George Nelson Clocks | Time & Time Again

George Nelson created some of the most unique and recognizable clocks today. Usually reflecting graphical forms taken from organic inspirations, these clocks echo through history as true design classics.

Born in Hartford, Connecticut in 1908, Nelson studied Architecture at Yale University, where he graduated in 1928 and also received a bachelor degree in fine arts in 1931. George Nelson was part of a generation of architects that found too few projects and turned successfully toward product, graphic and interior design.

George Nelson Associates created the first clocks for Howard Miller(son of Herman) in 1947. Howard Miller discontinued the line in the 1980’s, Vitra snatched up the rights and put the clocks back into production in the 90’s. The original clock designs were simply given numbers by Howard Miller. Clock 2238 which we know as the Eye Clock was marketed in Howard Miller brochures in diagonal position, not horizontal.

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Millennium Water | B&B Italia & 100 Mile Suites

The Millennium Water development on False Creek is quickly becoming a popular destination for interior design enthusiasts as well as those seeking new and modern residence near downtown Vancouver. The vast property is made up of several low-rise condominiums encircling an expansive courtyard and the refurbished Vancouver Salt Co. building.

Inform strives to accommodate and enrich anyone’s space with design expertise. Design, art; taste in general is subjective and can vary immensely from person to person and so Nancy and her team set out to show two very different lifestyle choices and what furniture, lighting and accessories might accompany these two equally original and unique flavors.

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MOA Chair | Inspired Seating

The Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver recently commissioned Stantec Architecture to oversee the development and execution of a major addition and renovation to Erickson’s beautiful structure at UBC. Stantec’s lead architect on this project, Noel Best, was asked to design a ‘signature’ chair to be used throughout the museum.

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Designer Focus | Charles & Ray Eames

Charles Eames was born in 1907 in St. Louis, Missouri and by the time he was 14 years old was working part time at the Laclede Steel Company where he learned about engineering, drawing and architecture and first entertained the idea of one day becoming an architect.

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Elma Bay Residence

Planned as a grand sweeping crescent opening to the spectacular vistas over the pebble beach, north across Georgia Strait to the Coast Mountains, the internal spaces flow along the ocean shore and open to the views. The concave courtyard embraces the sheltered warmth of the southern exposure.

The planning for this complex of house, studio and garage mediates between the warmth of the embraced by a courtyard formed by the concave form of house and studio building and the spectacular views up and down the coast of Vancouver Island and the ocean and mountains of the northern coast with a sweeping convex form. The exposed beams curve through space highlighting the circulation gallery and peaking your sense of curiosity as to what lies beyond. The arcs continue outside as a formalized and unifying landscape element between the buildings, gardens and the forest beyond.
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TOBIAS WONG 1974-2010

D. Tobias Wong, the Vancouver born, New York-based artist and designer, passed away in the early morning of Sunday, May 30, 2010. He was 35. Through his work, Wong helped bring forth much of what is now taken for granted in contemporary culture. Influenced by Dada and, especially, Fluxus, he questioned authorship through appropriation; held a mirror to our desires and absurdities; upended the hierarchy between design and art, and the precious and the banal; and helped redefine collaboration and curation as creative practices. Working within what he termed a “paraconceptual” framework, Wong prompted a reevaluation of everything we thought we knew about design: its production, its psychological resonance, its aesthetic criteria, its means of distribution, its attachment to provenance, its contextualization and its manner of presentation. Wong was a keen observer, an original mind, a brilliant prankster, and an unerring friend.

Wong’s work was widely exhibited, including at the Museum of Modern Art, Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum and Inform Interiors. His many projects included those for Inform Interiors, Bensen, Colette, Comme des Garcons, Prada/OMA, Cappellini and Swarovski Crystal Palace.

In addition to the objects he created, re-created, repurposed, rarefied and otherwise manipulated, Wong’s work included events and happenings that included, among many others, a pop-up tattoo parlor at Art Basel Miami Beach/Design Miami and the Wrong Store, a “store” in New York that was in fact never open. (As with much of Wong’s work, both were collaborations.) Wong was named Young Designer of the Year by Wallpaper* magazine (2004) as well as the Brooklyn Museum of Art (2006). In 2008 and 2009, he served as founding co-creative director of 100% Design Shanghai, affiliated with the 100% Design fairs in London and Tokyo.

Born and raised in Vancouver, Wong studied in Toronto before moving to New York in 1997 to attend the Cooper Union, from which he graduated with a major in sculpture. He is survived by his mother, stepfather, brother, partner and BFF.

View Tobias Wong on designboom.com