Tuesday, March 1, 2011

mboisa Winner

And the winner is.....the dreams for Africa chair!  I absolutely love this and would love one for myself.


[Image via Design Indaba]

Highlighting the Design Indaba

I came across the Most Beautiful Object in South Africa for 2011, and yes I will be sharing the finalists and the winner especially with you.  The winner was chosen by us, the South African public!

MBOISA 1: Marbled Vase by Lisa Firer

The surfaces of these porcelain vessels are born out of a recent trip to Italy and its churches, which reflect the beauty and range of coloured marbles and granite.  Using off-cuts of black and white clay from previous projects, which might otherwise be discarded, these are truly recycled vessels.  They are hand built using slabs of porcelain and then rolled, cut, layered and reassembled.


MBOISA 2: Qalakabusha Couch by Ardmore Design
Better known for their work in clay, Ardmore Ceramic Art is expanding to develop a design collection. Founder and creative director, Fee Halsted worked with graphic designer Kevin Parry to create the Qalakabusha (“New Beginning”) Couch. It is a signature piece from the introductory range of the collection, which takes Ardmore’s distinctive creativity, wit and luxurious styling into a new generation of functional products.


MBOISA 3: Cratefan by Porky Hefer of Animal Farm

Cratefan is a complex inner skeleton of scaffolding, which is then clad with an outer layer of Coca-Cola crates. Approximately 2 600 Coke crates were used to clad “Oupa” in Jo’burg and 4 200 for “Elliot” in Cape Town, and they were cable tied to the scaffolding structure. Cratefan is significant of the exuberance experienced last year during the FIFA World Cup.


MBOISA 4: Mohair Jersey by Laduma Ngxokolo

This mohair and merino wool jersey forms part of “The Colourful World of the Xhosa Culture” range, which comprises men’s knitwear that is inspired by traditional Xhosa beadwork. The collection won the South African Society of Dyers and Colourists Design Competition, which earned it a place in the London competition, where it was awarded first prize internationally for the competition.


MBOISA 5: Plyable Table by Gregor Jenkin

Enduringly versatile both in design and material, the Plyable Table is made from birch plywood. The table is durable, affordable, flat-pack-able, assemble-able, paintable, wax-able, varnish-able, moveable, store-able and comfortable. With such characteristics, the sustainability of the item is evident. Gregor Jenkin is known for referencing South African history and culture, reinterpreting it with a subtle wittiness.

MBOISA 6: Clam Ring by Vikki Viljoen

Initiated by a love for extremely chunky, solid, heavy rings, the Clam Ring nonetheless incorporates careful consideration for ultimate wearability and comfort. Resembling an open clam, the two symmetrical sides come together to hug the finger in an open-ended style. Handmade in sterling silver, it demands attention while making an unexpected statement!


MBOISA 7: Time Frame by Orjon de Roo

Timeframe is an eye-catching light sculpture at first glance, but is in fact a clock. The number of red squares in each pattern represents a digit in the current time. The longer, first pattern represents the hour digit, followed by the ten-minute and minute digit. The cycle repeats forever – always displaying the correct time through completely different combinations of light patterns.


MBOISA 8: Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre by Peter Rich

Culturally, geographically and environmentally sensitive, the Mapungubwe Interpretation Centre took inspiration from its natural setting in a national park. The complex landscape was both the inspiration for the design and the source of the materials, resulting in a composition of structures that are authentically rooted to their location. In 2009, the building won the World Building of the Year Award at the World Architecture Festival held in Barcelona.


MBOISA 9: BOS by Bos Brands (Pty) Ltd

BOS Iced Tea is a new refreshingly local offering, which uses organic rooibos blended with natural fruit flavours and herbs. It’s produced with environmental integrity in mind and hopes to promote the health benefits of this beverage. The President are responsible for the packaging. With its pop-art influences and almost retro feel, the design feels truly African.


MBOISA 10: Dreams for Africa Chair by Woza Moya

In 2009, 160 women from the Valley of 1 000 Hills in KwaZulu-Natal came together to create a legacy of hope. Eight weeks later the women of the Woza Moya income-generation project finished their creation. Supported by the Hillcrest Aids Centre Trust, the chair is travelling around South Africa and abroad (recently to New York City), inviting people from all walks of life to sit in the chair and share their dreams.


[Images via Design Indaba]