SKUUMA soft surface design competition 2008

As the Platinum Sponsor of the Skuuma Design Competition, Luxology would like to congratulate the winners and their designs as seen at Dutch Design Week (Oct. 2008).

Grand Prix Winner: Fons Schobbers

The Grand Prix winner concept is called Elizabeth — it combines the presence of a classical statue with ergonomic bench seating for two. Designer Fons Schobbers designed the shape by cutting and scraping into a full-size prototype untll the final exciting shape appeared.

In this process the ergonomics was one of the main issues along with fostering communication — in a clever interpretation of victorian-era love seats, the bench seats are arranged so that the bench users face one another.

Best use of modo: Norbert Geelen

The best use of modo winner is Norbert Geelen for his concept titled Wrap-up. Wrap-up is a modular seating system with a variable cushions. The cushions are wrapped around the central base and have a chain-like inner structure.

The visitors of the Dutch Design Week (85,000 people in attendence) gave the most votes for this design, one of twenty other concepts designed in modo.

View the entry here (PDF file, 1.6mb, opens in new window)

Second Place: Jan and Dannie

The second place winner goes to Jan and Dannie for the UM Chair which combines function with a new, contemporary look. Its aesthetics are technological but kind. Rough looking, yet soft to the touch. It’s a tangible piece of furniture that upgrades every interior.

The UM chair is very comfortable because of its foam seating; it can be coated in a variety of colors. It’s water-resistant and can be used both indoors and outdoors. A high-quality anodized aluminum frame makes the UM strong but elegant. It’s also stackable, which makes it ideal for office interiors and convention centers.

View the entry here (PDF file, 3mb, opens in new window)

Third Place: Boaz Cohen and Sayaka Yamamoto

The third place winner is Boaz Cohen and Sayaka Yamamoto for FOAM SWEET HOME – a children’s furniture concept inspired by jigsaw puzzles. It features various life-size interior elements which are both playful and functional. FOAM SWEET HOME is made out of one foam block, resulting in a minimal material waste.

FOAM SWEET HOME is ideal for spaces of all sizes – the different elements can be stored in the house-shaped base, which can serve as a shelf when the parts are being used. FOAM SWEET HOME is soft and safe, and makes it easy to create a colorful, dynamic and friendly environment.

View the entry here (PDF file, 600k, opens in new window)

Fourth Place: Tamara Abrar and Stefan Zinecker

The fourth place winners are Tamara Abrar and Stefan Zineckeris. Their Rococo chair concept is an ingenious design consisting of a special canvas material (with fine pores that make it slightly permeable) printed with a construction pattern over polyurethane foam.

Together, these materials make the Rococo-inspired chair both airy and easy to construct.

View the entry here (PDF file, 2.1mb, opens in new window)

Fifth Place: Naty Moshkovich

The fifth place winner is Naty Moshkovich for the Soft Act lamp concept. It’s a soft lamp, made of foam, that can be thrown on the floor, or even kicked about. It has a soft feeling and thus a unique appearance.

View the entry here (PDF file, 1.1mb, opens in new window)

Meet the SKUUMA Competition Jury

Brian Walker  CEO, Herman Miller

Brian C. Walker is the President and CEO of Herman Miller, a position he has held since 2004. Headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan, Herman Miller is a leading provider of contract furniture and has annual revenues of over 2 Billion US Dollars.

Sean Yoo   Designer, apt 5 Design

Sean Yoo received a degree in Industrial Design at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.He has won numerous awards for his designs including First Place in the Concorso Young & Design 2002 at the Salone Internationale del Mobile in Milan and his work has been featured in many major design publications including The International Design Yearbook 2003 and 2004.

Greg Finney   Founder, 2Modern

Greg Finney is a co-founder of 2Modern.com, an online furniture design retailer based in Mill Valley, California. He is one of the primary buyers for the 2Modern store and splits time between New York and California, visiting with designers and staying on top of the latest trends in modern design.

Takashi Yamada   Yanko Design

Takashi Yamada is the publisher of Yanko Design, a web magazine dedicated to introducing the best modern international design, covering from industrial design, concepts, technology, interior design, architecture, exhibition and fashion. Yankodesign.com is one of the world's most popular online design magazine.

Maarten Baas   Designer

Dutch designer Maarten Baas is known for series of charred furniture, popularly known as the Smoke series. Baas’ Smoke chandelier was showcased at the Victoria and Albert Museum 2004 exhibition Brilliant in London while a Smoke chair was included in the Nest exhibition 2004 at the Stedelijk Museum in Amsterdam.