Interview about Nose Bookend, winner of the A' Decorative Items and Homeware Design Award 2024
The nose bookend Pop Art inspired sculptures offer a playfully artistic element to any library of books. These functional pieces not only serve to hold books in place between shelves or on tabletops but also infuse a sculptural elegance into the space doubling as a canvas for creative expression. The noses also represent dichotomous concepts, such as light versus dark or convex versus concave, inviting viewers into a contemplative dialogue about societal norms surrounding aesthetics and beauty.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsSince the beginning we always wanted to create an object referencing a human anatomical feature. The idea for the Nose Bookends evolved from this concept, leading us to design a pair of complementary bookends, one concave and one convex. The decision to use the nose shape was driven by its distinct, recognizable form and its triangular structure, which made it both visually dynamic and functional enough to hold books from both ends.
We imagined the noses supporting a set of books from either side. We decided to design a pair of noses with a complementary nature in order to emphasize each one’s form. By choosing the human nose as our medium, we wanted to spark a dialogue about beauty standards and the ways in which contrasting elements can come together to form a harmonious whole. The bookends reflect this contrast, where each form serves as a counterpart to the other.
Our background in computer-generated imagery and visual effects played a crucial role in the development of the Nose Bookend. Both noses were digitally modeled in a specialized 3D sculpting program, allowing us to refine every detail. The extensive study of human anatomy from our previous VFX work provided us with a deep understanding of the shapes and structures, which guided our decision to use the human nose as our medium. Our expertise in 3D sculpting proved invaluable, enabling us to precisely model the concave and convex forms in a digital space before translating them into physical prototypes.
The product was digitally sculpted, then a prototype was printed and finally a mold was made out it, in order for the copies to be casted. The only difference between traditional craftsmanship and our pipeline is that in the case of the former the prototype is physically sculpted while in the latter its’ digitally sculpted. However every other step remains identical. When it comes to the objects, when done digitally, it is possible to achieve your end goal much faster and you also have the luxury of making quick edits or any undos which is a great time saver.Additionally, using 3D printing allows us to achieve our prototypes faster but we didn't want to get restricted by using PLA to achieve the final copy result. Instead, we can use our preferred casting material which in this case was Jesmonite.
Since the beginning, we’ve always tried to design intriguing-looking objects that also function successfully. We always keep in mind that form follows function and not the other way round, since if an object looks “cool” but doesn’t serve the purpose it was designed for initially, it will just end up collecting dust in some corner of a room or basement.
We carefully considered the dimensions of the Nose Bookend based around the typical size of books found in an average household, particularly novels, historical, sociological, and philosophical books. The proportions were designed to ensure the bookends would be functional for a wide range of books.The convex bookend, with its larger volume and weight, is specifically designed to support taller and heavier art books, ensuring stability and balance. The final size of both bookends was chosen to be large enough to make a strong sculptural presence on a shelf or in a bookcase, while still being perfectly practical and not too heavy to change places.
For the nose bookends we have chosen the casted material to be a sustainable eco-resin, Jesmonite. It’s a very versatile material that renders any level of detail because of it’s fine grain. At the same time, as a material it’s considered to be a lot more environmentally friendly compared to other types of resin and leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Additionally, Jesmonite provides a substantial, stable finish that complements the weight and presence of our Nose designs, and the fact that the final casts can be painted to our desired variety of colors is an extra bonus.
The main source of inspiration for this object was Harry Allen’s Roller Skate. Harry Allen designed it as something that can be used either as a door stopper or as a bookend. Since this is a product we have in our home and have observed it for years, for sure we were influenced to come up with another non-conventional design for this particular use.
Nearly all of the products in our catalog are available in a variety of color options, and the Nose Bookend is no exception. We strongly believe that offering multiple color choices allows each buyer to find the one that best suits their individual style and interior needs. This flexibility makes it easier for customers to integrate our designs into different environments, ensuring that the object complements a wide range of home décor styles. By providing this level of customization, we create an opportunity for personal expression. From our experience, we've noticed that neutral colors like white or gray tend to fit in easily, but we’ve always had a deep appreciation for the impact that color can have in an interior space.
We’re hopeful that the Nose Bookend’s recognition at the A’ Design awards will push us to continue thinking in non-conventional ways for future products. And will give us the courage to keep on being bold and colorful with our future design ideas.
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