October 5, 2011 - 10:34 am
No, not the 1980’s boy band (although we do still have a soft spot for them, don’t tell anyone). We’d like to introduce you to some of the new designers (and their awesome products!) that were partnering with in our Fall 2011 Collection.
First, let’s meet Liz Kinnmark of Design Glut, a hot design studio based in Brooklyn, New York. Liz designed the super-cute Egg Pants, for those times you want an egg cup that won’t embarrass the egg in front of company!
Mike He, of Taiwan, has created a pencil sharpener based on one of the most celebrated characters of fairy tale and folklore—Pinnochio! Your pencil is Pinnochio’s nose, and he becomes more and more honest the more you sharpen—a good reminder to tell the truth in all your writings.
Freelance designer Steph Mantis came to us with a set of jungle Animal Butt Magnets. Because, really, who doesn’t love animal butts? We are tickled by the idea of the front end of that hippo snacking on the carrots in our fridge.
He may not be a “new kid”, but our old friend, designer Chico Bicalho, has added the newest kid to our collection of windup collectibles. His name is Pea, and he’s a tenacious little walker that fits in the palm of your hand. He’ll climb over anything given enough room, and we’ve discovered that he can even walk on his head!
Welcome, kids! We’re glad to have you on board!
Check out our catalog and website for more fun new products, as well as old favorites!
May 13, 2011 - 5:30 pm
Kikkerland Design Inc., in collaboration with Ariel Rojo and the UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) organized the Mexico Design Challenge “Desarrollando Talento Mexicano” (Developing Mexican Talent). Five finalists have been chosen out of 25 participants. Their work will be presented at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) May 14 – 17, 2011, Kikkerland Design Booth #1836 .
The objective of the design challenge was to create products for a “real-life” sponsor with a Mexican cultural reference. The contest was open to all students attending the Centro de Investigaciones de Diseño Industrial, at the UNAM. The course and workshop was designed to engage aspects of design, engineering, manufacturing, marketing, sales and distribution that students will experience in their professional careers.
UNAM is the oldest university in North America, built in 1551. The industrial design department had a goal of attracting new design talent from Mexico. Kikkerland Design’s foundation as an international design collective was a natural fit for sponsoring the project. Always seeking fresh new ideas, the top student designers will be offered the chance to develop their projects with the company.
Ariel Rojo, Designer
Mexican Designer Ariel Rojo collaborated with the students on their work. He used a simple design technique as the basis for the project: A + B = D (Element A = cultural element or story; Element B = a known object such as a chair, a ring, a cup, etc., the combined results in a whole new object, represented by the element “D”).
The results are brilliant and creative. The five finalists are:
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Crocodile Cheese Grater, by Sarahi Delgado
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Jurassic Erasers, by Gilberto González
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Skull Corkscrew, by Stephanie Suárez
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Tree-Free Pencil Kit, by Andrea Román
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Luchador Bottle Opener, by Andrés Lhima
Kikkerland Design selected these designs based on design quality, originality, and production feasibility. There is a vote taking place for the top design at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) at the Kikkerland Design booth by ballot or at Kikkerland’s Facebook page. Please visit our page and vote for your favorite!
The top design will be announced Monday, May 16th on Kikkerland Design’s Twitter page.
May 2, 2011 - 11:05 am
Shown are early Kikkerland Design Trade Catalogs designed by Pieter Woudt. Woudt created the Kikkerland logo with a font originated by Dutch architect Hendrik Berlage.
April 26, 2011 - 5:02 pm
God save our gracious Queen
Long live our noble Queen
God save the Queen
Send her victorious
Happy and glorious
Long to reign over us
God save the Queen…
Royal Wedding fever is upon us! I believe my invitation got lost in the mail, so I won’t be hobnobbing with Prince Harry or Elton John any time soon (Elton will be heartbroken!). I will, however, set my alarm for 4:45 AM on the great day (April 29!), brew myself a pot of proper English tea, enjoy some scones with clotted cream and jam, and soak in all the news coverage!
I’ll also have this to keep me company (at 4:45 in the morning, I doubt anyone else will!):
Our fabulous Solar Queen! This is one of our most popular items. She’s got a solar panel on her purse, and when she’s exposed to a light source, she’ll bestow her royal wave upon you for hours on end! She comes in an assorted pack- dressed head-to-toe in British Blue or Royal Rose- and she’s sure to bring some queenly whimsy to your day.
God save the Queen!
April 25, 2011 - 6:40 pm
Jan van der Lande interviewed by Core77 at the Chicago Housewares Show
“Kikkerland is a company that designs, creates, and markets fun and functional products. In order to do that, we need good ideas. …even if it’s a bad idea, we always give it good consideration. …we know that designers are the ones that have the best ideas. Sometimes, we take an idea, and help the designer change it a little bit so that it’s marketable. It’s important for the designers that they should go out in the market a little bit more and go to trade shows like this, so that they can see what’s on the market, what’s hot, what’s working well. The people who do that usually score best in their designs.”
March 13, 2010 - 3:57 pm
Kikkerland is now producing the clock and selling it globally. We’re thrilled about our first collaboration with the designer, so we sat down to chat with Rob about the clock and what inspired him. Here’s part of our conversation:
Kikkerland: People seem charmed by the Grandfather Clock. What do you think about it resonates with people?
Rob Price: I think the biggest thing is that it’s a new version of a classic clock. Perhaps people are surprised to see something that immediately feels familiar yet different.
K: How did you come up with the Grandfather Clock?
RP: The idea came to me one day several years ago when I was thinking about the idea of slicing away excess in design. Soon after, I made one Grandfather Clock for a New York design exhibit and at that show, people started asking me if they could buy the clock. The positive feedback encouraged me to make more clocks.
K: Why did you choose to work with Kikkerland to start producing your clock?
RP: They have a very strong clock category and I appreciate Kikkerland’s approach to design overall. The company keeps the fun, wit and humor in all the products they sell and I think we’re on the same page there. I’m very happy about this partnership.
K: What kind of spaces does the Grandfather Clock work best in?
RP: The clock is quite versatile because it’s classic and modern at the same time. I’ve seen it enhance home and office spaces that vary from small to big and classic to modern.
K: What was the inspiration behind your 20-second video about the clock?
RP: It’s a visual fantasy that brings the slicing away idea to life.
K: What do you like most about the Grandfather Clock?
RP: The hands break free of the constraints of the clock, which is fun. Also, some of the numbers on the clock are “missing,” but the person looking at the clock can still easily read the time. It’s abstract yet accessible.
Rob Price, 31, is creative director of Thwart Design and an industrial designer. He founded Thwart Design in 2004 to harness the creative strength of New York-based designers whose work he respects. Thwart Design’s objective is to create design for art’s sake. Rob graduated from Pratt Institute’s industrial design program in 2002 and has since designed a wide range of products, including the Grandfather Clock and Pork Chop Piggy Bank.
May 29, 2009 - 4:03 pm
The ‘can’ booth as it affectionately came to be known by ICFF attendees and other exhibitors, designed by Jan Habraken. Built out of almost 3000 cans of Campbell’s Tomato, Cream of Mushroom, and Chicken Noodle Soup and donated to City Harvest after the show.
DesignNotes author Michael Surtees said, “…Pretty much the only stand out for me was from Kikkerland. I’ve seen can’s used to create stuff before but this was a nice evolution. Great use of an iconic brand, the booth had a lot of life and at the end of the show nothing will be wasted.” http://designnotes.info/?p=1782
People kept asking if we won the best booth award…we didn’t, I am curious who did…
Habraken and where all his designs come from. Also shown, Alissia Melka-Teichroew and Ilona Huvenaar’s Tree Trunk Stool, Pieter Woudt’s Pixel Puzzle. Billy Shelton of Chicago Architecture Foundation cameo.
Endangered Species erasers by Kikkerland Design. 2% of sales will be donated to helping endangered species through the Center of Biological Diversity.
Umbrellas for the Civil but Discontent Man by Materious (Bruce and Stephanie Tharp)
Mathew Bird, RISD prof and owner Curiosites in RI, designer Gaby Lewin, designer Chris Collicott, Top Design winner Nathan Thomas, lighting designer David Weeks, Kevin Brynan of MXYPLYZYK and Kikkerland’s Jan van der Land, designer Pieter Woudt, Materious’ umbrella designer Bruce Tharp, 1745 Flip Clock designer Michael Daniels and his wife, Kikkerland designer David Kucharsky, Kikkerland designer Jay Lee, and interested customer.
The Chicken Noodle low-table by Jan Habraken…and Habraken’s little yellow Duck Sponges.
Skidum – the new wind-up by Chico (Brazil), Tree Trunk Stool(Holland) and fan, floor mats by Group inc.(NYC/Berlin), Gun bag by Miriam van der Lubbe(Holland)
Jan Habraken from Holland being shot by David Kucharsky
the dismantle.
May 28, 2009 - 4:00 pm
posted by graphic designer ellen zhou of BURO-GDS on blog.buro-gds.com.
“Kikkerland Villa Savoye by Le Corbusier. Imagine a whole series of these architectural toys mixing buildings with “creatures” by Chico Bicalho!”
We do Ellen, we do!
Download postcard here:
http://buro-gds.com/halfbaked-pdf/090502-kikkersavoye.pdf
May 21, 2009 - 4:02 pm
Jan van der Lande in the land of small design.
I was often asked by ICFF attendees what it was we did to be a part of the International Contemporary Furniture Fair. Consider this. If you were to go home, sit on your favorite chair, and look around the room, what would you notice? All the small stuff. That’s what we do. We design the small things.
We have a calendar that will literally never be out of date. We have wind-up toys that are as fun for adults as for kids. We have a cuckoo clock that doesn’t cuckoo, a crow bar for opening bottles, a globe without a single country’s name on it. These are the kind of things we make.
It’s our hope that a Kikkerland product will someday end up in your home and that you’ll look at it, and use it, and come to think of it as a favorite thing…along with that chair you love.
(written with David Kucharsky, photo by Laura Kellner)
May 13, 2009 - 2:08 pm
May 17-20, 2009 in New York City at the Stationery Show held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center, Kikkerland Design will introduce a new line of notebooks, planners and accessories called LEUCHTTURM1917, manufactured by the German stationery company Leuchtturm. Producing high quality stationery for over 90 years this family owned business has become the world’s leading manufacturer of coin and stamp albums. This, their first line of notebooks and planners, are a blend of unique and practical features including newly designed archival bleed-proof paper, numbered pages and an index for organizing notes.
There are shops in the US that have picked up the introductory styles including the awesome MASTER SIZE book that measures 9 x 12” – big enough to store large sheets of paper with out damaging the edges (I personally recommend the grid-version) – with new styles arriving in late July.
Here are a few stores offering LEUCHTTURM1917 now: MXYPLYZYK and McNally Robinson Bookstore in New York City; Powell’s Books in Portland; Arch, Heartfelt and Flax in San Francisco; HR Meininger in Denver; Boulder Books in Boulder; and the National Building Museum in Washington DC.
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