Aesthetically Minimal – Red Oak Circuit by Sara Martinsen
Sara Martinsen has been on my radar for a while now. Her use of natural materials, especially found materials, is quite exceptional and makes her work stand out from the pack. This particular piece titled ‘Red Oak Circuit’ is a unique sculpture that has the concept of using underutilized
Order & Disorder – Glass Sculpture by Lene Bodker
It feels as though there’s something symbolic about nature’s representation in the world of art. It’s been a common theme since the start of time and still intrigues us today. When we are born, millions of organisms and bacteria inhabit our bodies and continue to do so until we pass. Nature ca
Delving Deeper – Ceramics by HoJung Kim
In my opinion, one of the under appreciated areas of ceramic design is the exploration of surfaces and textures. Shapes are impressive, but there’s something much deeper when it comes to the clay surface and the qualities it can transmit. For this reason when I saw the work of UK-based South K
New at OEN Shop – Fresh Stacking Block Colour Ways
We are pleased to introduce these two new Stacking Block variants by Japanese design studio A4. By using the skills of the talented woodworkers in the area of Yoshino, each set is carefully bevelled by hand from a mixture of natural wood to produce sculptural play objects for the home. Explore the c
OEN Feature – The Hornvarefabrikken Workshop
I have been fascinated with how things are made from a young age, so it’s great to look inside the workshops of our makers and see some of the techniques used to produce their wonderful objects by hand. This time we highlight the work of Hornvarefabrikken in Denmark. Thanks to designer Sara Br
Living With Nature – Design by Maxime Bellaunay
Just like the famous modernist architects who wanted to ‘live with nature’, I am very much enjoying these objects by French designer Maxime Bellaunay who also has a similar concept of combining nature into his design work. Maxime uses the raw material as his first point of exploration, looking a
Bue & Kloss – Brushes by Poppy Lawman
Poppy Lawman, a British designer based in Oslo, Norway, creates these brush designs that are a wonderful fusion of form and function. The two series that I’m highlighting here today are the Bue and Kloss series. The Bue series is especially striking and is comprised of flowing, fluid forms tha
Journey of Light – Yasuke Lamp by Studio Brichet Ziegler
Studio Brichet Ziegler is an innovative design firm founded by French designers Caroline Ziegler and Pierre Brichet. Their goal is to create functional objects that bear both a technical and a poetic nature. For more than a decade the duo has been developing minimal-looking furniture and lighting pi
Potential of Light – SOZOU Lighting Design
Founded by Melbourne-based designer Kohtaroh Colwell-Matsuura, SOZOU studio specializes in the production of minimal-looking metal lighting pieces that create a Zen-like ambiance. Next to being connected to eastern and western philosophies, the studio’s geometric lamps bring to mind the legacy
Maker Profile – Metalworker Ruka Kikuchi
Ruka Kikuchi, also known by his nickname Lue, makes utensils and accessories out of brass in the Japanese city of Setouchi. Born in 1983 in Soja, a city located in Okayama Prefecture, Ruka trained to be a metalworker under his father Masaaki Kikuchi in early 2000. After a six-year apprenticeship, he
Free Guide – Our Top 10 Locations in Japan
Japan was where my journey began when I started OEN in around 2007. By supporting Japanese artists and highlighting their unique work online I have been lucky enough to travel to the country a few times each year since, which in turn has enabled me to visit many inspiring locations. This free guide
Playful Design – Everyday Objects by Ashley Corbett-Smith
Can everyday objects be functional and fun at the same time? Australian designer Ashley Corbett-Smith creates playful-looking monochromatic functional objects made with long-lasting and sturdy materials like bronze or brass. His designs normally stem from a conceptual analysis of the emotional conne
