The Iconic Panels caught my attention in the first year at the design school in 2006. Helsinki's model carved pattern engraved in my memory. The simple, understated and peaceful lines of bare birch branches, carved into wood core panel and finished with white matte laminate layer would compliment the scenery of any Nordic inspired design. In 2009 B+N announced the launch of Iconic Furniture, a collection that fit with the panels. At that time, the wall panels were available in 15 patterns, and 13 color choices, including reclaimed wood options. B+N Industries from Burlingame, CA is a multiline manufacturer and design company, originally founded as a product distributor. The company has developed and broadened inventive systems and various product lines providing high levels of functionality and aesthetics for almost three decades. Having much of the production based in California, B+N complies with the state’s aggressive environmental laws and power consumption policies.Their ability to produce fixtures from sensibly farmed or post consumer raw, VOC and PVC free materials, show the desire to manufacture responsibly. The life cycle of the final product is considered in the initial design phase. The quality is intrinsic to all products and inherent flexibility of modular systems extend the usefulness and client's need for a change in the future.

Hudson's expansion in last 4 years eventuate in focus on the hospitality market. Simple yet striking designs are perfectly suitable for today's hotel and restaurant spaces; being trendsetters in life style targeting very specific client. Lucky consumers witness the highest excellence, an exhibit of "haut design", which therefore might become a preferred destination of their choice for future visits. I admire owners and operators of these functional spaces who don't compromise their clients' experience to comfort the cleaning stuff instead. The visionaries understand that need for beauty is ubiquitous in human nature and hardwired into our brains. While I'm looking at the new Hudson's pendant "Dragon 2011", Plato's words come to my mind; "Beauty ensnares hearts, captures minds, and stirs up emotional wildfires". Hudson Furniture Inc. respects the natural forms of trees and inherent grain of wood with well defined organic lines and geometric forms using traditional joinery techniques and hand rubbed oil finishes. All Hudson furniture is available in a variety of wood species such as Claro Walnut, Black Walnut, Myrtle, Jasmine, Acacia, Satinwood and Ebonized Pine. Here is the green part of the story; none of the woods they use are harvested from old growth forests. The wood slabs are domestically sourced from either salvaged trees or wind/storm damaged trees. The trees have an average life span of 250-300 years. When these trees die, they gradually do so from the crest to the roots. The farmers or the tree owners thus have to remove these trees as they might cause damage to houses, other trees or outlying areas. Hudsdon integrates various wood species into their designs to produce unique works of art.  "Hudson Furniture Inc. has also recently added a line of solid walnut furniture designs by startchitects Renzo Piano, Mario Botta and Terry Dwan".

The term “environment” was regarded on not just from the perspective of ecological environment concerning issue but in a more holistic way; including conditions of the mind and the body. The emphasis of this years event was on the assumption that revolutionary movement for the environment will not occur unless all parties of the society including companies, government, media, creators and private citizens work together. The belief is that design and art posses the power to bring all elements together to change the behavior and tendencies of society. One of the exhibitors was designer Tokujin Yoshioka with genuine interpretation of this philosophy. Yoshioka explains his concept substantialized in transparent phone called X-Ray Mobil. “Socially, transparency has a great buzz nowadays. Our global behavior of indulgence, greed and lack of concern for conservation has brought us to a pivotal time of fear, uncertainty and lack of trust. Transparency implies openness, communication and accountability. We have seen transparency being implemented by governments through efforts to establish trust with the people.”  Tokujin Yoshioka, native of Japan, has worked on many projects with Issey Miyake for nearly 20 years. His installations, lighting, furniture and product designs have been highly evaluated as works of art more than design works. One of the memorable designs from his studio is the "Bouquet Chair" designed for Moroso, introduced in 2008 at The Milan Furniture Fair.

Since the moment our local sales rep brought the Arktura catalogue to the office, I was trying to make time to enjoy flipping page by page and study the graceful lines of the pictured designs. The images are resembling ultra modern European style in combination with Japanese minimalism but made in the USA, with resonating sustainable efforts. The majority of the products are made using durable long-lasting materials with high recycled content that produce zero landfill waste; and, at the end of their life cycle are fully recyclable. The finishes release no toxins during application or in site. The presentation binder has the cover made out of the cartboard. “Our firm is committed to energy sustainability through solar and wind power”. The LA based team of designers with reputable experience have done a successful step in getting out of the comfort zone and left behind the eclecticism common in the US residential and small scale commercial market. These designs are asking for public exposure and debate not just due the striking color selection and glossy finishes but by the geometric precision, balance and simplicity of each form resulting from the close focus on the integration of design, with the development of new manufacturing technologies. “This way design and manufacture take on a new synergies, setting our designers free to explore new forms and use materials unseen in the industry”. Designers involved have professional degrees with practice of national and international exposure and we hope their determination to deliver extraordinary pieces that set new standards for creativity and innovation is infinite.

Canvas goods are combination of natural materials with interesting textures. Unstructured, soft shapes and subtle colors define a look that is understated yet elegant. Canvas continuously aims for a collection that represents simple, sustainable style made under fair trade and green principles. Canvas also gives back 10% of everything they make to help artisans in the developing world. They claim that: "There’s nothing like helping people create sustainable businesses in order to make a meaningful dent in poverty and boost their confidence and self-respect. For Canvas, it's not just sourcing the goods the right way, it's also designing them the right way. Everything is designed and made with love, so that you can delight in our products for a very long time to come."