Take 5: A Cosmic Plant Stand, a Collectible Cabinet + More

1. The Popo Chair by Ben Willett

With a market supersaturated in seats aspiring to be modernist icons, conceiving of a worthy contender is daunting. And avoiding the pitfalls of hubris, which many architectural designers succumb to when creating furniture, even more so. But Los Angeles-based, multi-hyphenate Ben Willett manages to marry artful product design with an aesthetic experience in his first foray into dining chair design with The Popo Chair. He sculpts stacked MDF into a rectilinear framework later tempered by soft edges for approachability. The final modest structure punches up with a high-gloss lacquer finish sure to be the focus of every dinner table conversation over meals around it.

2. Andreu World Launches Next Chapter in Circular Design Challenge

Activism is inextricably linked to design, and when world leaders fail us, it is up to companies and consumers alike to assume responsibility for the sake of environmental advocacy. International award-winning manufacturer Andreu World’s Circular Design Challenge champions that cause with a call to action and blueprint for other companies to adopt practices such as eco-design, zero waste management, and a coveted carbon neutral footprint. The occasion is also marked by the 23rd Andreu World International Design Contest, with a specific focus on circular design. It’s worth noting the Spanish brand’s certifications include B Corp, Cradle to Cradle, and Level 3 indoor air quality, as well as Greenhealth approval.

3. BRYLA cabinet by Serhiy and Anna Baiersdorf for Yakusha

Narratives of resilience, sensuality, and pride are deeply ingrained in Ukrainian craft as showcased by emerging design duo Serhiy and Anna Baiersdorf with BRYLA, translating to ‘boulder’. The objet d’art was commissioned by architect and designer Victoria Yakusha for her DZHERELO exhibition at this year’s Salon Art + Design in Manhattan. The brutalist-leaning home furnishing functions as both a kinetic sculpture and cabinet, symbolizing balance and unity upon assembly. Individual elements build on, complement, and enhance one another. This interplay is highlighted through its notched forms and evenly weathered surfaces, which are adorned with liquid metal and glass components. And at a time like this, her future-retro design exudes optimism the world so desperately needs.

4. Saturn’s Return Plant Stand by Micah Rosenblatt

Brooklyn-based metalworker Micah Rosenblatt has quickly become one of my favorite designers with beguiling works that exist somewhere liminal between furniture, fine art, and mysticism. As of late, his Saturn’s Return Plant Stand captivates me with its oversized body and strong graphic language. The sculpture’s focal point is a small, removable, spherical sliced steel pot suspended by a chain within a large circular element. That halo is forged from a solid steel rolled ring and stands on two equally thin legs terminating in a solid base. A smaller steel sphere floats between the vertical members creating a center of mass around which linework and pure geometry generate substantial visual gravity from its weight.

5. Ryan Lawson Paint Collection Launch

What do you look for when hunger strikes – something rich, bold, and full bodied? Or perhaps you prefer sharp and tangy to sugary sweet. How we view and consume color, so to speak, isn’t far off from the way we experience cuisine. Those with a discerning palate and an insatiable appetite for design will appreciate the latest launch from interior designer Ryan Lawson and French brand Ressource, a storied paint and wallcovering company focused on the fine art of pigment. Each of the 12 hues are nuanced enough to stand alone, yet tempered to blend well without overpowering one another. What’s more, all mineral-based formulations are sensitive to environmental issues, so you’ll never have to feel guilty about indulging.