Kaii Tu

(San Francisco, CA) Leading modern furniture showroom Zinc Details presents “SF Local Design Market,” a combined exhibition and design mart that will run from June 11 through June 17 with an opening reception on June 12 from 6 to 8 pm. In partnership with SF Design Week, “SF Local Design Market” is a cross between a conventional exhibition and design pop-up shop where Bay Area designers, artists and makers will be showcasing their products, which will also be for sale. The exhibition is sponsored by the Retail Design Institute: Northern California Chapter and the Industrial Design Society of American San Francisco Chapter.

At the opening reception on June 12, visitors to “SF Local Design Market” will have the chance to chat with exhibitors and view the latest new ideas and designs from the Bay Area. This fun evening also gives the public the opportunity to buy design directly from the creator, supporting emerging and established local talent. Light refreshments and drinks will be served.

“SF Local Design Market” participants include 3 Fish Studios, Rachael Gant, Jeremiah Collection, Meg O’Halloran, Beau Oyler and Jared Aller, PapaLlama, Justin Porcano, Kaii Tu, Nick and Beau Trincia, Jeni Tu, Mahsa Vanaki and design book publishers Gingko Press, which will be organizing a pop-up design bookstore.

“SF Local Design Market” will be held at the Zinc Details showroom located at 1905 Fillmore Street between Bush and Pine Streets. The event is free and open to the public. Please rsvp at rsvp@zincdetails.com.

About Zinc Details

Now celebrating its 20^th anniversary, Zinc Details is an independently owned showroom, gallery, modern design authority and essential resource for the San Francisco creative community.

Founded by Vasilios “Vas” Kiniris and his wife Wendy Nishimura Kiniris, Zinc Details assembles an exuberant mix of art, design and craft that is expertly curated from sources around the globe. With an ever-changing array of new products, this unique collection brings together brand names like Knoll, Herman Miller and Vitra with work by emerging talents and local Bay Area artists. Presenting playful groupings of furnishings, accessories and art, Zinc Details encourages visitors to make modern design a part of their daily lives and lifestyles.

“We’ve been successful because we do a lot more than sell furniture and home accessories—we are in the marketplace of ideas,” Vas says. “We’re also a gathering place for those working in, or holding a passionate interest in design for everyday living.”

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Torrey exhibited at NeoCon 2012, Chicago

kaii — Sun, 10 Jun 2012 17:26:09 +0000

NeoCon 2012, Chicago

Torrey chair was exhibited as part of the Interiors & Sources Materials Pavilion at NeoCon 2012.

The design was cited as a creative use of laminate, by applying a material traditionally associated with countertops and tables to an innovative seating form and function.

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Q&A with DDI Magazine, a Nielsen Company publication

kaii — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 22:09:22 +0000

Read on DDI website

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Rituals Apart

kaii — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 12:16:13 +0000

Rituals Apart

Our diasporic society puts our families friends in multiple cities at once, fanning out at different life changepoints such as marriage and graduating from school.

Technology is both a detractor and enabler. Detractor because people feel oversaturated by messages and images, and always feel compelled that they must have something to say or show when they call, chat or message with others. Enabler, because technology has the ability to bridge time and space.

Tea Time brings people together across distance, at the same time. It revives the afternoon tea break, allowing two friends to share a moment together, even without speaking a single word.

Interaction prototypes programmed in Processing, and physical prototypes created with Rhino.

Sandbox brings people together across distances, asynchronously. When living apart, the quiet moments are often the ones most missed; current communication avenues require active engagement.

Topo Table brings people together in the same place, across generations. Passing down furniture with the marks of use is a source of pride for many, but our digital lifestyle means we no longer literally make imprints. This translates digital actions into physical artifacts.

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Valence system

kaii — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 03:20:28 +0000

Valence system

We inherit precious plates, bowls and glasses as heirlooms, and pass them on to future generations. But what happens in today’s world where new cultures and foods renders yesterday’s servingware obsolete? Where is the soy sauce pourer in grandmother’s china set?

Valence creates a new ritual in heirlooms. It’s a system where new typologies of objects can be created using an alphabet of simple forms – from a single mold.

A meeting of old and new: the glass-blowing mold is crafted in cherry wood, the traditional material for glass making, and shaped with advanced computer aided design and manufacturing methods.

The mold is what you pass on. The method of creation gets its turn in the spotlight. You reconfigure the mold to make the object you want.

Valence adapts to create new objects according to your wish. One mold, many possibilities. Today and tomorrow.

Gaffer: Colin O’Reilly

Read about the Valence system in the news

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