KEY POINTS:
There's no point in taking design too seriously. That's designer Phil Cuttance's opinion and you can see it in his unusual and interesting work.
His prototypes include the Inkblot table which resembles a squiggly ink blot on skinny legs as well as the Trophy Hangers, coat hangers that look like miniature hunters' trophies stuck into the wall. And then there's his Fantasy Chair, decorated with images of mythical creatures and fantastical humans.
Cuttance has just exhibited at the Salon Satellite, a showcase of fledgling design held alongside the world-renowned Milanese furniture fair where he had some interest from international press and several large manufacturers. One can only hope that he gets to turn a few of his own furnishing fantasies into production realities.
1. Design Week in Milan, Italy. Racing around trying to see as many shows as possible was a blast. Seeing fresh work from around the world by outfits I respect, and by new up-and-comers has been a massive inspiration.
2. My Fantasy Fantasy chair. I showed this in April in Milan and designed the fabric with graphic artist Jared Kahi. We tried to pay homage to the strange appeal of fantasy art's she-beasts and mystical settings. It's also pretty comfy and it flat packs.
3. Lathe chairs by Sebastian Brajkovic. A beautiful kinetic design. The form of the chairs is the chair in motion - being tipped over or being swung or slid across the floor. An original, and clever approach to the current trend of nostalgia in furniture design.
4. Childhood photos. I had a happy outdoorsy, barefoot upbringing in Whangarei and every snapshot I have of me and my brothers and sisters is a precious object. I love the discoloration of photos from the 70s and early 80s. Not to mention the good old-fashioned honesty you get in a photo that you had to wait to have developed.
5. Dutch design. Dutch designers create my favourite kind of work: exciting, fresh, blurring the boundary between art and design. Specific favourites include Droog, Moooi, Ineke Hans and anything that comes out of Design Academy Eindhoven.
6. 80s/90s skateboard wheels. They're wheels with original and bizarre imagery typical of the skateboarding culture of the time, by graphic legends like Jim Phillips. Things like slimeballs and screaming hands. The only thing I've really ever tried to collect - brilliant!
7. Impulse Frisbees. I discovered these at a Matapouri dairy about 12 years ago and I bought about 20 of them ($2 each). They fly like a dream in still conditions. But I only have a few left as my mates have pillaged my stash of these mighty and irreplaceable discs.
8. Design magazines. Icon is a favourite, for me, a great portal to the rest of the design world. And if I've spent all my money on materials for another harebrained idea then I can download the articles for free from their website. Hooray!
9. Anything by Studio Job. They're a young Dutch/Belgian design duo. I love all their original work but their biscuit ceramics for Royal Tichelaar Makkum are a highlight. The relief features icons ranging from lightning bolts to poodles while the centrepieces are almost architectural in form.
10. Hanabi lights by Nendo. I was lucky enough to see these in the flesh last year in Milan. When the light is on the shade blooms open. Then it closes when the light is turned off. This is an inspiring use of material.
