Maison et Objet: Now! Le Off

Take a seat among five new options spotted at the show

One particularly compelling component of this year’s Maison et Objet design tradeshow during Paris Design Week was the exhibition showcasing young, up-and-coming designers, “Now: Le Off!” Among the innovative design offerings we noticed particularly creative takes on seating, from voluminous wooden clouds to table-stool hybrids. Here, the most outstanding places to perch. It wasn’t the sleek shape or supple leather that made Frederic Dejeant‘s new …

Interview: Richard Branson on Design

Our interview with the entrepreneur on the importance of design in building a brand

by Rod Kurtz When you board a Virgin America plane, distinct aesthetics—purple ambient lights, black leather seats and a flight crew smartly clad in Banana Republic uniforms—make it immediately clear this airline is different. Like the rest of Sir Richard Branson‘s properties, Virgin America launched in 2007 as a brash upstart in a traditional industry—an attempt to jostle the stalwart carriers and give air travel …

Puxxle

Portuguese designer sisters Luisa Lente and Catarina Lente rethink the puzzle

Growing up, sisters Luisa and Catarina Lente were as fascinated by classic jigsaw puzzles as they were by complex virtual games like SimCity2000. Drawing connections between the pixels that made up their online worlds and the pieces of their favorite board games, the Lentes decided to create a kind of hybrid to bring their pixelated world into the tangible realm. Part puzzle part pixel, their …