Designers On The Block DOTB
Once again, IDSwest is assisting to help develop our local industry in original design, by providing new comers, and small companies with the opportunity to show at the event. The DOTB infrastructure is a prefabricated structure that allows 10 companies to exhibit at IDSwest for a reduced rate in a smaller feature space at the show.
From the worlds most celebrated designs, to the future of design, IDSwest is pleased to offer a variety of design and provide opportunity and a voice to those who are new in the industry. Explore the DOTB section at IDSwest 2009 and discover the next design superstar or find your next design treasure.
2008 DOTB Participant - Steven Pollock of Woodstone Design.
Our Designers on the Block:
Casika Modern
Located in Vancouver, Casika Modern is Peter Chen's creative vehicle and company for his furniture design explorations. He is a furniture designer with a background in architectural and interior design. While he has great respect for traditional woodworking methods, his furniture focuses on design and materials exploration, rather than tradition.
His design aesthetics is decidedly Modern. Each piece has its own story derived from the material used and the inherent proportion thereof. He strives for honesty in structure and intent. In his work, every aspect has a function, while nothing is mere decoration. For each piece, he strives for design purity, and harmony from the deliberate articulation of function, form, proportion and structure."
Click here for Casika Modern's website.
Contexture Design
Contexture Design is Nathan Lee and Trevor Coghill. The design duo's work emphasizes simple, elegant and sustainable design, and is often inspired by reclaimed materials with historical, cultural or environmental significance. Contexture is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada.
Designers at Large
John Ross Design is an online company that produces home furnishings from the cast off remains of the logging industry. These unique pieces retain the form of the source wood while the subtle, elegant finishing reflects the sensitivites of the designer. TImeless and earthy, these pieces are complimentary to traditional, transitional and contemporary interiors.Click here for John Ross Design's website.
Gise Design
After receiving a bachelor of environmental design studies from Dalhousie University in 2006, designer Matthew Gise returned to home British Columbia to pursue a career in architecture and a passion for furniture design.
Based in Kamloops, recently formed Gise Design specializes in modern design featuring clean forms and sustainable materials. Grid Table is their first offering.
Outside Contemporary Garden Design
Outside Contemporary Garden Design produces engaging gardens on balconies, patios, rooftops and urban landscapes. We bring over 12 years of horticultural experience and artistic flair to every project to make it a unique success.
Click here for Outside Contemporary Garden Design.
Sandra Fowler PV. Art Studio
I am producing Fine Art Glass and integrating it with Photovoltaics to produce a product that is both visually beautiful, and has a renewable source of energy, for Architectural installations and freestanding units for interiors and exteriors.
I also produce Fine Art Glass for doors, dividers, gardens and pathways.
Using a kilning process, I can produce uninterrupted pieces of fused art glass 27” x 57”. All large pieces are treated to meet Canada’s safety requirements for tempered glass.
Ideal for the Leed builder, my work with photovoltaics can meet the requirements for Innovative Design as part of a teaching element for the public. One of the barriers facing the use of solar energy is the lack of familiarity that the general public has to solar technology. By integrating fine art glass with photovoltaics I am able to introduce the uncommon to the common place, allowing people to see the possibility of solar power in their own homes and work places. I have worked closely with my suppliers to produce a product that is almost completely made in British Columbia. Custom made to suit your project and your budget.
Click here for Sandra Fowler's website.
Se:math Industries
Se:math Industries is in the business of making innovative and sustainable brick products including brick murals, glazed brick tiles, color changing pavers, branded wine racks and its century old bricks. Se:math Industries, a Sumas First Nation enterprise, owns and operates one of Canada’s oldest and historic bee hive kilns.
Click here for Se:math Industries's website.
Shawn Place Design
Shawn Place Designs is a small furniture company located in northern British Columbia and is headed by designer/craftsman Shawn Place. The company produces beautifully designed, handcrafted modern furniture of the highest quality, and this year marks the release of its first line of furniture. Every piece of furniture is hand-built by Shawn Place, from the shaping of the timber to the weaving of the seat, something almost unheard of in this age of mass production. It is the goal company’s goal to bring high quality, traditional craftsmanship back to the forefront of the furniture industry.
Click here for Shawn Place Design's website.
Venetian Decor
Can you feel their presence from the vintage photo? Is your imagination running wild with thoughts from a bygone era? If yes you might like to take a peek into my interpretation of history. Looking at a photo of my great grand parents and great uncle, I realize I know nothing of the past. With unanswered questions and the death of my father, I had a desire to fill this void in my life. This was the beginning of my quest and the start of my company; Venetian Decor. My Passion is beautiful one-of-a-kind items made from vintage fur coats and buttons like my great grandmother owned. "Lets preserve our history and our world." My in-house boutique designs and manufactures beautiful one of a kind items made from vintage fur coats, rhinestone buttons, brooches and french furniture your great grandmother would approve of. All of the components are eco-friendly including VOC free paints, lavender bee's wax top coat, down filled cushions and natural wool stuffing. I truly believe that these items have a place in the future of our world. Without our great grandmothers, great grandfathers, and skilled artisans these items would not be possible.
Click here for Venetian Decor's website.
