New designer table lamps and a cute mug

Its a brand new year!

For the new year of 2009, I am hoping to add in more entries about product design and styling into my blog.. instead of the usual postings about my personal thoughts, daily routine and my job, where its getting a little too repetitive and may become a tag too boring..

To begin with, let's talk about what is good product design?

I believe good product design encompasses issues like satisfying unmet needs, ensuring ease of understandability and use, appropriate aesthetics, efficiency of production and post consumer recycling among other factors.

Please do share your own opinion on the above mentioned..

There are so many international retailers shipping good designs over all the world.. For this entry, let's look into 2 of my favorite online portals.. They do sell good designs over the web..

• 2Modern (Lightings from FLOS, Pablo, dForm, Arturo Alvarez)
• Urban Outfitters Europe (Household products)

Let's talk more about aesthetics vs functionality

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One of the most popular lines of lightings 2Modern is carrying, is from FLOS

The Castiglione brothers (Achille & Piergiacomo) and Tobia Scarpa were the first designers to work with FLOS. They established a standard of production from the very start where top quality, aesthetics and function were paramount.

FLOS proudly maintains these standards today. Many of the numerous lamps designed for FLOS by Achille and Piergiacomo Castiglione are undoubtedly some of the best-known and most successful products in the history of industrial design.


Over the years, prominent Italian and international designers have collaborated with FLOS to produce some of the most amazing lighting that is both functional and fashionable..

They includes Philippe Starck, Jasper Morrison, Antonio Citterio, Rodolfo Dordoni, Marcello Ziliani, Marc Newson, Kontantin Grcic, Marcel Wanders, Sebastian Wrong, Piero Lissoni and Tim Derhaag, among others.

Today, FLOS is a company with an international scope that offers a full range of lighting products for both architectural and residential markets. “Decorative” products have been joined by indoor and outdoor technical lighting systems with intent of further strengthening the architectural sector, while remaining firmly committed to design.

Check out these designs

FLOS - Miss K Table Lamp. Table lamp providing diffused light. Fully transparent, injection-molded PMMA polymethylmethacrylate frame; opaline, injection-molded polycarbonate internal diffuser and injection molded transparent or colored polycarbonate external diffuser completely finished with high-vacuum aluminization process. Designed by Philippe Starck .

FLOS - Ktribe Table Lamp. Table luminaire providing diffused lighting. Base, rod support and diffuser support in die-cast, polished and chrome-plated Zamak alloy. Base cover in black injection-molded PA (Nylon). Injection-molded PC (polycarbonate) opal inner diffuser. Outer diffusers in transparent PMMA (polymethylmethacrylate), silver or bronze on the inner surface, by vacuum aluminum coating. Injection-molded PC (polycarbonate) upper ring, completely transparent, or transparent brown for the outer bronze diffuser. Designed by Philippe Starck.

FLOS - Spun Table Lamp. Table/desk lamp providing diffused light. Spun metal frame and diffuser, die-cast aluminum diffuser support arms and lampholder support. White, injection-molded polycarbonate diffuser supports. Sandblasted pressed glass upper diffuser screen. Designed by Sebastian Wrong.

FLOS - Ray Table Lamp. Table lamp providing diffused lighting. Steel tube (10 mm diam.) structure, welded, brushed and chrome-plated. Diffuser support disk in die-cast, polished and chrome-plated Zamak alloy. White injection-molded PA6 (nylon) lamp cover. Injection-molded PC (polycarbonate) inner diffuser in 3% opal color. Transparent injection-molded elastic PVC (polyvinylchloride) feet. Lathe-shaped aluminum diffusers, painted white on the inside, and shiny white or black on the outside or gray-colored, blown and overlaid glass with glossy external finish.

Pablo - Tube Top Color Lamp. The now classic Tube Top 14 is now available in 6 beautiful and sophisticated transparent colors to match any décor. Mix and match them for the ultimate in color layering results. Shades are available in white with the following colored bases: Bright Green, Bright Yellow, Dark Blue, Sky Blue, Ruby Red, Hot Pink Deisgn By Peter Stathis, 2008.

A minimalist statement in form and proportion. Tube Top combines a transparent formed acrylic base to support its elegant mesh fabric shade in tension, steering away from conventional modes of construction. Its lightweight shade appears to float freely, gently tethered by its fabric cord. Manufactured by Pablo.

Pablo - Tube Top Lamp. A minimalist statement in form and proportion. Tube Top combines a transparent formed acrylic base to support its elegant mesh fabric shade in tension, steering away from conventional modes of construction. Its lightweight shade appears to float freely, gently tethered by its fabric cord. Manufactured by Pablo.

dform - Small Pucci Table Lamp. Dform products reflect an ongoing exploration of the manipulation of flat sheet materials into dynamic three dimensional forms. The result is modern lighting made of interlocking die-cut wood veneer or with layered surfaces of pattern and shadow.

All lighting comes in a choice of birch or aspen wood veneer laminate. Aspen is light in color and gives a pale yellow hue when lit. Birch is tan in color and gives an orange yellow hue when lit. Designed & Manufactured by dform.

Arturo Alvarez - Norman Table LampSmall table lamp with rectangular glass shade and stainless steel metal.

Arturo Alvarez does not make lights, lamps, chandeliers, or products. Arturo Alvarez makes original handcrafted works of art, whose grace is best appreciated when illuminated. Each diffuser is a labor of love between the artist and the final product. Only one craftsman touches the glass from panel to final product.

Every piece is an individually signed and numbered work of art. For more details on Arturo Alvarez and the manufacturing process, please click here

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And over to the other online portal, allow me to show you this very cute mug I found in Urban Outfitters. I was just checking out some of the household items on discount..


So cute right?

Hope to source for good designs on the next posting