4th year Product Design Engineers have unveiled the outcomes of a special project – Retail Therapy – exploring luxury, which was run in partnership with the award-winning GSA shop. This is the first ever
collaboration between the GSA shop and the ground-breaking academic programme which
has produced designers working for internationally-renowned companies ranging
from Jaguar Landrover to Dyson International. A special range of luxury products including walnut and steel chopsticks, concrete
plant holders and turned ash tea cups,
have been made in limited editions and are on sale at the GSA shop.
collaboration between the GSA shop and the ground-breaking academic programme which
has produced designers working for internationally-renowned companies ranging
from Jaguar Landrover to Dyson International. A special range of luxury products including walnut and steel chopsticks, concrete
plant holders and turned ash tea cups,
have been made in limited editions and are on sale at the GSA shop.
Retail
Therapy was initiated by lecturers on the Product Design Engineering programme to challenge the students to
respond to a live brief.
Therapy was initiated by lecturers on the Product Design Engineering programme to challenge the students to
respond to a live brief.
“When I approached the GSA shop with the
idea of a live project I was keen to get them involved from the very start,” says
programme tutor Hugh Pizey. “By securing a real-world platform for sales of the
final outcomes the students were given a particularly strong imperative to think
about who would buy their product and how it would appeal, as well as meeting
high quality levels for the fully finished limited edition pieces.”
idea of a live project I was keen to get them involved from the very start,” says
programme tutor Hugh Pizey. “By securing a real-world platform for sales of the
final outcomes the students were given a particularly strong imperative to think
about who would buy their product and how it would appeal, as well as meeting
high quality levels for the fully finished limited edition pieces.”
“The students
have benefitted significantly from the project, particularly through
experimentation with materials, trying out new processes in the workshops and
finessing their skills, and above all ensuring consistency and attention to
detail throughout their product development.”
have benefitted significantly from the project, particularly through
experimentation with materials, trying out new processes in the workshops and
finessing their skills, and above all ensuring consistency and attention to
detail throughout their product development.”
“Through our collection of contemporary design
products by students, staff and alumni we aim to showcase the creative talent for
which the GSA is celebrated,” adds Annie Lavety, GSA Enterprises Retail buyer. “Although
we work closely with individual makers this is the first time we have
collaborated with a department of the School on a project. It has been
fascinating to see the students’ ideas turned into fully formed products.”
products by students, staff and alumni we aim to showcase the creative talent for
which the GSA is celebrated,” adds Annie Lavety, GSA Enterprises Retail buyer. “Although
we work closely with individual makers this is the first time we have
collaborated with a department of the School on a project. It has been
fascinating to see the students’ ideas turned into fully formed products.”
“Throughout
the process we have been able to offer the benefit of our experience of the
retail sector helping to demystify what retailers are looking for in terms of
product sourcing, packaging, pricing and more.”
the process we have been able to offer the benefit of our experience of the
retail sector helping to demystify what retailers are looking for in terms of
product sourcing, packaging, pricing and more.”
The products
Christian Pomeroy’s walnut/ash wood and molten
steel Chopsticks
steel Chopsticks
“For this design, I aimed to experiment
with welding as an aesthetic process, and I wanted to employ it in new ways but always with respect to hand-made objects,” says Christian Pomeroy. “The result
is a very tactile and visually interesting material. Similar to
how icicles are formed, steel is built up from itself to create a free-form twig-like, natural structure. The wood,
by contrast, is smooth and regular, giving the chopstick a traditional tip to
eat with.”
Katherine Moriarty Concrete Gradients – moulded and coloured concrete plant holders
Each limited edition planter has been designed to
work either individually or as part of a set.
work either individually or as part of a set.
“The inspiration for the design came
from experimentation with the material and process,” explains Katherine, “and
looking at the use of concrete in architecture, in particular the Brutalism
movement. I chose to work with concrete as it was a material I had never used
before and as an engineer, I am interested in the involvement it has had with modern
structures.”
from experimentation with the material and process,” explains Katherine, “and
looking at the use of concrete in architecture, in particular the Brutalism
movement. I chose to work with concrete as it was a material I had never used
before and as an engineer, I am interested in the involvement it has had with modern
structures.”
Silicone
moulds were made from handmade forms. Both white and coloured concrete were
mixed separately, allowing both parts to bleed together within the moulds. The colour gradients in
the planters soften the structures and give the pieces an added interest.
moulds were made from handmade forms. Both white and coloured concrete were
mixed separately, allowing both parts to bleed together within the moulds. The colour gradients in
the planters soften the structures and give the pieces an added interest.
Sophie Jones: Cu
Desk accessories in copper and beech wood
Desk accessories in copper and beech wood
The Cu Desk range is inspired
by engineering which is often overlooked in our built environment. Made
from re-purposed industrial copper piping, complemented by locally sourced
maple wood, each piece is handmade and so may vary slightly in size. The set,
which includes two pencil pots and a smaller container for storing
any miscellaneous items, makes a contemporary addition to any desk space.
by engineering which is often overlooked in our built environment. Made
from re-purposed industrial copper piping, complemented by locally sourced
maple wood, each piece is handmade and so may vary slightly in size. The set,
which includes two pencil pots and a smaller container for storing
any miscellaneous items, makes a contemporary addition to any desk space.
Kelsey Kordakis: Tangram
– a water jet cut ceramic puzzle and bamboo box.
– a water jet cut ceramic puzzle and bamboo box.
an elegant new take on a classic Chinese
transformation puzzle
transformation puzzle
“I designed
Tangram to appeal as beautiful gift, for a deep thinker, and to be treasured
long term,” explains Kelsey. “All the puzzle
pieces are made using re-purposed china dinnerware, to give new life to an old, but cherished, item.” Each delicate piece in Tangram was meticulously shaped
using water jet technology and the puzzle is housed in a handcrafted bamboo
box.
Tangram to appeal as beautiful gift, for a deep thinker, and to be treasured
long term,” explains Kelsey. “All the puzzle
pieces are made using re-purposed china dinnerware, to give new life to an old, but cherished, item.” Each delicate piece in Tangram was meticulously shaped
using water jet technology and the puzzle is housed in a handcrafted bamboo
box.
Andreas Eliassen 100 cubes
Various materials, machined into cubes and hand
finished
finished
“I am
inspired by the interaction between different materials and the tactile nature
of objects,” says Andreas. “This is the
beginning of a series of works that will comprise 100 materials, all shaped
into cubes, which will at once encourage the appreciation of the materials
themselves and the interplay between them. I’ve worked to investigate the best
ways to shape and finish each material, from cutting stone to polishing steel.
Five sides show how the material was shaped, while one is finished to reveal
what the finished material can become.”
inspired by the interaction between different materials and the tactile nature
of objects,” says Andreas. “This is the
beginning of a series of works that will comprise 100 materials, all shaped
into cubes, which will at once encourage the appreciation of the materials
themselves and the interplay between them. I’ve worked to investigate the best
ways to shape and finish each material, from cutting stone to polishing steel.
Five sides show how the material was shaped, while one is finished to reveal
what the finished material can become.”
Andrew Barclay: T-Cup – Turned ash wood
“Tea drinking
has a history stretching across the globe and back a number of centuries,” says Andrew. “With
the recent revival in interest, T-Cup aims to bring a contemporary feel to this
luxurious pastime” Inspired
by wooden cups originating in Japan, these white ash drinking vessels have been
handcrafted using traditional methods, to create a unique product perfect for
enjoying the latest tea tasting experiments. “I chose White Ash because of the ease of lathe working and
aesthetics,” adds Andrew. “The grain is very well defined and thus gives an attractive
finish. This project has allowed me to develop woodturning and finishing
skills, including the uncommon usage of a faceplate to enable hollowing out of
the cups.”
has a history stretching across the globe and back a number of centuries,” says Andrew. “With
the recent revival in interest, T-Cup aims to bring a contemporary feel to this
luxurious pastime” Inspired
by wooden cups originating in Japan, these white ash drinking vessels have been
handcrafted using traditional methods, to create a unique product perfect for
enjoying the latest tea tasting experiments. “I chose White Ash because of the ease of lathe working and
aesthetics,” adds Andrew. “The grain is very well defined and thus gives an attractive
finish. This project has allowed me to develop woodturning and finishing
skills, including the uncommon usage of a faceplate to enable hollowing out of
the cups.”
Calum
Doig: Folium Beaten sheet copper
leaves on Carrara marble
Doig: Folium Beaten sheet copper
leaves on Carrara marble
Each
leaf has been produced by hand, ensuring no two are the same
leaf has been produced by hand, ensuring no two are the same
“The
inspiration for this product was the uniqueness and beauty of autumn leaves as
they fall from the tree,” explains Calum. “These particular leaves are modelled on
specimens from an indigenous copper beech tree found nearby to where I live in
Glasgow. The copper has been beaten using a hammer and anvil then hand cut into
shape. The marble is hand cut and polished with two edges rough broken to show
its natural centre.”
inspiration for this product was the uniqueness and beauty of autumn leaves as
they fall from the tree,” explains Calum. “These particular leaves are modelled on
specimens from an indigenous copper beech tree found nearby to where I live in
Glasgow. The copper has been beaten using a hammer and anvil then hand cut into
shape. The marble is hand cut and polished with two edges rough broken to show
its natural centre.”
Other products in the range include: Tilly
Swanson’s Clean Machine (cast statement soap, handmade to an ecological recipe);
etched base);
warm feeling that comes with a good cup of tea) and Hannah Stephen’s Pieces of Time (environmentally friendly soy wax woodwick candles and holder set).
Swanson’s Clean Machine (cast statement soap, handmade to an ecological recipe);
etched base);
warm feeling that comes with a good cup of tea) and Hannah Stephen’s Pieces of Time (environmentally friendly soy wax woodwick candles and holder set).
The Retail Therapy limited-edition design products are on sale at the GSA Shop (in store only).
The Glasgow School of Art Shop is located in the
Reid Building at 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3 6RF. Open 10am – 4.30pm, 7
days | www.gsashop.co.uk .
Every purchase supports
the School.
Reid Building at 164 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G3 6RF. Open 10am – 4.30pm, 7
days | www.gsashop.co.uk .
Every purchase supports
the School.
Ends
Further information
press@gsa.ac.uk
Note for Editors
The Product Design Engineering programme has been run jointly by The Glasgow School of Art and the University of Glasgow for almost a quarter of a century