Top 10 Products by Young Designers at IMM Cologne 2014.

The first major show of the year on the busy annual design circuit, IMM Cologne 2014, is already behind us. The fair presented a whole range of products and trends that will help shape the furniture and interiors for the coming year. The German Design Council organized the 11th edition of the annual D3 Contest at IMM, which showcased the works of design students & up-and-coming talent. Unsurprisingly, this show was of particular interest to us.

The D3 Contest has become a well known international competitions for young designers. Since 2004, the number of entries and participants has been continuously increasing – 333 products from 422 designers from all around the world have shown here in the last decade. A large number of these products have been taken into production by well-known manufacturers.

So without further ado, below is our pick of Top 10 Products by Young Designers presented at IMM Cologne 2014. Enjoy!

Kawar Bench by Tusyoshi Hayashi // Eindhoven designer Tsuyoshi Hayashi used discarded roof tiles to create curving seats for a series of stools and benches – no nails or glue are required for assembly. The Kawara project was exhibited as part of the [D3] Design Talents exhibition at Imm Cologne 2014.

The Nomadic Light by Katharina Eisenköck // Austrian designer Katharina Eisenköck designed a multifunctional lamp encased in concrete, with a stiffened saddle-leather strap for the utmost portability.  The light is inspired by nomadic life and the revival of this flexible lifestyle. Eisenköck addresses the modern need for being on the move, by designing a cordless lamps that can be recharged by being placed on a specially designed shelf. The project was presented as part of the [D3] Design Talents exhibition.

Stacked Objects by Emiel Remmelts // Turning an abstract 2D collage into a 3D object, Dutch graphic and product designer Emiel Remmelts, created ‘stacked objects’, shown at the [D3] Design Talents exhibition. The stacked objects on the shelves are used to form a dynamic composition which defines the overall aesthetic of the furniture.

Thanks For The Sun Lamps by Arnout Meijer // This series of LED lamps is created in response to the need for light that fulfils different roles –  bright white light for working and aiding concentration, and a warmer, more soothing hue to help people relax before bed. Meijer presented the project as part of the [D3] Design Talents.

Drawing Series by Jin Il Park // This very sketchy collection of wire furniture by Korean designer Jin Il Park was created to look as if it’s literally jumped off the page. But never fear – the selection is perfectly functional.

Parasite Production by Samuel Treindl // In this collection, German designer Samuel Treindl makes clocks and desk lamps from material cut from IKEA cabinets. Treindl works in an economic way by superimposing different objects on a single metal sheet, so the same material can be used multiple times. Although we’ve seen Treindl’s work at Salone Satellite in Milan last year, we still consider him a worthy candidate for our Top 10.

Cabinet Luftig by 3 Swedes // A cabinet for temporary hanging of clothes by 3 Swedes, in collaboration with Olle K Engberg and Ludwig Berg, with a dignified and airy space for worn garments to be refreshed and displayed in. The thin ribs twist along their vertical path, and make the surface flow as if it was made of fabric.  This work was exhibited as part of the [D3] Design Talents.

LENA Lamp by Alexandre Reignier for Pulpo // LENA lamp is a small cordless torch light, equipped with a rechargeable battery. Alexandre Reignier has taken inspiration from the old miner’s lamp. The sweet, whimsical lamp is composed of a polyamide body made in laser sintering, lacquer and natural leather-covered strapping that forms the carry handle.

Isla Carpet by Studio Joa Herrenknecht // Joa Herrenknecht presented a carpet based on clear geometric shapes: triangles, squares and lines playfully combined with gentle, warm colours. The result is an island form, hand made in Portugal from soft wool. The carpet design is based on a discreet grid which the designer has skilfully assembled in the style of a collage.

Klienergleich5 Wooden Table by Ruben Beckers // Ruben Beckers‘s kleinergleich5 (“less than five” ) table weights just 4.5-kilograms. This product won the [D3] contest at Imm Cologne 2014. The project features an intricate grid-like design beneath the surface, using layers and strips of wood for it’s construction. “It is safe to assume that at just 4.5 kilograms, it is probably the lightest wooden table in the world.”

[Images courtesy of designers.]