attic 2 blog

Adain Avion - a Cultural Olympiad 2012 project

2011-05-26T14:57:00.004+01:00

Following a collaboration on the design of Chapter Arts interior between Angela Gidden and Marc Rees under their Gidden+Rees i.d the creative partnership, the creative duo are embarking on an exciting project bringing together two Welsh brands - Nomad & Nest and Adain Avion.

The latter is the brainchild of Marc Rees who was selected to represent Wales in the Cultural Olympiad 2012. His Adain Avion project is a site specific touring community based performance that takes place inside the fuselage of a DC-9 which is being brought over from Spain. The AA brand has been created by one of our design associates Dylan Griffith of Smorgasbord (Amsterdam & Cardiff Agency). The project also includes the design of the travel accessories and in-flight merchandise including flight bags - retro style of course. This is where Angela comes in....... along with Nomad & Nest as the design, manufacturing and retail 'wing'.... excuse the pun!

Design Guild Mark Award 2011 - Angela Gidden & Cwtch

2011-05-25T16:07:00.007+01:00

Angela Gidden has just been awarded the prestigious Design Guild Mark for Excellence in British Furniture Design 2011. Orangebox submitted the Cwtch which was presented to the judges as a full collection at the M&S Conference Centre last month.

The Design Guild Marks introduced by the Furniture Makers Company recognises and rewards excellence in the British design of furniture in volume production.

Press Release quotes -

Although there was a very extensive list of submissions the eminent judges only selected eleven products to receive a Design Guild Mark.
As explained by Jonathan Hindle, Chairman of the Design Guild Mark Judges: "The Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers introduced the Design Guild Mark to reward the work of the finest furniture designers working in volume production in Britain and the best of British furniture designers working abroad. The Mark is awarded for excellence in design, use of materials, manufacture and function".

Lee Cheong, BDP, Design Guild Mark Award judge commented:
"I thought it was really heartening to see the increased number of entrants this year and so many quality pieces, what was also interesting was that the judges were fairly unanimous on the passes and rejections."

The Design Guild Marks is one of the only award systems where all products meeting the criteria are called into a warehouse to enable the judges to assess them. By the ward of this Guild Mark for designs which met the Company's criteria, the designers received due recognition and the industry will be made more aware of the importance of investment in design.

-end-

Anna Gravelle - a textile & furniture collaboration

2011-03-24T14:20:00.002Z

I was asked many years ago this question - "When you design a piece of furniture is the form influenced by the fabric or does the form influence the selection of fabric?"
Many years on and the answer is either or. At the moment I'm inspired by the fantastic 'tufting work by contemporary textile designer Anna Gravelle. We are exploring the potential to collaborate where i'm in no doubt the fabric will definitely be influencing the form, style and detail of the furniture. One thing we have agreed on - we will introduce a sense and celebration of past design decades in the overall furniture design. Some exciting developments being explored already with some technical boundaries to be pushed!

Cwtch For Orangebox is launched

2011-02-08T17:58:00.005Z

An eight month design project and commission and the 'Cwtch soft seating system' is launched.

"Cwtch offers a fresh addition to Orangebox's soft seating landscape.
My design ethos was to complement the Orangebox portfolio with a product that timelessness and sophisticated form. The aim was to design a system that was elegant, yet simple, allowing specifiers to create diverse configurations within the space they require. An additional design dimension featured in the Cwtch design is a tailored, contemporary twist introducing a unique stitch and seam detail called the Reveal Seam - an up to the minute take on the past traditional contrast piping".

Tokujin Yoshioska - a master!

2011-01-09T12:21:00.002Z

A master of designing with materials and technology that perform and play with light.
Yoshioka has recently designed a mobile phone concept for KDDI iida, that presents a totally fresh approach to the technology within - exposed and not hidden.

This is what Yoshioka says about the design - XRAY:
"Apart from arranging visual appearance, I have pondered a design without a shape. This collaboration project started with an enthusiasm of designing a new mobile phone that infuses a fresh, striking idea into today’s diversified mobile designs. I came to reach an idea of “designing from inside.”
via Dezeen

The deadline - 08.02.11

2010-12-23T14:35:00.006Z

Orangebox have confirmed the launch date for my new modular soft-seating design - Cwtch. Weeks to go, not months...... so many units to build, so little time, so much passion, so much talent in the team!

All will be "Revealed" - 08.02.11
Orangebox Showroom, Clerkenwell, London

World's First Cornstarch Earphones

2010-12-23T11:45:00.007Z

I love moments like this - when I see something so well designed, so simple that I wished I'd designed it myself........ it's a great source of inspiration!

Credit to Hong Kong based designer, Michael Young for his design - EOps NOISEZERO i+, the world's first cornstarch bio-plastic earphones where the bio plastic enhances even the mid tones in the acoustic chamber.

via Dezeen

CARDIFF DESIGN FESTIVAL 2010

2010-09-01T19:11:00.002+01:00

The Cardiff Design Festival 2010 programme is expanding by the day - check out the event and awards submissions updated on the website. New fresh website and great homepage illustration by Cardiff graphic designer and illustrator Matt Joyce. The Design Festival runs from 1.10.10 to 15.10.10 with the awards and closing party on the last day. If you have an event or want to be involved in an event contact the Cardiff Design Festival team - details on the website.

A SPECIAL CATALOGUE

2010-08-31T17:00:00.002+01:00

Life is full of coincidences - we are producing some furniture for a private client who happens to collect Brynmawr furniture, so guess what I have in my sticky paws!?......

A NEW DAY A NEW DESIGN BRIEF

2010-06-07T18:36:00.004+01:00

It was agreed that it would be a synergistic fit so it's great to be working with Orangebox as a design consultant with a very specific furniture system brief. My aim is to introduce a fresh aesthetic and develop a concept and family of products as a flexible functional and efficient solution opening up options and potential for Orangebox and their clients. First, I will do what I normally do and get the Orangebox brand under my skin!

A PAST EXPERIMENT

2010-05-07T15:18:00.009+01:00

Today I'm delving deeper into past social and economic experiment - the Brynmawr Furniture Makers Ltd of the 1920's and 30's...... a project that continues to inspire, intrigue and surprise me. It's also a sad stark reminder that once upon a time and not too long ago when I joined the Furniture industry in 1986 that not only did Wales have the biggest furniture manufacturer in the UK (Christie Tyler - & where I started) but it also this industry was one of the biggest employers in South Wales. Design can and must play a key role in the regeneration of this industry, its skill-base, it's out-put, its economic value and a sustainable manufacturing future for Wales...... I might well turn this into a 'provocation' when I give a talk at the ECONetwork event next week!

BACK IN THE SEED FACTORY

2010-04-28T10:50:00.006+01:00

Julian & I are back in "the seed factory" factory today...... sifting, germinating and cultivating one big yield of crazy, creative, commercial ideas and ingredients from Monday's workshop with the Welsh Assembly, college and Uni Enterprise Champions and Educators..... So many seeds!

THE SEED FACTORY #1

2010-04-21T17:43:00.007+01:00

If the workshop participants think we're giving them breakfast then they are mistaken!
The flyer for the new creative-thinking workshop we have been designing and creating for The Welsh Assembly Government has has just been emailed to all the Enterprise Champions, Educators Lecturers in colleges and Uni's pan Wales. The workshop model called The Seed Factory will take place at Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff on the 26th April. Great response so far and they're still signing up!

Ta/Diolch for the flyer Julian!

FUTURE OF FURNITURE DESIGN?

2010-04-14T13:46:00.006+01:00

Alice Rawthorn has written an article called Furniture Designers Are Shifting Focus for the New York Times focusing on the shift in design-thinking and approach to furniture design in the recession. She poses a simple question - "LONDON — There is one question that everyone should sensibly ask before designing or making something to show at the Milan Furniture Fair. Does the world need another chair?" It's a very interesting article and DO we need another chair? My answer is 'Yes' as long the solution is sustainable, functional/practical, commercially viable, innovative, unique and above all, is needed!
If we can tick all these boxes then let's play with the materials, the aesthetics, the emotional message, the products personality and engineer a distinctive new chair that makes a real positive difference!

This is Yokujin Yoshioka's (one designer I love to watch) design for Moroso called the "Memory Chair" made from aluminium which responds to emotional, sustainable, innovative and distinctive issues in design..... but....!

via New York Times

Nomad Wheelchair...in motion

2010-03-22T14:03:00.005Z

Here's Nomad's recent video of their MK1 wheelchair which highlights some of the great design detail, design-thinking and of the 'design in motion'. Great to see the 'Wear' soft-seat jacket blending with Marks suit jacket! Also in the video.... a few words from yours truly.

ECONetwork "Ideas Lounge" #4

2010-03-12T16:38:00.004Z

Unfortunately I couldn't make it to "Ideas Lounge" #3 but great to be back in the thick of the ECONetwork community again at "Ideas Lounge" #4 which set a theme for the afternoon titled 'Materials, design & sustainability. Speakers were Dr Mike Pitts of Chemistry Innovation who gave a very interesting talk on the connection between chemistry, materials and design application. Furniture and sustainable designer Jakki Dehn who is also Lecturer at Kingston Uni gave a presentation on the sustainable materials library she founded and set up. Our task in groups was to respond to a specific brief with around 20 minutes to come up with a solution. Our group were the Cradle to Cradle group which would inform our approach and solution. We chose to focus on a solution for temporary shelters for Haiti as one of the options. Ok it created a 'little' competition on the day..... & we still reckon we came up with the most effective well thought and presented solution!! Actually, so did Ecodesign Wales!

Team 'Cradle to Cradle'

Frank (Ecodesign Centre Wales) & Luke (Orangebox) pitch our Cradle to cradle solution

Jakki Dehn & Ideas Lounge #4 participants

Dr Mike Pitts - Chemistry Innovation

Chapter - front page of AJ

2010-03-11T17:04:00.007Z

Out today this months copy of Architects Journal presents Cardiff's Chapter Arts Centre on the front cover with a great photo of the handsome 1970's interior treatment in the 'Cwtch' bar which was lovingly designed and created by Angela Gidden & Marc Rees under the Gidden+Rees collaboration.
AJ have featured the project and work by Ash Sakula architects. I [Angela] met with Robert Sakula and AJ's journalist Rory Olcayto to chat about the new Chapter space in all its dimensions and the relaxed collaborative style of working with Robert & Canny of Ash Sakula. Of course AJ predominantly talks about AshSaks' architectural approach to the redevelopment of Chapter but it's good to see that Rory has also highlighted Chapter's culture, it's purpose, it's roots and it's importance as an key arts and community destination. He's also 'ready to go back'!

A Design Chemistry dialogue

2010-03-10T18:20:00.005Z

Just back from the Eco Design Networks session run by Ecodesign Centre Wales with Speakers Dr Mike Pitts on Chemistry, Design & sustainability and Jakki Dehn on Design, Materials & sustainability.

So why don't more designers and more chemists talk to each other? When designers need to become more and more responsible for the material choices we make, understanding the chemistry behind those materials should also become more and more important. When approximately a third of the earths elements in the Periodic table are at risk of literally 'running out', exploring the options or their replacements and considering the alternatives in the design, development and manufacturing processes is crucial.

So Chemist's .... let's talk

Ignite Cardiff #4

2010-03-04T15:47:00.008Z

Ok so I volunteered some months ago to talk at tonight's Ignite Cardiff #4 in the Wales Millenium Centre. Cardiff was the first U.K city to sign up thanks to Claire Scantlebury & Neil Cocker and tonight Cardiff will be one of a number of cities taking part today in the Global Ignite Week.

A great line-up of speakers..... pretty random but about as random as my talk - 'A Creative Industry Without Cats'! 20 slides, 15 secs per slide, 5 mins total.... it may well all be a jumble of words and facts! Hope to see you there.

ACID - protecting our ideas

2009-11-30T17:05:00.006Z

It's great to see ACID reporting on our client, Nomad and their recent success in the DME Awards 09. We get a little mention too - thanks Nomad, thanks ACID..... no one will get away with copying the MK1 - it's a one unique innovative design!

We've been long standing members of ACID (Anti-copying In Design) for many years because we believe in originality of ideas and we hate plagiarism with vengeance!

Designers Kiosk Invite

2009-11-27T17:33:00.004Z

WonderCulture Designers Kiosk (Designers Market little bro) is happening next Thurs 3rd Dec and Thurs 10th. 12pm til 10pm. Designers, Christmas gifts & a fun creative-thinking activity. Nomad & Nest will be there with a stall.

Design Up Your Street Issue #2

2009-11-11T13:23:00.006Z

We're up for another 48 Hour Challenge... Are you?

Design Up Your Street & the 48 hour Challenge is back by popular demand!
We're now scouting for anyone with an interest, experience, knowledge in design to contribute to the next issue #2. If you want to join this new dynamic design community and would like to be a contributor, a design writer, have something thought-provoking to say about design, a photographer or good with a camera then contact attic 2 by 19 Nov. In your own words you could inform and inspire the wider community from the general public to education, from private to public sectors. We're looking for design stories & pics, design news, design-led events, companies or organisations interested in funding a page to promote your own design stories in an issue and essentially anyone up for the 48 Hour Challenge. We also want you, the consumers and users of design to take part in our A Question Of Design feature.

Issue #2
We're still Talking Design in Wales, Design beyond Wales, Design in your Community, Design Up Your Street. We're sticking with the same inclusive 'design is for everyone', the community-spirit, the same fast, fun and focused approach. We're keeping features such as A Question of Design, Think Ark, Design Thinking and Design events calendar so we need to know what design stuff is happening and when.

New Stuff
Issue Theme - It'll be top secret until 7 days before the challenge! To keep it fresh, intriguing and in the spirit of the challenge this issue and future issues will be given a slightly ambiguous theme to provoke spontaneity and lively responses in design articles and features we publish. And to add to the challenge we will let you writers and contributors know what the theme 7 days before the publication production challenge starts.

Design Up OUR Street - yes, we need your street! We will be looking for interesting design stories up your street anywhere in the world from Llandeilo to Leeds, Mumbles to Melbourne, Bangor to Berlin. We may want to feature 6 neighbours with their favourite design objects or we may want to feature urban design up your street or cool design destinations or design events that may be happening up your street. We'd like this to be a regular feature so if there's design up your street then let us know. Help put your street on the design map.

Design Contributors
This is our Tribe of design writers and reporters who'll be writing about all sorts of design stuff. The exciting but scary thing about each Tribe of contributors selected for each issue is we won't have a clue what features or design topics they'll be sending us until just before our Edititorial deadline and that'll be up to the wire on the start of the 48 Hour Challenge. And how contributors interpret the Issue Theme is anyone's guess - it'll be their spin on design!

Community Partners & Issue Partners
There's no escaping. Design Up Your Street costs money to produce. But as much as we'd love to be in a position to fund it all ourselves, we're not. One thing we wanted to do from the start was produce an accessible free design publication for anyone to pick up, read and keep. We still believe this is the absolute right approach and this is where our partners come in to help the costs. We've 2 created Partner packages - Community Partner & Issue Partner. If you, your business or organisation would like a design voice and it's your voice the Design Up Your Street could be right up your street.

More
Design Up Your Street is evolving - that's the nature of the beast so keep an eye out for updates and more NEw Stuff we're planning on introducing into Issue #2.
For more info on Design Up Your Street, issue #2, being a contributor or a partner please call Lynsey or Ange on +44 (0) 29 2049 0498 or email info@attic2.co.uk

Nomad wins DME Award

2009-11-10T14:17:00.007Z

Congratulations to our client Nomad Wheelchairs for winning the Design Management Europe (DME) Award in Eindhoven recently. The guys at Nomad really pushed some design boundaries and it's great to see that their first-hand experience and commitment to employing design as an integral part of their business has been internationally recognised and rewarded. For a newly established business and brand with no experience of working with design the guys did a commendable job pulling 3 design studio's together to work on the MK1 wheelchair concept with attic 2 responsible for the design and development of the soft-seat system 'Wear', SDA studio for the design of the frame and chassis and Elfen for the marketing literature. We're proud to be a part of the team and a part of the Nomad community.

A wheelchair first

2009-11-04T14:41:00.012Z

Project – Wheelchair ‘Wear’ Soft-seat system
Client – Nomad Wheelchairs
Designers – Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson 2008/09

We were commissioned to design and develop an innovative seat system for a unique wheelchair concept, the MK1, being launched by newly established company Nomad Wheelchairs. The guys at Nomad are committed to promoting positive change within the wheelchair industry and global market. This was an opportunity to push many design boundaries, including our own so we took up the design challenge and the immense complexities intrinsic to the bespoke nature of the MK1 wheelchair.

Pushing Boundaries
The question – Why hasn’t anyone designed a seating system that fits the fashion conscious and technologically savvy wheelchair users that gives them the freedom to chose?

From the outset we dismissed the industry’s crude and standard approach to style, actually the complete the lack of it! So daring and determined to break the mould we introduced our own style language. We explored the world of technical fashion and created a wheelchair ‘Wear’ concept inspired by technical fashion outer-wear introducing influences from the jacket to the shirt tails, from one to wear to one in the wash, from one to wear to a business meeting to one to wear to a gig, from off-the-shelf to bespoke and customised, from the twin-needle stitch detail to the label, from simple to sophisticated, from tailored to casual, from wardrobe to wheelchair.

The Greenhouse
From the start we involved Nomad in our Greenhouse design process taking them from the Seed Factory workshop through to Yield. The project required intensive research and a fresh intellectual design approach. Our research not only covered the international wheelchair sector and users but also fashion and out-door technical clothing markets, stitching hi-tech environmental materials and potential manufacturers.

We developed the concept brief which established the need to create a stylish and more visually appealing, highly user-friendly, well-engineered, comfortable, practical and inter-changeable seat-system solution that presented a unique alternative for Nomad’s target customers primarily defined as 20-30 something's with potential to appeal to other demographic lifestyles within the U.K and global wheelchair user market. We understood the requirement to make the seating-system not just fit for purpose and fit for a free-spirited way of life. As well as being highly functional we ensured that the design concept considered a production and cost efficient seat-system solution that must not only enhance the aesthetics and quality of the MK1 wheelchair but importantly fit those fashion conscious and technologically savvy consumers determined not let their disabilities hold them back. Material sourcing and selection, distinctive stitch details and treatments and avoiding the overuse of fixings like Velcro were paramount. Our Future-Thinking was at the core of the project ensuring that the final solution met our and Nomad’s key environmental criteria. We were committed to 'less is more' - less nasty chchchchchchchchch noise pollution from the industries favourite hook and loop tape, less miles of unforgiving nylon fabric, less manufacturing energy, less weight per seat unit and less ‘user-muscle’ to make even the smallest adjustment.

Yield
The yield is more simplicity, more sophistication, more style, more comfort, more freedom, more customer choice, more sustainability, more functionality, more durability, more brand distinction, more customer satisfaction, more sales and more profit. Launched April 09, now in production, selling, international exposure and interest, shortisted for international design awards.

WonderCulture Designers Market - we're back!

2009-10-12T16:17:00.008+01:00

Phew! We are finally back following a busy weekend with our own home-grown little venture the WonderCulture Designers Market. Much of my time was spent running around, setting up, chatting with the designers and vistitors (you can just about see me in the green cardi in the middle of the photo pondering on what to buy next) before packing it all away again . We were in the fantastic new Chapter bar and cafe space so go check it out http://www.chapter.org/ and it was a great day for making new friends, sharing knowledge and of course selling! I also managed to buy a couple of things for myself too from the lovely Captain Kate, EAK design and Peris & Corr. Have a look at here for more info.

WonderCulture Designers Market

2009-10-09T15:42:00.012+01:00

It's the WonderCulture Designers Market .... THIS WEEKEND!
We'll be setting up at 7.30am tomorrow ready for doors opening to all you design inspired shoppers at 10am.

Our Home-grown Welsh Originated British Born Brand will be selling and will have some Fresh Stuff just in and will be featuring Rummage.... so plenty of great stuff not online yet at real affordable prices - get there early because once they're gone they're gone!
It's in Chapter...... we'll be in the new concourse and cafe bar so if you fancy a sneaky peek before the official opening later this month then head to the WonderCulture Designers Market.
Saturday 10th Oct 10am til 5pm
Sunday 11th Oct 10am til 4pm.
& there's more
You can pick up your copy of Design Up Your Street - it's free!!
& more
The Best of Welsh Design Showcase will be exhibited at the Designers Market so come and check out more innovative Welsh design

Design Up Your Street - HOT OFF THE PRESS

2009-10-09T11:07:00.005+01:00

Hot off the press & Out today! A free design publication created by the attic 2 Studio and some willing mates! Copies from the WonderCulture Designers Market at Chapter, Cardiff this weekend and various social venues around the City.

Design Up Your Street... where we talk design in Wales, design beyond Wales, design in your Community & Design Up Your Street.

Big thanks/diolch to all our helpers and contributers - the 48hr challenge was fast furious focused & FUN!

Hope you think its a good read. If so we'll do it again..... in 48hrs... or less!!

A mad 48hour challenge

2009-10-06T16:32:00.009+01:00

I'm still blaming Lynsey - it was her idea, she created the 'monster' as we say in the Studio!
Anyway, here's the plot so far - We're designer's, we thrive on deadlines so we've created one for ourselves and a few design mates. 2 days ago we set ourselves a really crazy challenge as part of the Cardiff Design Festival 09 celebrations.
The challenge was to create an 8 page tabloid size newspaper focused on the design scene in Wales..... All in 48 hrs ..... From sourcing articles, writing features, editing copy, collecting, compiling and taking photos, designing layout and style and of course coming up with the publication title.

So off to print it's gone and hot off the press will be Design Up Your Street where we talk Design in Wales, Design Beyond Wales, Design in your Community and Design Up Your Street.

Free publication out this weekend. Copies available from the WonderCulture Designers Market in Chapter, Cardiff and from other venues around the city.

Thanks to the Hoffi boys for advise and an extra MacBook, an extra pair of hands and some keen design eyes!

Nomad & Nest on show

2009-10-02T15:32:00.004+01:00

We're off to the launch of the Cardiff Design Festival 09 in the Senedd, home of the National Assembly for Wales here in the slightly chilly and grey Cardiff Bay! But who cares as it'll be all bright and buzzing with Welsh designers and creatives en mass. And the bonus - we get to see Nomad & Nest in the Festival Showcase as one of the companies shortlisted for a Cardiff Design Festival Award... but we have to wait until Monday 5th Oct for the awards announcement and celebrations! Everything crossed for a few more days then.

We've been shortlisted

2009-09-15T16:50:00.008+01:00

The shortlist for the Cardiff Design Festival 09 Awards has just been announced and attic 2's Studio collaboration with Hoffi for the design of the Nomad & Nest website is on the list! Damned marvelous! Cheers Judges. Glad you like our website... lets hope it wins! Looking forward to the awards night on the 5th October.

Schooltripper's Return

2009-09-15T16:41:00.009+01:00

WonderCulture Schooltrip Task Tags and badges

Just love this large impressive timepiece by H Samuel under their brand name Everite. It's above the arched entrance to Cardiff Central Market which opened on the 8th May 1891 by the Marchioness of Bute.

Discovered a disco in Crockherbtown Lane (which I also dicovered!). Disco lights flashing at 4pm? I was intrigued but didn't go in. Leaves me wondering - Was anyone really on the dancefloor?

10Feet Tall..... just another favourite 'nest'!

We've been busy busy but not too busy to upload our photos from last Thursday's WonderCulture Schooltrip on Flickr. It was a terrific creative activity - pure free-flow, individually inventive and great to meet new people presenting different perspectives of the city centre. Everyone established their own documentary approach from the off. Lynsey went all random on us walking in the opposite direction to where she would normally go and opposite to the rest of us when she spotted us! My approach was way more controlled - walking a familiar route, identifying a street name, looking up, setting an horizon and capturing the architecture ignored just below the sky horizon - and I got that blue sky I love too! We proudly presented our souvenirs at the end - Lynsey did 'old' - a bag of good old fashioned chocolate limes bought from a sweet shop established a 114 years ago that none of us even knew existed. I did 'new' - I joined the new Cardiff Central Library and got my library card, a first in over 15 years ..... better late than never!

WonderCulture School Trip Cardiff on Flickr
Ange's WonderCulture Schooltrip on Flickr
Lynsey's WonderCulture Schooltrip on Flickr

WonderCulture School Trip

2009-09-03T10:30:00.011+01:00

3.9.09 3pm on the steps 3 hours to discover & capture 1 School photo on the Museum steps 2 key destinations to visit 1 souvenir collected 2 postcards of Cardiff - posted!
1 look up 1 look down 1 place you've never visited before 1 sketch of an interesting doorway
1 bottle of pop 1 packet of crisps 1 bar !! 15 visual perspectives per Tripper uploaded
1 Flickr WonderCulture Schooltrip Cardiff 09.09 pool 1 Flickr Cardiff Design Festival 09
2 Satchels packed!

TODAY - it's the WonderCulture Schooltrip in Cardiff and it' sunny!
We're involved in organising the trip for WonderCulture and the Cardiff Design Festival 09. A whole bunch of curious people with sketchbooks, camera's, pop and crisps will be meeting on the steps of the National Museum of Wales at 3pm today. As Cardiff city centre is changing with the urban redevelopment project nearing its final stages the WonderCulture Schooltrip is an opportunity to re-familiarise and grab a fresh perspective of the city in a fun and creative way.

attic 2 originals

2009-08-26T15:10:00.014+01:00

DESIGN
attic 2 originals soft-seating catalogue 09 is our studio's signature upholstery collection and are designed in-house and made in Wales. Our ethos is to create furniture concepts of design excellence that are individual, distinctive, flexible, sustainable and timeless classics - what we call our 'modern antiques of the future'.

FUNCTION
All our products are designed with high flexibility and adaptability in mind, creating seating solutions for use in a wide spectrum of commercial and domestic environments - bars, clubs, hotels, leisure, receptions, TV sets, break-out areas, restaurants and exhibitions.

DETAIL
Without compromise, all our products are built to a high contract specification and are handmade with a high degree of craftsmanship ensuring immaculate attention to detail in materials and finishes at all times. Quality is paramount and we believe in designing and producing products to last a life time.

FUTURE-THINKING
All our products are designed and produced in line with our sustainable practices and our environmental policy Future-Thinking. We specifically adhere where possible to our 4 critical guidelines - Less Local Lasting and Love.

WANT ONE?
We'd love to hear from you so for contract, trade or direct retail sales please call us on +44 (0) 29 2049 0498 or contact sale@attic2.co.uk for more details of Originals including our pdf catalogue and prices.

Plan sofa

2009-08-26T14:46:00.008+01:00

Plan is a simple and well proportioned sofa range and chair. Specific to this design are the soft clean lines with compact proportions and footprint. The chair has been designed as a division of all the sofa units allowing it to behave in a more modular and flexible way. The contoured but slender arms ensure maximum seat area. Plan units can be grouped using imaginative layouts by mixing units, colours and textures to create graphically interesting layouts.

Designer - Angela Gidden 2002

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
Sofa 4+: w2640 x 680 x h755 mm
Sofa 3: w1980 x d680 x h755 mm
Sofa 2c: w1320 x d680 x h755 mm
Chair: w660 x d680 x h755mm

Plan Chairs

2009-08-26T14:45:00.006+01:00

Plan Chair adapts well to to being used in a wide range of environments and is ideal for meeting areas, reception areas and spaces where a more formal linear configuration or a more intimate cluster is required. Shown in Divina wool felt from Kvadrat

Designer - Angela Gidden 2002

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
Chair: w660 x d680 x h755mm

Mode Sofa, Bench and Slab Stool

2009-08-26T14:40:00.011+01:00

Mode Sofa is a clean-lined contemporary adaptation of the classic chesterfield with a fixed back and fixed seat giving Mode a simple unfussy look. Mode benches are a family of modular units creating a flexible and sociable solution to seating for the workplace, leisure environments and the home.

Shown in Divina wool felt from Kvadrat

Designer - Angela Gidden 2002

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
X Large Sofa: w2530 x d920 x h700 mm
Large Sofa: w2030 x d920 x h700 mm
Small Sofa: w1750 x d920 x h700 mm
X Large Bench: w2060 x d860 x h700 mm
Large Bench: w1560 x d860 x h700 mm
Small Bench: w1320 x d860 x h700 mm
Chair: w970 x d920 x h700mm
Slab Stool: w830 x d830 x h430 mm

Stretch Benches

2009-08-26T14:38:00.009+01:00

Stretch offers users a low back flexible and informal solution to soft-seating within any contract or domestic environment. Stretch benches can cluster or meander in a strong graphic way creating a dynamic sociable landscape. Shown in Divina wool felt from Kvadrat

Designer - Angela Gidden 2001

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
2.0 Bench: w2000 x d980 x h570 mm
1.5 Bench: w1500 x d980 x h570 mm
1.0 Bench: w1000 x d980 x h570 mm

Stretch Sofa & Bench - red

2009-08-26T14:37:00.006+01:00

Stretch is designed to be a flexible sociable landscape of soft seating for use in any formal or informal workplace environment, bars, hotels or domestic interiors. Shown in Divina wool felt from Kvadrat

Designer - Angela Gidden 2001

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification

2.5 Sofa: w2500 x d980 x h750 mm
2.0 Sofa: w2000 x d980 x h750 mm
2.0 Bench: w2000 x d980 x h570 mm
1.5 Bench: w1500 x d980 x h570 mm
1.0 Bench: w1000 x d980 x h570 mm
Chair: w1040 x d9800 x h 750mm
Stool: w500 x d390 x h 400mm

Stretch Sofa & Bench - grey

2009-08-26T14:36:00.013+01:00

Stretch is designed to be a flexible sociable landscape of soft seating for use in any formal or informal workplace environment, bars, hotels or domestic interiors. Shown in Divina wool felt from Kvadrat

Designer - Angela Gidden 2001

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
2.5 Sofa: w2500 x d980 x h750 mm
2.0 Sofa: w2000 x d980 x h750 mm
2.0 Bench: w2000 x d980 x h570 mm
1.5 Bench: w1500 x d980 x h570 mm
1.0 Bench: w1000 x d980 x h570 mm
Chair: w1040 x d9800 x h 750mm
Stool: w500 x d390 x h 400mm

Caerdydd Chair

2009-08-26T14:36:00.012+01:00

Caerdydd (Cardiff) is a classic retro styled chair designed as a complimentary accent to a mix of contract and domestic interiors from offices, bars, hotels, visual merchandise shop interiors to classic and contemporary homes. Shown in distressed leather

Designer - Angela Gidden 1998

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
3 seater Sofa: w1880 x d850 x h750 mm
2 seater Sofa: w1300 x d850 x h750 mm
Armchair: w850 x d850 x h 750mm

Lolfa Sofa & Chair

2009-08-26T14:35:00.005+01:00

Lolfa is Welsh for lounge. This is one of our original 'Original's'. Lolfa is designed around the classic chesterfield sofa but with a clean contemporary twist. Shown in nubuck.

Designer - Angela Gidden 1997

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
Large Sofa: w1940 x d940 x h740 mm
Med Sofa: w1760 x d940 x h740 mm
Chair: w1020 x d940 x h 740mm

Chromozone

2009-08-26T14:09:00.005+01:00

Modular and highly flexible modular seating created for relaxed social areas in the workplace or lounge bars and reception spaces.

Designer - Angela Gidden 2000

Data -
Designed and made in Wales to high contract specification
Slouch: w1910 x d900 x h740 mm
Bachelor: w1420 x d900 x h740 mm
Slab: w1040 x d900 x h 380mm

Retail - The Conran Shop

2009-08-23T15:38:00.004+01:00

Model - Lola
Client - The Conran Shop - London, Paris, Japan, New York
Year - 2005
Designer - Angela Gidden

Lola is still a current and key product within The Conran Shops furniture range since being launched in 2006. The Conran Shop commissioned Angela to design a compact upholstery collection that would would work well for customers looking for a simple timeless solution for compact living. Lola was also designed to offer the Japanese market a product to suit the growing demand for smaller furniture based on the even greater living space constraints.

Model - Terrain
Client - The Conran Shop
Year - 2005
Designer - Angela Gidden
Model - Felix
Client - The Conran Shop
Year - 2006
Designer - Angela Gidden

2009-08-23T15:31:00.003+01:00

Model - Cennem
Client - Liberty of London
Year - 2007
Designer - Angela Gidden

The Cennen was launched during London Design Festival 2007 and remains part of their furniture collection on the infamous 4th Floor. Liberty commissioned Angela to design a soft informal but clean-lined sofa collection offering their customers a high quality timeless product.

The story of the Pacino, Habitat

2009-08-23T11:25:00.006+01:00

Model - Pacino
Client - Habitat, Worldwide
Year - 1994
Designer - Angela Gidden

This is where it all began....

Here's some commercial facts we love about the Pacino -
Pacino launched in July 1994
Pacino was projected to sell around 220 units per week
Pacino was selling at a rate of over 340 units per week by week 4 after launch
Pacino was later selling at a rate of over 700 units per week by December 1994
Pacino was Habitat's best selling sofa range ever
Pacino was a key product in Habitats range for over 10 years
Pacino became Habitats longest selling product - second to the Chicken Brick introduced by Terrence Conran in the mid 1960's

Model - Cordoba
Client - Habitat, UK, France
Year - 1996
Designer - Angela Gidden

Model - Aquilla
Client - Habitat, UK, France
Year - 1995
Designer - Angela Gidden

Heals Discovers

2009-08-23T11:09:00.002+01:00

Design - Haven for Heals Discovers

Client - Heals, London

Designers - Angela Gidden

Angela was selected and commissioned to design an upholstery range for the Heal's Discovers collection 2004 which was launched during the London Design Festival 2004. Following the exhibition Haven was introduced onto the shopfloor and sold for 3 years after.

Design - Alano - Exclusive Upholstery

Client - Heals, London

Designers - Angela Gidden

This was the first design we produced for Heal's in 1996 followed by Tinker, Aziza and Haven

The House for the Future

2009-08-23T10:04:00.003+01:00

Project - The House For The Future
Client - National Museum Wales
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

This is where design for sustainability all started for the attic 2 Studio

We were commissioned to work on the furniture and interior concept for the Museum of Welsh Life project, House For The Future working with London architects and winner of the House For The Future architecture competition and Redrow house buliders sponsors and builders of the actual house within the grounds of the Museum, Cardiff.

The project was our first real intensive sustainable design project - where every design solution threw up a whole new set of environmental challenges and every twist and turn in the project questioned the sustainable viability. The result was an innovative approach to the design of products for living in the future - without the 'oats and muesli' aesthetics and an over-dependence on hi-technology.

This project was filmed from start to end and beyond by BBC Wales as a TV series The House For The Future where they introduced a real life family to live in and test drive the house for a few weeks. Some of solutions and ideas were more successful than others but what we learned from this point on was as designers we were responsible and that we must design with sustainability and a focus on the future at the core. This was the start of design for sustainability for the attic 2 Studio. This is where we began to shape our 'Future-Thinking' sustainable and environmental policy.

Union Undeb

2009-08-23T10:01:00.003+01:00

Project - Union Undeb private owners club 2003
Client - Manic Street Preachers & Mean Fiddler Group
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

We were commissioned to create a complete bespoke furniture concept for 4 floors of an old bonded store in the heart of Cardiff's city centre including 3 bars, restaurant, VIP area and reception as part of the conversion into a private members club owned by the Manic Street Preachers. We were also commissioned to create the colour scheme throughout the club as well as design some bespoke lighting for the reception area, the VIP area and a lightbox to the bar on level 2.

BBC Wales canteen

2009-08-23T09:54:00.002+01:00

Project - BBC Wales Canteen redesign and refurbishnent 2003
Client - BBC
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson working with Roger Witchell Architects

The project was a major re-design and refit of the BBC canteen which had not been refurbed since the 1970's. The challenge was to create an environment that inspired staff to use the space for eating, meetings and networking, to increase seating capacity, to improve the efficiency of the daily running of the canteen and to create an environment that would feel comfortable and fresh. We designed and produced a range of soft-seating, canteen tables, dining tables and stools as well as working on the layout and the colour scheme.

Wales Rocks Sydney - NSW, Australia

2009-08-23T09:52:00.003+01:00

Project - Wales Rocks Sydney a contemporary showcase of Wales 2003
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Angela Gidden was commissioned to create a contemporary showcase within the Museum of Contemporary Art in Circular Quays Sydney. The brief included a key element - genealogy.
The exhibition took place within the American Express Hall in the museum. We designed a reusable cocoon structure in order to envelop 'an experience of Wales - the landscape, the people, the soul, and sound of Wales' in a contemporary context.

The entrance to the main exhibition experience - a purpose designed and constructed aluminium truss structure within which an abstract graphic map of Wales was laid to the floor, a short film commissioned with a piece of music composed specially were played on a loop, a gallery of people in Wales with the 10 most popular surnames was presented. The whole space evoked a spirit of Wales and drew people in to enable connections to be made.

Casa Foa - Buenos Aires, Argentine

2009-08-23T09:48:00.002+01:00

Project - 'Cartref' Wales contemporary loft apartment showcase 2005
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden, Jonathan Adams, Lynsey Jackson, Matt Jones

Casa Foa is an interior exhibition that takes place each year in Buenos Aires Argentina. Wales were invited as the 2005 Guest Nation to create an apartment interior within the exhibition space. Casa Foa took over the early twentieth century derelict Piccaluga textile factory in the Barracas area of Buenos Aires prior to its restoration and urban redevelopment as loft apartments, cafe's and bars. The Wales Assembly Government commissioned Angela Gidden and architect Jonathan Adams to design a contemporary loft apartment called 'Cartref" showcasing art, design, literature, film and music from Wales to mark the 140th anniversary of the Welsh colony in Patagonia. The design inspiration was drawn from the organic form and materials of the landscape of Wales. The concept was both dynamic and unique. Over 70,000 people visited Casa Foa and 'Cartref' was voted the best interior space by the public as well as winning an honorary award at the Casa Foa Awards Ceremony.

The upper landscape of the main living space. The whole living space was and principal structural elements were planked with timber strips complimented with a stacked glass wall to the side.

A view from the upper level with the main sleeping deck at the top moving down to the chill-out level with water feature then down to lower and main living space with kitchen.

Aspect from living space up rising to upper levels. All furniture, art and interior products were sourced, designed and made in Wales.

The dining counter was made in Corian along with the kitchen area to the back.

Along the glass stack hallway and to the rear of the main living space on the ground level a therapy bedroom was created with a photographic light box and included an ensuite shower area within a forest of suspended timber logs

The Piccaluga textile factory reinvigorated with Casa Foa bringing it to life

Gidden & Storey

2009-08-22T16:09:00.008+01:00

Kootch was a design collaboration between reknowned British fashion designer Helen Storey and Angela Gidden working together to adapt the unconventional. The Kootch is a couture sofa collection influenced by Story's interest in the work of Henry Moore and Gidden's passion for the dynamic coastal landscape of Wales. Design - 1997

Moovit - 'take-away' sofa

2009-08-22T16:02:00.002+01:00

We designed Moovit in 1998 as our solution to the ultimate 'take-away' sofa, ideal for compact living and squeezing into small spaces. The take-away modular approach allows the customer to buy individual componants to create their own design. The design uses a single size foam block which together with the structural slip-on covers can create either a bench or corner units.

Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson 1998

UnionUndeb urban landscape

2009-08-22T14:04:00.002+01:00

In 2002 we were comissioned to design a landscape of furniture for UnionUndeb private members club owned by the Manic Street Preachers. The result was a bold, striking collection of upholstery inspired by the urban brick of the building and the moss growing on the outside walls.

Undeb - Sofa

Stwl - barstools

Undeb - Sofa and Pont Table

Flight Swivel Chair

2009-08-22T13:50:00.002+01:00

Flight is a compact chair with stainless steel swivel base designed for both contract and domestic environments where a small footprint is required.
Designer - Angela Gidden 2002

ECONetwork "Ideas Lounge' #2

2009-08-20T15:52:00.003+01:00

We attended the second ECONetwork workshop, Ideas Lounge #2 run by Ecodesign Centre Wales last month.
Main speaker was Layla Acaraglu, designer and director of Eco Innovators based in Melbourne, Australia. A great talk on one of her key design issues and actually one of my pet hates and design rants - "Planned Obsolescence" lining into her talk with a more positive spin on "Life Cycle Thinking".
Julian Sykes from Hoffi followed with his presentation on a dedicated retail 'Cradle to Cradle' project he is working on and Luke Palmer from Orangebox gave a presentation on the design of the companies first Cradle to Cradle sustainable solution for task seating, ARA chair.
To finish I did an impromptu talk about my personal perspective on design and the role of brands in consumption.

Layla, Eco Innovators - Planned Obsolescence & Life Cycle Thinking

Julian, Hoffi - Cradle to Cradle Pop-Up shop

Luke, Orangebox - Cradle to Cradle ARA task chair

Ange, attic 2 - design & brands in consumption

Frank, Ecodesign Centre Wales & the ECONetwork group

Portfolio Soft

2009-08-20T08:19:00.013+01:00

Once upon a time Angela Gidden was a furniture designer specialising in upholstery design. Essentially, it's where our attic 2 Studio's roots are. As an established designer in the U.K Angela has been designing furniture commercially since 1986 when she joined the Christie Tyler Group as Assisitant Designer within Outline Upholstery. Staying within Christie Tyler Angela became Design Director of Enigma Designs Ltd designing sofas and sofabeds for lifestyle retail brands Habitat, Ikea, Laura Ashley, Next and many others. In 1993 Angela set up DFTA design consultancy which has evolved into attic 2. Here's a snapshot and mix of archived furniture we call 'Soft'.

Radiws sofa, chair and table collection were designed as a family of divisible units to create a flexible and graphic statement. The tables were finished with a laminate top with a graphic inset strip of wood veneer. All legs were stainless steel. Radiws was launched at 100% design in 2001. Designer - Angela Gidden 2001

Radiws Lounger and Radiws Swivel designed as accent pieces within the Radiws collection. Shown in Arne Jacobsen's Trapeze fabric from Kvadrat and off white leather.

Model - Fodca, compact tailored seating solution in Kvadrat Glove fabric on the carcase with Divina felt on the seat mattress complimented with a wool pinstripe.

Cwsgi Bed designed as a self assembly piece of furniture with a fully upholstered headboard and tailored loose cover for the base frame. Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson 2005

Siwt is a modern take on a traditional chesterfield shown in a worsted wool pinstripe fabric with solid walnut legs. Designer - Angela Gidden 1998

Sensual is a highly contoured sofa range shown in Keames from Bute Fabrics.
Designer - Angela Gidden 1996

Gofod meaning 'Space' in Welsh was designed with soft clean contemporary lines with high comfort in mind for use in both the contract and domestic market. Shown in 100% wool bespoke fabic from Welsh Mill Melin Tregwynt. Designer - Angela Gidden 1996

Cigar Lounge is a classically styled armchair influenced by the 1930's design decade. Originally designed for London retailer Jerry's Homestores. Designer - Angela Gidden 1997

Alano is one of our more elegant pieces and was originally exclusively designed for and sold by Heal's. Designer - Angela Gidden 1997

Hopkyns is a generous armchair in a retro style with a contemporary twist. Designer - Angela Gidden 1998

Designed and made to last 100 years

2009-08-19T08:25:00.005+01:00

Soft Square was a commissioned design for the National Assembly for Wales new Senedd building designed by renowned architect Lord Richard Rogers and officially opened by the Queen on 1st March 2006. The brief from Lord Dafydd Ellis Thomas and Richard Rogers team was to design a collection of furniture pieces to be timeless in design, have an empathy with the architecture and materials of the building, be functional and flexible, easy to maintain, consider high security issues and last a 100 years withstanding the test of time.

Designer - Angela Gidden 2005

Soft Square Sofa upholstered in Scandinavian hide to match the Fritz Hansen Swan chairs scattered around the Oriel space on the upper level of the Senedd

Soft Square Benches and Slabs in the Neuadd space on the lower level of the Senedd.

About the design & the project -
Soft Square is a family of modular sofas, benches and hubs which visually and functionally interact with each other. The over all seating solution offers a high level of flexibility and creativity with in the space together and presents a bold graphic statement.

Together in clusters, rows or structured lines Soft Square defines a confident landscape designed to compliment and empathise with the natural materials and architectural dynamics of the Senedd.

The distinctive spacing between key elements creates a sense of purposeful displacement revealing light and textures beyond. On a sensitive and practical level this detail responds to security requirements for government and public buildings by eliminating the opportunity to hide dangerous objects with in the furniture.

Designed and made in Wales using the very best materials Soft Square was created for not only one of the most important buildings in Wales but for one of the most important public spaces. With longevity at the core of the design Soft Square will become a natural intrinsic part of the buildings life and of those who use it.

Angela Gidden and her company attic 2 were commissioned by the Welsh Assembly Government to design a soft seating solution for the public areas and commitee member areas with in the new Senedd building in Cardiff Bay. Working with Richard Rogers Partnership the design criteria considered the following:

- a design that would be both striking and timeless
- a form that would compliment the architecture
- a proportion and scale that would work with the dimensions and structual detail of the building
- offer a high degree of comfort but considered the requirements for accessibility and ergonomics
- durability, to last a 100 years
- materials to consider sustainability, quality and intrinsic beauty
- security, to prevent the hiding of dangerous objects
- maintenance, easy to clean and repair

Exclusive designs for retail - A snap shot

2009-08-18T09:13:00.007+01:00

Back to our roots! This is essentially where Angela and the attic 2 studio started - designing exclusive upholstery products for retailers such as Habitat, Ikea, Heal's, The Conran Shop, Liberty and many other lifestyle and high street retailers.

In 1994 Angela designed for Habitat what is arguably her most famous and certainly most sat on design - the Pacino

Followed by the Cordoba in 1996
And the Aquilla in 1995

Alano was the first exclusive design produced for Heal's, followed by Tinker, Aziza and Haven....

Angela was commissioned to design the Haven Snug sofa for Heal's Discovers

The Cennen was launched at Liberty during London Design Festival 2007

In 2006 Angela designed the compact, clean-lined Lola exclusively for The Conran Shop

Also for The Conran Shop Angela designed Terrain in 2005

and the Felix in 2006

Portfolio Solid

2009-08-17T11:28:00.005+01:00

Portfolio Solid is a snapshot of some of the furniture concepts we have designed for both the attic 2 catalogue and clients commissioned projects. From batch batch production to volume production, from wood to concrete, from laminate to acrylic, Portfolio Solid presents a diverse mix of furniture solutions for contract and domestic projects.
Gap Stac is a 'stackable' modular storage unit allowing you to create 4 different size units from a sideboard, to cupboard only using 2 standard componants. The configuration shown above is built using three low drawer units, three cupboard units accessable from both side and an optional lightbox in the base. Shown in a stone and mocha matt lacquered finish with zebrano veneer drawer fronts. The base is brushed stainless steel.
The reverse side of the Gap Stac above - two functions and two finishes to each side of the unit creates two different moods to the space it divides. Doors open to both sides making contents accessible either side.
Gap Stac sideboard configured from one drawer unit and one cupboard unit.

Gap Stac low, a modern twist on the telephone table. Cushion pad shown in the 1947 Dot pattern fabric by Charles & Rae Eames from Kvadrat.
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Gap Stac designed and produced in concrete using a local stone pennant with a brushed stainless steel base.
Designers - Angela Gidden, Lynsey Jackson, Ryan Howe

Model - Tew a Tennau, a collection of tableware in concrete made from a local pennat stone with complimentary platters in slip porcelein.
Designers - Angela Gidden, Lynsey Jackson, Kirsty Edmunds

Model - Bwrdd 02, an evolution of Bwrdd. Made in zebrano and laminate faced ply Bwrdd 02 retians its original self-assemby features but also includes a removable end grain ply channel with integral slits which take cables for table lighting.
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Model - Bwrdd, table and bench shown in walnut veneered ply is a flat-pack self assembly design. No tools are required - Assembly instructions are simple.... 2 pairs of hands and a duster!
Also shown is the Mainc dining chair.
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson
Model - Pont, a family of low beam tables in laminate faced ply with recessed feature groove in zebrano.
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Model - Cwsg, a self assembly bed in walnut veneer with exposed ply edges and solid walnut legs
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Model - Bwyd, designed for compact living this storage solution is made if oak and walnut and is a contemporary twist on the old Welsh food chest. Bwyd is designed as a low occaisional table and also functions as strorage for cutlery, plates, drinking vessels and the walnut trays.

Model - Latitude Living, a compact modular affordable furniture system
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Portfolio Light

2009-08-16T11:52:00.006+01:00

Portfolio Light is a glimpse of our lighting design projects and exclusive commissions working with concrete, lead crystal glass and aluminium.

Model - Shadowscape, commissioned and designed to create a dramatic lighting effect within a large apartment space in Beunos Aires. The light is a handblown lead crystal glass sphere of 450mm diameter with hand cuts of varying depths to the glass representing highlights on water which are magnified and reflected onto the wall when the light is on. Shadowscape is designed to rest on the floor. The long pendant flex swings subtely with air movement which in turn makes the reflection move bringing the watery highlights to life like ripples of water.

Designers - Angela Gidden & Kathryn Roberts (glass designer maker)

Model - Golau table and Golau Floor, a family of lights using an electromagnetic switch embedded into the concrete base that responds to the movement and proximity of the hand to switch the light on or to alter and dim the lighting level without physically touching a switch. The lights use a low energy lamp source. The spun aluminium tube shade is designed with a side slit creating a glint of light from the side as well as allowing light to disperse from the top and below.

Designers - Angela Gidden, Lynsey Jackson, Colin Watson

Golau table and Golau floor lights.

Portfolio Inside-out

2009-08-15T15:20:00.011+01:00

Portfolio Inside-Out presents a snapshot of interior, exhibition and events projects which also include examples of bespoke furniture solutions designed for specific projects.

CASA FOA - BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA

Project - 'Cartref' Wales contemporary loft apartment showcase 2005
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden, Jonathan Adams, Lynsey Jackson, Matt Jones

WALES ROCKS SYDNEY - NSW, AUSTRALIA

Project - Wales Rocks Sydney a contemporary showcase of Wales 2003
Client - Wales Assembly Government
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

BBC WALES CANTEEN

Project - BBC Wales Canteen redesign and refurbishnent 2003
Client - BBC
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson working with Roger Witchel Architects

UNION UNDEB

Project - Union Undeb private owners club 2003
Client - Manic Street Preachers & Mean Fiddler Group
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

THE HOUSE FOR THE FUTURE

Project - The House For The Future
Client - National Museum Wales
Designers - Angela Gidden & Lynsey Jackson

Nomad & Nest

2009-08-14T17:05:00.005+01:00

Nomad & Nest is one of most important home-grown brands created by the attic 2 Studio. Originally inspired by the mounds of character-rich leather and fabric off-cuts hoarded for years by us resourceful designers, the fashion label has become a brand and business in it's own right with an sustainable philosophy evolved out of attic 2's Future-Thinking. We are responsible for the brand, products and website design and creative direction (working with our WonderCulture collaborator's and design agency Hoffi on the latter). Nomad & Nest feeds our soul. We'll say no more as the brand site and and online store speaks for itself. We're really proud guardians of this home-grown brand!

WonderCulture | Extraordinary Events

2009-08-14T11:53:00.004+01:00

WonderCulture is a brand we originally created as a kind of design community umbrella brand for the Designer's Market we established in 2006 as the designers twist on the much loved and popular farmers market. 3 Years we got together with a like-minded group of individual creative-thinkers who we had many years experience working together on contemporary event-led and international commissions. The aim was to establish a new venture combining our collective experience, knowledge, passion, skills, talent, energy, vision and collaborative style of working to create, deliver and manage events and exhibitions. We needed an identity, a brand - it was time to share our home-grown brand. One thing we all agreed on - we create unique, distinctive and sustainable-led events. We turn ordinary into extraordinary. WonderCulture Extraordinary Events has also evolved!

Creative Director - Angela Gidden MBE
Senior Designer - Lynsey Jackson
Explore more People and the creativity of WonderCulture

Here's a few of our favourite events from WonderCulture's Home-grown batch with flavour of what WonderCulture creates

THE GRAND RECYCLED BALL 09
Cardiff Design Festival Party
The Old 1928 Natwest Bank
Bute Street Cardiff

WonderCulture commissioned a spoof advert promo film as a tantalising intro to the dessert WonderCulture Gold - a specially made rich dark chocolate brownie in disguised as a gold bar

A live dance performance, a live bank raid!

The Cardiff Design Festivals Design Awards recycled trophies displayed on old bushesl boxes

Laser cut iconic architecture of Cardiff created by students

The Grade 2 Listed Bank Clerks counter became a professional cocktail bar.... and was well respected and looked after with love and care on the night

THE GRAND RECYCLED BALL 07
Cardiff Design Festival Party
A 248,000 square feet disused warehouse
Cardiff Docks

18.00 hrs 30.6.07 - 248,000 square feet of warehouse empty of guests

22.00 Hrs 30.6.07 - guests feast from the 40m length banqueting table

22.10 Hrs 30.6.09 - Dessert arrives, a choreographed icecream van complete with chime playing

Dessert served!

22.45 Hrs 30.6.07 - ambiance, mood, breakdancers, DJ, party til the early hours

A FEW KEY COMPONENTS

Over 60 unwanted dining chairs re-homed and reused in the GRB

Stills design agency chandelier - made from recycling beakers, food pots and old wire from Chris's shed

Architect Whilco chandelier - made from water beakers from the office where the architect works

attic 2 Studio chandelier - made from old faxes, elastic bands, paperclips and redundant red sewing thread. Nothing was contaminated in the process of making this chandelier!

DESIGNERS MARKET
Chapter Arts Centre
Cardiff

Colour Inspiration

2009-07-13T17:58:00.008+01:00

Remember Zoom ice lollies? Perhaps some subconscious colour selection on our Stretch Bench modular soft-seating - and why not, it's summer in our studio.

Romance is not dead

2009-07-13T15:54:00.008+01:00

We wouldn't yield the best ideas in design if it wasn't for our imagination in the first instance. There's something quite romantic about this part of a design project where we are literally commissioned to dream up ideas and turn them into a commercial reality.

ECONetwork "Ideas Lounge" #1

2009-05-23T15:01:00.005+01:00

We attended the first Ecodesign Centre Wales new initiative - ECONetwork "Ideas Lounge" at the Norwegian Church in Cardiff Bay this week. This workshop was the first of many to come attended by designers in Wales like us that are proactive in sustainable design-thinking looking to develop an eco design network facilitated by EcoDesign Centre Wales.
This first workshop kicked off with 2 speakers - designer Jonathan Crinion who presented his thoughts on the problem of climate change, peak oil and resource depletion. Jonathan was followed by Rob Brown from Sprout Design who shared the studio's experiences of sustainable and inclusive design. We later broke into groups to explore ideas for creating and setting up the ecodesign network.