and spa shoes and led down to another floor, what felt like a 'relaxation chamber'. In the chamber i was treated to a relaxation pool (with bubbles!), lavender steam room and sauna. All created beautifully in dark granite in different finishes. I think my experience may have been so special because the spa was not busy so i was virtually alone for the hour, nigh on a miracle in London. My only visitor was a delightful lady who came down an hour later, gave me a cold flannel from another tray of hot pink Lillies and ushered me into the next phase 'the relaxation room'. Soft beds, large bowls of fruit. headphones and the next level of 'block the entire world out' relaxation ensued prior to the main treatment event.
I was greeted my beauty therapist in the relaxation room and she took me to my treatment room - it was beautiful - mood lighting and different textures on the floors walls and ceilings made the room feel so relaxing. I hopped into the heated treatment bed and was indulged in the most amazing facial for the next hour. As i was 'coming round' i was again treated to some tea and a run down of how it all went.
On the way out there was no paperwork no sorting out just "Please do enjoy your day Mel".
It may not be the cheapest experience (and not all great experiences have to be pricey) but this one was worth every single last penny to be transported into a place where you are made to feel as though your personal relaxation has been their life long dream to fulfill. I've never found it so hard to leave somewhere and get on the tube.
What an experience. I would advocate to one and all - heaven on earth.
The modern newly designed brand identity and store design we created as part of the full customer experience for Svetski Footwear is now live in Russia. It is currently being rolled out across both brand owned stores and franchises throughout the country. Just received the first images back from the guys at Svetski and we are so pleased..it's looking great.
if only i-am had office showers...
We stumbled over this print ad for the World Cup that was apparently made by an ad agency in Slovenia...
Time Out London has worked with artist Banksy on their latest cover and more.
Livening up the plate, a new dining concept, is enhancing the sensory experience of eating out. When food is put onto the plates or liquid is poured into the bowl, sensory stimuli, such as light and fragrance, are triggered, adding a new dimension to meal times.
Adidas has created a concept store dedicated to runners in the Japanese capital. The Runbase store, which launched last week, offers showers, locker rooms, running shoes and clothing sets for rent. Runners can also design their own pair of bespoke shoes and attend running-themed weekly workshops and events. The store is also located conveniently close to a popular running area - the Imperial Palace.
We are so pleased with the latest piece of work to go live - Garanti Bank, Istanbul opens the exclusive Nisantisi Branch - we have just received some latest images...here is a taster but give me a shout if you want a better look at the case study or a guided tour - mel@i-amonline.com
