Interview with designer Lance Stephenson

I always enjoy getting to speak with designers. It is fascinating to discover what types of materials they work with, why they choose those materials, what influences they have and who inspires them. This was true with an interview I recently had with Lance Stephenson. Lance creates furniture designs made of concrete and steel. I was immediately interested to learn more about his concrete creations.

Interview

Tell me a little about yourself.

I am self taught wherever my interests, or perhaps a better word would be, obsessions, take me. As a child my primary creative outlet was photography. I had my own darkroom from about the age of 12. As a young adult for about three years I carried a Pentax 6x7 (thats 5 pounds of camera) everywhere I went. I mean everywhere. I didn't go a single rock concert or shop at the price club, or any where else that didn't allow cameras in. Anyway I'm grateful for my obsessions, because I do not know how I'd get out of bed in the morning without them.

What made you decide to work in concrete?

Concrete has been an interest for me for some years. I have researched construction technique and materials quite a bit. I am building some structures for my future home and work. In so doing I have developed a great admiration for this material. It is capable of far more than side walks and tilt up buildings. Concrete can form resistant structures, like ocean going sailboats with hulls less than 1/2" thick, or thin shell domes, vaults etc. To quote Pier Luigi Nervi, "Reinforced concrete is the greatest structural material yet devised by mankind".

Can you tell me a little about your work and what inspired you to do these?

Well I just really enjoy making things, and I need a cottage industry. Furniture seems a good fit because I can employ any number of different disciplines, from design to finished piece. It is important to me that the work itself is not boring. The genesis for these tables came after the first time I saw ground and polished concrete floors and the modern tools used for doing this. Constructional process is often inspirational for me. I'll see how one thing is done, and I'll think about how I might exploit that for something similar or for something not so similar. That was just the start. I knew I didn't want a big chunky design, like what comes to mind when you think of a concrete table or a concrete anything for that matter. My wife drew a picture of the basic leg shape on a cocktail napkin and boom, I was off on another obsession. The coffee table came first, then the computer table and dining table later. As far as personal aesthetics go, I tend to go for sleek structurally efficient designs.

Continue reading "Interview with designer Lance Stephenson" »

DesignNobis takes creativity Forward

This is a most creative table and chair set that pushes together to conceal the chairs within the table. The Privy from DesignNobis a Turkish product, has an incredible way of saving space and being just plain cool. It was designed by a group of students under the watchful eye of Hakan Garsu, a professor of industrial design at Middle East University. The collection of award winning designs will be featured in (BOB) Best of Best magazine in 2007.

Add some Class with Ultraglas

If you are looking for a great way to add color, texture, and elegance to your home Ultraglas may be the perfect thing. UltraGlas meets all codes for safety glass and is available in hundreds of standard textures, patterns and designs. Shapes, sizes, colors, finishes and edge treatments can all be specified. In addition tempering, bending, frosting, and silvering make it good for all installation conditions, even flooring. I am personally amazed at the possibilities and how great this product looks.

Modern Desk by XYZ

Convenience seems to be driving many of the new furniture designs as it does so many other aspects of our lives. XYZ designs from Cape Town South Africa is right there with the coolest desk I have seen in a long time. This computer/desk combo looks like a Mac but performs and upgrades like a PC. All the cables and computer components are contained within the desk and the top lifts for internal access. On the side of the desk reside the CD, RW/DVD, USB, and Hot Keys for a complete computer experience.

Digital Dawn Self Regulating Window Blind

How about a window blind that brightens or dims as its surroundings change. The Digital Dawn uses electroluminescent technology to regulate the brightness. As the blind is effected by darkness the glow will increase and vise versa. The concept of photosynthesis is mimicked as the Digital Dawn seems to grow a botanical glow.