Magnet Mobiles @ Toonkamer, Utrecht

A full set of our Magnet Mobiles by Ivan Black are now on show at Toonkamer, Utrecht.

It's only 5 minutes from where I live, so I'll be popping in there tomorrow to watch the other visitors enjoy Ivan's wonderful work.

TOONKAMER

Yesterday we had a very good meeting with the lovely Danielle who is the manager of Toonkamer in Utrecht. Toonkamer is a centre for interior design and from next week they will be exhibiting a full range of Magnet Mobiles by Ivan Black for Laikingland.

We also managed to sneak an Applause Machine in that will sit on their reception and applaud every purchase made.

The Wonderful Frozen Fountain

Just had a very enjoyable meeting with Cok de Rooy at his wonderful design store, The Frozen Fountain in Amsterdam. It was great to meet him and Arne and hear first hand about peoples reactions to the Applause Machines and talk about future projects.

Paul Smith's Window

We have had a great response to the launch of our latest kinetic object in the window of the Paul Smith store in Covent Garden. Fingers by Nik Ramage has been tapping away impatiently for the last couple of weeks and will soon be seen tapping away in the Copenhagen Paul Smith Store.

We are only releasing a very special edition of 10 "Fingers" pieces in 2009. They are special as Nik Ramage is making them himself as "artists proofs" and they are available from Laikingland.

Luxury-Insider Article

A very nice article about Laikingland and our Kinetic Objects in Luxury Insider Magazine.

Welcome to Laikingland, Guust

Just finished my first meeting with Guust Smits. He's doing some product development work for Laikingland and his main project will be to develop our first kinetic object in ceramic.

We'll show the results of his work in Milan next April.

Welcome to Laikingland, Guust!

Fingers on the school playground (Utrecht / NL)

So, this was a bit weird but fun,,,.

I was stood on Simeons school playground at 3 pm waiting for him to come out of school and have some Daddy time. Thursday afternoon is a good time.

Anyway another waiting Daddy walks up to me and says... "Hey, do you do those Fingers?"

"Er yes" I replied a bit overawed and not quick enough to lie my way out of it.

"Have look at this" he says and whips his mobile out of his pocket, lights it up and what comes on the screen,,,?

A picture of Fingers by Nik Ramage imprisoned all by themselves in a full display window of Paul Smith in Covent Garden.

Seemingly Elsa (my better half) had talked with him a few months ago, he'd seen our webpage, and was yesterday in London, wandering along in Covent Garden and there he saw them.

Imprisoned all alone and patiently tapping away, presumably waiting to get released......

Apparently there are 5 windows at Paul Smith and Fingers is in solitary,,, obviously for terrible behaviour. No doubt its because he was driving the other display objects crazy with that irritating / none stop finger tapping.

I vote for a lengthening of the Fingers prison sentence at Paul Smith, if images can make there way to my kids playground then who knows where else they'll be.

Funny old game eh.,, Simeon then went for his first swimming lesson, which was also tops.

Fingers by Nik Ramage @ Paul Smith

We are absolutely delighted that Laikingland's latest kinetic object, Fingers by Nik Ramage is now on show at the Paul Smith store, 40-44 Floral Street, Covent Garden, London.

The mechanical reconstruction of the Artist's own hand, will be eternally tapping from 10th- 24th November.

Fingers Development

Our good friend Nik Ramage has been visiting Laikingland this week to agree the final design of his Fingers.

After a very enjoyable few days the Fingers are now in production and will be available in November from Laikingland's website.

Above you can see Fingers from the original to prototype 1 and then prototype 2.

Applause Machines @ Moss, New York.

The Applause Machines can soon be seen at Moss in New York.

Nick and I both think Moss is one of the best design stores in the world, although it's much more than that.

Here is what the Icon magazine team say about Moss and it's owner Murray Moss.

New York’s Moss store in Soho is probably the most important design shop in the world. Part emporium, part gallery and part museum, it contains a constantly shifting selection of cutting-edge design classics and antiques.

It’s owner, Murray Moss, is a gifted and intuitive retailer who refreshingly doesn’t give a damn about fads or trends but has an unerring eye for the beautiful and a canny head for deal-making. Moss is a trustee of the Cooper-Hewitt, the National Design Museum and the Smithsonian Institution and has the ear of just about every key figure in the world of design.

He is the bridge between the vibrant European scene and the staid but huge American market, and often gives overseas designers (most recently Maarten Baas and Tord Boontje) their first big break.

Moss’ store is extremely highbrow yet can still laugh at itself. Despite the reverential atmosphere, the shop sells “do not touch” T-shirts, acknowledging the paradox of forbidding contact with furniture.

Applause Machines @ The Frozen Fountain

These images of the Applause Machines on display at the Frozen Fountain were sent to me by an ex student of mine, Philip Procter. He is studying Contemporary Furniture Design at Bucks New University . It was on his course trip to Amsterdam that he and his fellow students spotted and enjoyed the Applause Machines.

Phil is making some very interesting work that you can see here.

Laikingland @ The House of the Future

We are delighted that two of our beautifully crafted kinetic objects will be on show in the House of the Future at Grand Designs Live Birmingham. (9 - 11 oct)

Apparently, the Liquorice Loops Magnet Mobile and Graphite Black Applause Machine will be performing 14 times per day as actors tour the House of the Future presenting all the specially selected products in a 20 minute performance.

Those Handsome Chaps from Laikingland

Ivan Black, Nick Regan and Nik Ramage.

100% Design, London.

Nick explains the finer points of the Magnet Mobile.

Laikingland on the BBC, Sky, CNN ........