AW Award 2020 | Behind the Scene took place between 13th – 20th January 2020 in Cologne, Germany. The exhibition had been created on the occasion of Raw Edges’ win of the AW Designer of the Year 2020 Award.
For this exhibition, Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay have explored their lifetime work and compiled various prototypes, sketches, tools and materials. Taking on a new perspective, the objects come from their archive of self-produced projects as well as collaborations with Vitra, Louis Vuitton, Mutina, Golran, Gan, Arco, Established & Sons, WonderGlass and Cappellini.
We are proud to announce that our Herringbone Vessels for Vitra received The Wallpaper* Design Award 2020 for Best Paint Job.
www.wallpaper.com
Vitra 2019 | Herringbone Collection emerged from the interest of design studio Raw-Edges in the technique of immersion dyeing. The designer couple Shay Alkalay and Yael Mer find an almost magical fascination in the transformations that occur when various materials and shapes are successively dipped in baths of dye.
In 2018, Raw-Edges conceived the layout and furnishings of an entire floor in the VitraHaus on the Vitra Campus. For this project, they developed a series of pillows and small, tree-like wooden objects with a pattern based on the immersion dyeing technique. These objects met with great interest, which led to the decision to further refine the designs for serial production.
The resulting Herringbone Collection consists of three product groups: Herringbone Pillows, Herringbone Vessels and Herringbone Trees. The colour scheme and linear sharpness of the patterns varies, depending on the respective material.
GAN 2019 | BackStitch focuses on that ambiguous and irregular universe of stitches, without which the front side, designed to be seen, could not exist. What seems chaotic has its own language and adds a new value, a new intention to traditional craftsmanship.
The collection consists of three consecutive designs, from the first arises the second and then the third, in a perfectly orchestrated conceptual progression.
The “Calm” model starts the series. While smooth and almost solid, a colourful and dynamic area introduces the theme of the collection. “Busy” densifies the pattern. Multiple stitches are added, the composition is enriched and all of its nuances can be captured by observing the rug from different perspectives.Finally, “Composition” is the finale, the end of the theme. It produces an explosion that shows the intention, the complete work. It is almost a piece of art, and it can be used both as a rug or as a tapestry on the wall.
Each design is available in two colours, Green and Brick.
The three rugs are made of 100% pure wool, soft and warm. They are produced on manual looms and delicately hand embroidered by the artisans of the GAN Women’s Unit.
Louis Vuitton 2019 | Dolls .
Conde House 2019 | Crust .
MOS King’s Cross 2019 | For their new concept Pop Up Design Gallery, Matter of Stuff commissioned us to design an installation that could unite MOS’ unique three-fold expertise: commissioning design, researching materials and technologies, and showcasing designs from world-renowned design brands.
The installation consists of a repeated one single element, a wooden dowel suspended from the ceiling by a blue string. This multiplied element creates a tactile invitation to the space as well as an architectural tool that defines the space; creates partitions and a cast background to the exhibits.
WonderGlass 2018 | Horah reflects on the theme of light in dialog with one of the essential aspects of contemporary living: sociability. Inspired by Horah, the Israeli dance, London-based design duo Raw-Edges explore an ongoing theme of repetition with a lighting installation that is imbued with an essential quality in the dance: conviviality.
Crafted and engineered by WonderGlass, each lamp features curving glass "leaves" attached to a pivoting motor, the glass sections expertly composed using glass casting techniques. Light is concealed at the centre, creating a gradient of illumination.
Kvadrad Really -2018 | Raw-Edges take as their starting point the design of Solid Textile Board Cotton Blue: a blue board composed of a white cotton core sandwiched between outer layers of indigo cotton from denim. The table and wall console are made by laminating together several layers of Solid Textile Board and then ‘engraving’ into this to expose the material layers beneath the surface and create new blue and white patterns. As they were working, the designers found by ‘happy accident’ that particles of the blue denim fibre penetrate the white cotton, and vice versa, creating a soft transition between materials and revealing the origins of this new material.
'Happy Places' - 2018 | We created our interior installation 'Happy Places' at the VitraHaus with a specific idea in mind, namely the ideal home environment for a busy, creative young family – just like we are with our two daughters. As a result, the entire level is cheerful, authentic and true to life.
The playful use of materials, colours and products are defining characteristics of the new VitraHaus installation. A carefully assembled collage of products by Vitra and Artek combines natural materials such as wood, glass and lightweight fabrics with strong, colourful accents.
www.vitra.com
www.artek.com
www.mutina.com
Mutina - 2017 | Tape is made up of several coloured patterns on two base tiles, one white and one black, creating different atmospheres in the same room and a soft blend of one pattern with the other.
The design consists of a first slight, almost imperceptible pattern on the base tile that evokes the chalky effect of the surfaces of the carreaux-ciments, and a range of eight patterns, all in the five shades of the range.
www.mutina.it
Commissioned by Now Gallery | 2017 ‘Steps’ is a new concrete seating design, aimed to redefine how people use public space;
We have designed ‘Steps’ as a cluster of concrete seats which will live outside NOW Gallery on Peninsula Square for the foreseeable future to create a place for two to nest, invite people to dwell, play, lean and relax in this new swathe of London and enjoy the developing surroundings. Fabricated by Mass Concrete, the simplicity of the seating will both stand out from the contrasting concrete metropolis and blend into the surrounding verdant Peninsula gardens.
Golran - 2017 | The Floral Lake collection is an extension of our 2014 collection we designed for Golran, using the same op-art lenticular technique.
This new design focuses on deeper colours and floral shapes. The carpets appearance changes depending on the viewing point – similar to that of a colouring book, geometric outlines are seen from one side while from the other these areas of filled in colour.
For Louis Vuitton - 2017 | For our second collaboration with the companies Objets Nomades collection, we designed a foldable shelf which was launched during Salone del Mobile 2017.
The leather, which is one of Louis Vuitton’s expertise, functions both as a soft surface as well as the hinges for the foldable shelf. The design suggests flexibility as it has three different sizes, and two different hues of leather which can be flipped (the top can become the bottom and the other way around). The shelf can be a stand alone piece but can also be arranged in multiple sizes on the wall.
For AGC Glass - 2017 | We were approached by AGC Asahi Glass to collaborate with them and with Japanese designer Jin Kuramoto to create an exhibition during Salone del Mobile 2017.
The exhibit―titled “Touch”―places a focus on “The Feel of Glass,” which is inspired by the human sense of touch. We were quite puzzled by the theme of ‘Touch’ as from early age we are taught not to touch glass directly as it is fragile and shouldn't be left with marks. And now, we should encourage the visitors of the exhibition to do just the opposite.
For this installation we proposed two different ideas, the first plays with the aesthetics of metal wire glass and the second, not only encourages you to touch glass but also to draw on it…
Herringbones | curated by Fedrica Sala ps in the 5vie district during Salone del Mobile 2016, took our fondness for dying wood to a different direction.
Pieces of wood were plunged individually into colourful baths of pigments. We applied different layers of dye to the wood at a 45° degree angle, as to create a colourful herringbone pattern. Herringbone is a pattern commonly used in textiles but also on floor tilings and road pavement.
The Herringbones series consists of a chair, a coffee table, a desk, a dining table and a paravent. We showed our first Herringbones at 5VIE District during the Salone del Mobile 2016 in Milan. This installation acted as a performance, starting with production materials and ending in soft, colourful patterns on solid wood.
Herringbones are part of our ongoing experimentation with dye, highlighting the distinct textures and patterns revealed when applied to wooden materials.
For Swarovski - 2016 | First shown during Salone del Mobile Milano 2016 the collection were created by applying a colourful, interlocking pattern to both sides of the crystal.
The set consists of four crystal bowls and vases in different sizes. By layering colorful lines in patterns on the interior of the objects, our design was distorted and augmented by the crystal faceting. When the crystals sit together, the reflections and layering reveal additional images of even greater depth.
We are proud to announce that Concertina Chair for Louis Vuitton received The Wallpaper* Design Award 2016 for the best Posh picnic.
For Louis Vuitton 2015 | Getting the chance to work with a prestigious company like Louis Vuitton, we wanted the take the opportunity to create something special yet in the lines of its long lasting heritage of luxury.
Known for its artisanal expertise, we knew that we had the freedom to be ambitious and complex with our ideas. Commissioned to envision foldable furniture and travel accessories as part of collection ‘objets nomades’, we started working on developing various mechanisms and geometries for a collapsible light.
www.louisvuitton.com
Alexander Girard 'A Designer's Universe' - 12th March 2016 - 29 January 2017 | We stepped into the universe of Alexander Girard and created the exhibition design for Vitra Design Museum.
The exhibition curated by Jochen Eisenbrand takes you on a trip into the life and work of the Amercian-French-Italian designer, starting with his early beginnings in architecture; to his bright and bold textiles for Herman Miller; his living interiors and restaurant concepts and of course, his extensive folk art collection.
We were invited to create the exhibition design for an overview of the works of this colourful and vibrant design personality who lived and worked closely with his contemporaries such as Charles and Ray Eames, Eero Saarinen and George Nelson. Although it was a challenge to exhibit over 700 objects, which are part of the Vitra Museum collection, we felt it strongly represents Girard’s passion and creativity.
Endgrain has been named Winner of the Wood Awards 2015 in the bespoke catergory.
Established and Sons - LDF 2015 | We are excited to announce the launch of the new bespoke edition Stack during this year’s London Design Festival. The exhibition features mixed-up Stack in both 8 drawer and 13 drawer towers.
Diverse material textures and finishes in these new bespoke editions enhance the designs ability to create a wonderful spectacle rich in colour and form. The ‘floating’ drawer units can be pushed or pulled in both directions to produce a random and irregular formality. The recent trend for creating a pleasing balance between discord and harmony is explored as metal, perspex, marble, corian, canvas, ceramic, felt, leather all call for equal attention from the viewer.
Diesel Black Gold store and Wallpaper* 2015 |
Text taken from wallpaper.com :
To celebrate the first anniversary of its global flagship store on London’s Conduit Street, Diesel Black Gold has launched The Courtyard, a creative space that presents a translation of the brand’s contemporary aesthetic through forms of art, design and installation.
Curated in collaboration with creative partners from London’s art, architecture, music and design scenes, The Courtyard’s programme of installations, happenings and performances will run throughout the year.
For Louis Vuitton - 2015 | Getting the chance to work with a prestigious company like Louis Vuitton, we wanted the take the opportunity to create something special yet in the lines of its long lasting heritage of luxury.
Known for its artisanal expertise, we knew that we had the freedom to be ambitious and complex with our ideas. Commissioned to envision foldable furniture and travel accessories as part of collection ‘objets nomades’, we started working on developing various mechanisms and geometries for a collapsible chair.
Self Production 2015 | The collection is an elaboration of the Endgrain technique we developed previously at the studio.
The idea behind ‘Endgrain’ is to harness the grain of the wood in order to carry dye right the way through sections of timber.
We are proud to announce that The Lake Collection for Golran has recieved The Wallpaper design award 2015 for the best optical illusion.
Chatsworth house 2015 | The installation took shape after we developed the Endgrain technique at the studio.
The idea behind ‘Endgrain’ is to harness the grain of the wood in order to carry dye right the way through sections of timber. Blocks dyed is different pigments are then glued together with the grains facing vertically to create three-dimensional patterns - then shaped with a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine. ‘Endgrain’ is therefore a process that starts very crafty and ends quite industrial.
Airbnb and London Design Festival, Trafalgar Square, 2014 | Our reaction to the brief of ‘A place called home’ - a project commissioned by LDF and supported by Airbnb- was to create a performing home.
Indeed, we thought quite thought-provoking the clash of trying to make a home in such a high traffic location and chose to create a dialog between these notions.
www.airbnb.co.uk
www.londondesignfestival.com
Brussels Design September - 2014 | Our Endgrain boxes were part of our initial Endgrain exhibition during Design Basel. We were always interested by checked table cloths and how this pattern could be translated into wooden furniture. During our experimentation for the Endgrain project, we left off-cuts in warm stain, to find them a couple of hours later soaking up all the colour. We then used these to develop a checked table top, this project showcases the possibilities by dying wood with a different approach.
Brussels Design September 2014 | Endgrain came about when reexamining the stained oak parquet flooring we created for the Stella McCartney store in Milan in 2010.
At the very entrance of the shop, where the footfall would be highest, the colour on the flooring would slightly fade away, because only the outside layer of wood was stained. Having to repaint it each year to make sure the colour remained bright and pristine, we thought it would be amazing if we were able to soak it all the way through.
Our Endgrain Collection has been nominated as Design of the year at the Design Museum London 2015
Caesarstone, Milan 2014 | Following the seven islands shown at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, a 15 metres island was presented as an interactive installation during Salone del Mobile 2014.
Stockholm Furniture Fair 2013 | Designed as Kvadrat’s stand ‘The Picnic’ features a wooden construction of Dinesen Douglas Fir and a textile installation consisting of 1,500 straps made out of a selection of twenty different Kvadrat fabrics.
Playing with such an amount of textiles and colours was very joyful and filled us with greed. By recreating a picnic in an enchanted forest atmosphere, our aim was to bring the outdoor feel inside a confined trade fair environment.
The Lake Collection for Golran has been nominated for the Elle Decoration British Design Award 2014
Caesarstone, IDE Toronto 2014 | Islands aims to mark a playful shift in Caesarstone’s focus, as it looks to re-imagine its surfaces usually used for kitchen tops for more unconventional uses.
In a common kitchen the surface is only a top layer that covers the kitchen units which hide everything behind handless doors. Here we like to propose the surface as the core of the kitchen which binds the different elements together in a quite unforeseen way.
www.caesarstone.com
Mutina - 2012 | Hence its name, Tex is an artisanal tile collection inspired by textures and textiles.
Like forensics approach a crime scene, we examined our surroundings and started collecting all sorts of textures through an imprint on plasticine.
Golran 2014 | Imagine a rug that looks very vivid and colourful when you leave home, but the very same rug will appear more relaxing and calming when coming back from work.
It is like having two approaches for one thing, two different ways to look at it but then when standing at the right place, you actually see the whole picture.
The Lake Collection received the Wallpaper* Design Award 2015 for best optical illusion.
Moroso 2014 | ’Sugar’ features a simple cushion that is clamped onto wooden legs to create a shape like a wrapped sweet. Inspired by rolled up jumper sleeves, we combined a variety of Kvadrat textiles in order to create a happy and fun looking stool.
Spotted by Stella McCartney during our exhibition at Frieze Art Fair 2009 for Established & Sons, she commissioned us to create the flooring for her new stores.
The flooring was shown in 40 of her new stores located in various cities including London, Paris, Milan, Rome, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo.
Cappellini 2010 | ‘Tailored wood’ started from the ‘Volume’ based on a series of paper mockups. We translated the concept from paper to wood because we liked to challenge the one-sided idea that veneer is usually used to cover solid wood surfaces.
Instead, we questioned this old traditional process by first creating an empty volume with the veneer that is then filled with polyurethane foam. The foam expands within the volume and creates a unique and surprising crinkled wooden surface.
Permanent Collection - MoMA New York
DeskBox for Arco named Winner of the German Design Council Interior Innovation Award 2013
Established & Sons 2008 | Usually a chest of drawers consists of an exterior frame, back panel and runners on each drawer. The height is limited to the size of the frame and the drawer can only be opened in one direction.
‘Stack’ is part of the permanent collection at MoMa New-York and received the Homes & Gardens Magazine in association with the V&A Museum Award 2009 and the Elle Decoration International Design Award 2009.
Moroso 2013 | Inspired by the shape of a toothpaste tube, ‘Kenny’ is formed by a simple rectangular strip of Kvadrat fabric turned into a curvaceous shape.
It celebrates simplicity and triggers the idea that odd looking, unfamiliar shapes still achieve functionality.
Initially designed for Kvadrat, the production of ‘Kenny’ was later taken for production by Moroso.
Established & Sons - 2009 | 'Wall to Wall' stems from investigating the connection between flooring and textiles.
Focused on the idea of a rug being part of the floor itself, we thought we would combine both hard and soft surfaces - creating a wooden flooring reminiscent of traditional textile patterns.
OKAYstudio, London Design Festival 2013 | Most of us charge our mobile phone next to our bed, just before going to sleep.
This usually happens at the same as switching your bedside table lamp on. SmartLight is a concept that combines our smart-phone, bedside table light and everyday habit. It is about modern behaviour and the way we use objects around us.
1. Sling - an absolutely fun device that simply connect the phone into a readymade cup.
2. Suction Cup – this design takes itself a bit more seriously with a phone that held by suction cup.
3. Rocking – more playful simple direction.
4. Rubber Shade- a shade made out of rubber that can stretch around different size phone.
5. Art Deco Army Flash Light – a more stylish approach inspired by classic army flash light.
Tailored Wood for Cappellini named Winner of the Home & Gardens Designers Awards 2011.
Arco 2012 | The Deskbox is a practical small table/cabinet that is hung onto a wall and it is ideal for settings where there is little space available for furniture.
Furthermore because the need for paper storage is fading as things are more and more digitalised, Deskbox is a small yet efficient sized workplace. It can be retracted to form a closed box, half the size of the table top.
Arco 2008 | ‘Pivot’ is the result of an exploration of movement and gravity based on the mechanism of traditional sewing boxes and toolboxes. The piece is a wall cabinet built on tall legs with two drawers that hinge rather than slide making it possible to open both drawers at the same time.
Imagined as an entrance piece, Pivot is ideal for storing small items and everyday necessities : the full opening of the drawers enables you to quickly run through their content.
Materia Amorim 2011 | What happens when you move into a rented flat and find bare light bulb hanging from the ceiling? How can you quickly make this lighting more personal and cosy?
Following this we thought we would propose a playful approach to lighting through personalisation.
http://www.materia.amorim.com/en
Lema - 2013 | In a modern world oriented towards digital information and e-books, the space for storing books in questioned as bookshelves are losing relevance.
Furthermore, unlike informative books that can be re-read constantly, novels are usually read only once. Following this we thought - why not give a book a second function?
Fat Gallery 2010 | ‘Coiling’ is a collection of interior objects made out of 100% Woollen felt and silicon.
Each object is made by wrapping strips of felt around wooden structures and coating one side in silicon, which soaks into the fibres to form a rigid object.
Moustache 2014 | ‘Accolade’ comes flat packed and provides a set of elements for the user to self assemble a pair of size varying trestles.
Once built, the trestles’ black band displays familiar punctuation marks deriving from the typographic symbol { }
www.moustache.fr/en
Pivot for Arco recieves the iF Gold Product Design Award 2009.
The Natural History Museum/ Bloomberg 2011 | Following previous installation ‘The Pond’, Arts co gallery asked us to create a new piece using Bloomberg’s waste materials.
Presented as part of a series of vitrines installed at the Natural History Museum, we envisioned a cabinet of curiosities playing up an animation created specifically by Oscar Narud.
2009 | ‘Grove’ is a series of 5 revolving paper trees planted on a paper and wood console table.
Initially based on an observation of trees which, planted next to one another, grow into each other merging their leaves and colours
Homes & Gardens, Classic Design Awards announces Stack for Established & Sons as the Winner for the Best Furniture 2009.
Design Miami/Basel 2009 | ‘Mount Domesticus’ is an installation shown in Basel in response to a brief we got for the Designers of the future award.
We were asked to think beyond the fabrication of individual objects and to focus instead on the articulation of space. More precisely to think of a viewer-encompassing environment that stimulates discourse, reflection and community, using plaster and mirror as our primary materials.
Bloomberg 2009 | Commissioned by the Arts co gallery, we were briefed to create a piece using Bloomberg’s waste materials. Our visit to the Bloomberg office building was dazzling : it revealed a space governed by computers.
This infinite field of screens encouraged us to imagine a more nature-related application for them, in relation to the animalistic character of the Natural History Museum. Animation by Oscar Narud.
www.huntingandnarud.com
Mutina - 2010 | Versatile, yet with beautiful aesthetic qualities, paper is also a material that we consistently value throughout our work. Unfortunately though, paper is an ephemeral and cannot be considered as a long-lasting material.
By translated paper into ceramics, we aim to create a tension between the delicate appearance of the paper and durable ceramics- as well as twisting the preconceived idea that ceramics usually prefers to mimic precious materials.
Stack for Established & Sons is announced Winner of the Best Furniture for Elle Decoration International Design Award 2009.
Old Spitafiled’s Market 2010 | ‘Plaidbench’ came as an idea when we were asked to design a bench for the Old Spitafiled’s Market for the duration of the London Design Festival 2010.
Focusing on the archetype of a street bench we picked up on a iconic feature : whether made of wood, metal or plastic, these benches are always formed of a composition on stripes.
Craft Punk/Design Miami and Fendi 2009 | ‘Pleated Pleat’ is an interpretation of previous project ‘Volume’ using soft foam that creates movement and a resilient material to work with.
In ‘Volume’ we couldn’t use soft foam as a filler because it would crumple the paper. The opportunity to experiment soft polyurethane came when Fendi approached us with design Miami asking us to design something related to the brand.
Pivot designed for Arco named as the Dutch Design Award, Best Residental Product 2008.
Self-Production 2008 | ‘Volume’ is about building a chair without setting foot in the workshop. All we needed for the first prototypes was an A4 printer and backyard for messy foam. The project started from a large series of paper mockups which consisted in folding a template pattern printed on paper.
We found something charming in the character of the models we made, as we folded them carelessly leaving them crumbled and imperfect. Keeping this rough aesthetic we would scale the models up.
