An Interview with Dirk Vander Kooij

Some words from design's robot-driven Dutchman as he preps his live demo for Milan

Dutch designer Dirk van der Kooij is obsessed with rapid prototyping. Best known for his Endless Chair, made from a continuous string of recycled plastic using a 3D printer, the design has grown into a range of products all with the goal of making the production process more visible. Speaking at Design Indaba recently, van der Kooij explained, “the best thing about recycled plastic is …

Fatto a Mano for the Future

Fendi and architects Aranda/Lasch interpret organic algorithms through craftsmanship

Technology and craft are common buzzwords these days, but the recent collaboration between Fendi and architecture duo Aranda/Lasch explores the duality with an unusual concept. Dubbed “Modern Primitives,” the project started with Aranda/Lasch’s sculptural installations based on a crystal structure and its “forbidden symmetries”, which debuted at the 2010 Venice Biennale before landing stateside at Design Miami last December. The sculptures, the result of the …

Havaianas Soul Collection

The renowned Brazilian flip-flop maker steps into slip-ons and sneakers

Before Havaianas was born, its parent company Alpargatas, founded in 1907, exclusively sold espadrilles. (Alpargatas actually means espadrilles in Spanish.) Going back to these roots, the Brazilian maker of the popular flip-flops will introduce espadrilles, ballet flats and sneakers next Monday. While the soles use the Brazilian company’s same ultra-soft rubber (a top-secret formula) that make their sandals so comfy, different materials for the uppers …