Most Engaging Design – UM Project
BKLYN Designs veteran UM Project stole the show this year with a playful set of multifunctional designs that are perfect for kids and adults alike. The U.M.O (Unidentified Magical Object) is a cute piece of multi-tasking furniture that cleverly transforms from a coffee table to a chair, desk, or bench simply by rotating it on its side. Storage spaces provide additional functionality, and the piece is constructed almost entirely from cork, which is a sustainably harvested material. UM also unveiled an ingenious table that is coated with white-board paint, enabling young creative minds and seasoned designers alike to doodle to their hearts’ content.
Best Kids Design / Newcomer – April Hannah
Brooklyn-based artist April Hannah made her debut at BKLYN Designs with a blast by unveiling a beautiful set of modern kids furniture that is crafted entirely from sustainable materials. Designed for children from the ages of 5-10, her tree-inspired tables and stools are made from FSC-certified wood and feature eco-friendly finishes.
Best Student Design – Schair by Charlotte Kreitmann
Pratt student Charlotte Kreitmann took home our Best Student Design prize with with her transforming chair that splits apart to seat two. Dubbed the “Schair”, the piece was conceived while Charlotte was studying in Germany and found herself sharing an uncomfortable chair in a packed lecture hall. Her elegant solution is constructed from reclaimed cedar and simple steel tubing and is capable of splitting apart to serve as a love seat or bench.
Most Innovative Use of Materials – Framicariums by Hugh Hayden and Kati Vitale
Hugh Hayden and Kati Vitale’s Framicariums transform the ant farms many of us remember from childhood into stunning pieces of wall-worthy living art. Each enclosed ant habitat is hung in a recycled frame that showcases the shifting landscapes they create as they tunnel through sand.
Best in Show – Coney Island Line by Uhuru
Each year Uhuru wows us with green furnishings that are carefully conceived and brilliantly executed, and this year they stole the show with their Coney Island Line. Constructed from planks pulled from the recently demolished Coney Island boardwalk, each piece of furniture celebrates the amusement park’s history by paying tribute to a different ride — from the Cyclone Lounger to the spinning Wonder Coffee Table to the Parachute Jump-inspired Drop End Table.
Best Lighting – Deer Head Light by Lamacek
Lamacek took home our Best Lighting prize this year with their clever lamp that re-imagines the decidedly un-eco deer head trophy. Their wall-mounted Deer Head Light adds a subtle ambience to any room while serving as a beautiful piece of eco art.
I was at BKLYN design on Sunday- we go every year and enjoy it immensely. Not this year, however.
The exhibit is being touted as being child friendly, but I didnt see evidence iof that- on the contrary! My 5 month old was very hungry and I went to a corner where there was no booth, and out of the way of others to feed her. I sat down on a random chair that was placed in the corner (it was not part of an exhibit), when a security guard came up and insisted I get up, she \\\”needed the chair\\\”. Have you tried to stop feeding a hungry baby? I stood up and continued to feed the baby from a standing position. The security guard stood over the chair like it was the most precious piece of furniture and 5 minutes later, carried it into the press room. I could have sat on it for the 5 minutes it took to feed the baby. I did try to complain to the the guy in charge of security before I left, but didnt really get an apology. Happy Mother\\\’s day BKLYN Design! Child friendly indeed~!
They really should know better in a neighborhood filled with kids, and with the demographic they are trying to reach….