penccil: Emerging trends

Emerging trends

penccil allows deep insights into what is happening in worldwide creative industries. We have selected a few projects representing emerging trends in the global creative industries.

In design, there is a new tendency to explore its 'missing link' with the expressions of art and a strong interest in ecology, recycling and alternative ways of making, if it is 'hacking' IKEA or employing industrial robots to build furniture from recycled plastic. Artists either discover new intersections with design and technology or rediscover the power of reduction through the simplicity of the graphite pencil. Photographers increasingly explore the hitherto overlooked and either create new worlds with digital tools or rediscover forgotten processes such as the late 19th century collodion process.

'Process' is the keyword: questioning, reinventing and rediscovering the processes of viewing, creating, and making is the main theme in all disciplines, if it is design, graphic design, photography, architecture or art. Common to all is that studios are increasingly multicultural and inspirations are taken simultaneously from East and West, North and South.

share Emerging trends

penccil.com/gallery.php?show=9584

Emerging trends: Korean designer Wonmin Park likes to play with your vision. He creates furniture objects which seem as if seen without glasses or through a wall of fog. Inspired by the creations of the Italian design group Memphis, he uses colored resin to achieve this unique effect. Find the project at #9289

Korean designer Wonmin Park likes to play with your vision. He creates furniture objects which seem as if seen without glasses or through a wall of fog. Inspired by the creations of the Italian design group Memphis, he uses colored resin to achieve this unique effect. Find the project at #9289

Emerging trends: Yokihiro Kaneuchi creates design haikus: His inspiration is in the small, mostly unnoticed processes of everyday - flowing sand, the pattern left by coffee inside its cup, the turning of water to ice. His coffee cup appears at first sight to be stained, but he stain is in fact a fine landscape painting with trees and flying birds. Find the project at #9192

Yokihiro Kaneuchi creates design haikus: His inspiration is in the small, mostly unnoticed processes of everyday - flowing sand, the pattern left by coffee inside its cup, the turning of water to ice. His coffee cup appears at first sight to be stained, but he stain is in fact a fine landscape painting with trees and flying birds. Find the project at #9192

Emerging trends: Also Israeli ceramist Michal Fargo makes the process integral to her work: She experiments with new ways of creating ceramic casts to arrive at objects with surprising shapes and delicate textures. Find the project at #9404

Also Israeli ceramist Michal Fargo makes the process integral to her work: She experiments with new ways of creating ceramic casts to arrive at objects with surprising shapes and delicate textures. Find the project at #9404

In "workbench", Paola Amabile and Alberto Fabbian, two Italian designers based in Amsterdam, integrate crafts, design, and the process of making into one piece of artistic furniture. They deal with "the flexibility of wood and the fragility of ceramics, the weaving and the dough, the drying cycle and the baking process, all are on the same table, where materials and methods complement one another and the final result is a contamination between two different worlds". Find the project at #9400

Emerging trends: Lateral office, a Toronto-based experimental architecture studio, is exemplary for a new breed of creative studios working in between disciplines. Their work

Lateral office, a Toronto-based experimental architecture studio, is exemplary for a new breed of creative studios working in between disciplines. Their work "Clearing" is an installation designed for interaction and an experience in creating personal space. Find the project at #8872

Emerging trends: Also designer Takeshi Miyakawa wants us to look at things a bit differently. He is experimenting with notions to achieve a surprising end result: His chandelier, made entirely out of wax, melts away when in use. Find the project at #8943

Also designer Takeshi Miyakawa wants us to look at things a bit differently. He is experimenting with notions to achieve a surprising end result: His chandelier, made entirely out of wax, melts away when in use. Find the project at #8943

Emerging trends: Istanbul-based Candas Sisman uses both digital and mechanical technologies to create immersive installations in between technology, design and art. Find the project at #9161

Istanbul-based Candas Sisman uses both digital and mechanical technologies to create immersive installations in between technology, design and art. Find the project at #9161

Emerging trends: Another designer working in the intersections of technology, design and art is Pascal Broccolichi from France. He designs speakers and creates installations with sounds. Find this project at #8433

Another designer working in the intersections of technology, design and art is Pascal Broccolichi from France. He designs speakers and creates installations with sounds. Find this project at #8433

Emerging trends: Kosei Komatsu creates installations with the most ephemeral of materials: Feathers, paper and soap bubbles, subtly agitated by air. Find the project at #9311

Kosei Komatsu creates installations with the most ephemeral of materials: Feathers, paper and soap bubbles, subtly agitated by air. Find the project at #9311

Emerging trends: New York artist Rosemarie Fiore gives new meaning to action painting by converting fireworks and other equipment into painting machines. Find the project at #9477

New York artist Rosemarie Fiore gives new meaning to action painting by converting fireworks and other equipment into painting machines. Find the project at #9477

Emerging trends: Jomi Evers Solheim is a Norwegian designer also experimenting with alternative production processes. In this project, he fills balloons with water and air and takes casts of these forms to create solid ceramics objects. Find the project at #9369

Jomi Evers Solheim is a Norwegian designer also experimenting with alternative production processes. In this project, he fills balloons with water and air and takes casts of these forms to create solid ceramics objects. Find the project at #9369

Emerging trends: Dutch designer Bas Van Raay is prototypical for a generation of young designers questioning classical definitions of design and art and consequently exploring the yet unexplored spaces in between. Find the project at #9483

Dutch designer Bas Van Raay is prototypical for a generation of young designers questioning classical definitions of design and art and consequently exploring the yet unexplored spaces in between. Find the project at #9483

Emerging trends: Milan based Federico Peri works with subtle recontextualization to create designs which question taken-for granted views on function and material from a philosophical viewpoint. Find the project at #9494

Milan based Federico Peri works with subtle recontextualization to create designs which question taken-for granted views on function and material from a philosophical viewpoint. Find the project at #9494

Emerging trends: Tommy Støckel approaches the design - art intersection from the other side of the divide: Working with the aesthetics of design, he creates sculptures and installations. Find this project at #8995

Tommy Støckel approaches the design - art intersection from the other side of the divide: Working with the aesthetics of design, he creates sculptures and installations. Find this project at #8995

Emerging trends: Studiomobile, an Italian design studio, works on intelligent

Studiomobile, an Italian design studio, works on intelligent "green" scenarios employing photosynthesis, water and plant growth processes. Find the project at #9493

Emerging trends: A very similar approach is taken by another Italian studio: ecoLogicStudio is working in environmental design and urban self-sufficiency. Find the project at #9250

A very similar approach is taken by another Italian studio: ecoLogicStudio is working in environmental design and urban self-sufficiency. Find the project at #9250

"Control room", a work by New York based artist Roxy Paine, combines aspects of art, interior design and documentary model making. Find the project at #9111

Emerging trends: In the meanwhile, Finnish photograper Markku Lahdesmaki shows us a control room in a Finnish power plant. The difference to Roxy Paine's work is the difference of art and life: Life has added the presence of a pensive, perhaps bored man with artistic ambitions (note the portraits on the wall). Find the project at #8722

In the meanwhile, Finnish photograper Markku Lahdesmaki shows us a control room in a Finnish power plant. The difference to Roxy Paine's work is the difference of art and life: Life has added the presence of a pensive, perhaps bored man with artistic ambitions (note the portraits on the wall). Find the project at #8722

Emerging trends: Dutch photographer Hans van Vrouwerf shows us the end of the control room and the power plant in his personal industrial archeology. Find the project at #9452

Dutch photographer Hans van Vrouwerf shows us the end of the control room and the power plant in his personal industrial archeology. Find the project at #9452

Emerging trends: Jamie Mills stands for a growing community of contemporary illustrators rediscovering the possibilities of pencil and paper to create intricate compositions with a particular handcrafted charm. Find the project at #9333

Jamie Mills stands for a growing community of contemporary illustrators rediscovering the possibilities of pencil and paper to create intricate compositions with a particular handcrafted charm. Find the project at #9333

Emerging trends: Wang Zhi Hong, a Taiwanese graphic designer, switches with ease between traditional Chinese, Japanese and Western influences to create refined book covers. Find the project at #8901

Wang Zhi Hong, a Taiwanese graphic designer, switches with ease between traditional Chinese, Japanese and Western influences to create refined book covers. Find the project at #8901

Emerging trends: The Inspiration Pad by Belgian graphic designer Marc Thomasset is a take on the psychology of lines in a paper notepad. Would diffent lines make our writing more creative? A good illustration of how a thinking process can become a product. Find it at #8696

The Inspiration Pad by Belgian graphic designer Marc Thomasset is a take on the psychology of lines in a paper notepad. Would diffent lines make our writing more creative? A good illustration of how a thinking process can become a product. Find it at #8696

Emerging trends: UMA is a Japanese graphic design studio driving an intrinsically Japanese concept of simplicity to its most delightful extremes. Find the project at #9431

UMA is a Japanese graphic design studio driving an intrinsically Japanese concept of simplicity to its most delightful extremes. Find the project at #9431

Emerging trends: Chinese arist Ren Han works only with graphite pencils to create modern graphic artwork inspired by Chinese motives. The graphite is applied in many layers so that it becomes an iridescent surface showing the traces of its making. Find the project at #9536

Chinese arist Ren Han works only with graphite pencils to create modern graphic artwork inspired by Chinese motives. The graphite is applied in many layers so that it becomes an iridescent surface showing the traces of its making. Find the project at #9536

Dutch artist Marc Nagtzaam is using only graphite pencil for his highly conceptual compositions. Find the project at #9470

Emerging trends: Kensaku Oshiro, a Japanese designer who lives in London and studied design in Milan, is another designer who in a truly multicultural fashion marries Italian and Japanese elements in his creations. Find the project at #9299

Kensaku Oshiro, a Japanese designer who lives in London and studied design in Milan, is another designer who in a truly multicultural fashion marries Italian and Japanese elements in his creations. Find the project at #9299

Emerging trends: Studio Swine does not only have an interesting name. Co-founded by Japanese architect Azusa Murakami and British artist Alexander Groves, the studio experiments with materials and cultural notions. Some creations come with a good dose of British irony, others with a refined Japanese aesthetic. Find the project at #9294

Studio Swine does not only have an interesting name. Co-founded by Japanese architect Azusa Murakami and British artist Alexander Groves, the studio experiments with materials and cultural notions. Some creations come with a good dose of British irony, others with a refined Japanese aesthetic. Find the project at #9294

Emerging trends: Korean artist Osang Gwon's

Korean artist Osang Gwon's "Deodorant Type" sculptures depict his contemporaries by means of a unique process: He takes photographs of his subjects from many angles, prints them out and finally cuts and pastes them on carved sculptures. His process of deconstructing his subjects into fragments and reconstructing them in 3D space ideally suits his motive: Contemporary man struggling to piece himself together in Korea's hypermodern and hyper-consumerist society. Find the project at #9380

Emerging trends: German designer Heike Bollig collects malformed jelly bears, coffee cups with two handles and screws without thread. Her

German designer Heike Bollig collects malformed jelly bears, coffee cups with two handles and screws without thread. Her "production errors" remind us that the industrial processes we put our faith in are as just as prone to occasional malfunction as we are. Find the project at #9317

Emerging trends: Canadian designer Greg Papove takes redesign to the next level with a simple cover which converts three old chairs into a new couch. Find the project at #9186

Canadian designer Greg Papove takes redesign to the next level with a simple cover which converts three old chairs into a new couch. Find the project at #9186

Emerging trends: Nikolaj Steenfatt, a Copenhagen based Furniture and Product Designer, experiments with alternative production processes: His series of stool and lampshade are made from recycled plastic granulate, melded together in a DIY fashion. Find the project at #9395

Nikolaj Steenfatt, a Copenhagen based Furniture and Product Designer, experiments with alternative production processes: His series of stool and lampshade are made from recycled plastic granulate, melded together in a DIY fashion. Find the project at #9395

Thomas Vailly uses stretched Latex sheets to create interesting smooth surfaces. Find the project at #9406

Emerging trends: Designer Dirk van der Kooij developed a process to create furniture by means of a robot arm which layers extruded liquid plastic strings from old refrigerator parts. The result are high-end design objects with intriguing textures. Find the project at #9527

Designer Dirk van der Kooij developed a process to create furniture by means of a robot arm which layers extruded liquid plastic strings from old refrigerator parts. The result are high-end design objects with intriguing textures. Find the project at #9527

"Hacking Ikea" by Swiss designer Andreas Bend is more than an equivalent to computer hackers: He does not only break the code, but reuses its so that it becomes better. Bend takes standardized parts provided by Ikea to create delightful designs which creatively and aesthetically surpass the objects in Ikea's blueprints. Find the project at #9519

Emerging trends: Noah Addis finds vibrant creativity in squatter settlements. He states:

Noah Addis finds vibrant creativity in squatter settlements. He states: "According to United Nations estimates there are more than a billion squatters living today--one out of every six people on earth. This number is expected to double to two billion by 2030. And by the middle of the century there will be three billion squatters. Although they face many challenges, these settlements are extremely creative and vibrant places and it would be a mistake to ignore them. Governments around the world have failed to take responsibility for this massive urban migration. Many of the world’s squatters exist in a legal vacuum, working outside of the official economy and living with only tenuous rights to the ground on which they have built their homes." Find the project at #9568

Emerging trends: Italian photographer Ettore Moni finds a particularly American phenomenon: As if engaged in a perennial struggle with being forgotten, built environments come with large signs to reaffirm their very existence - a tradition stemming from the desire to be seen, to conquer the space of the visible. Find the project at #9438

Italian photographer Ettore Moni finds a particularly American phenomenon: As if engaged in a perennial struggle with being forgotten, built environments come with large signs to reaffirm their very existence - a tradition stemming from the desire to be seen, to conquer the space of the visible. Find the project at #9438

Emerging trends: Christophe Urbain from Strasbourg, France is another European photographer interested in the streetscapes of the US. He provides us with a slightly distanced, poetic view of the fleeting everyday in New Orleans. Find the project at #9533

Christophe Urbain from Strasbourg, France is another European photographer interested in the streetscapes of the US. He provides us with a slightly distanced, poetic view of the fleeting everyday in New Orleans. Find the project at #9533

Emerging trends: The digitally constructed

The digitally constructed "Bild Bauten" by Swiss photographer Philipp Schaerer transport the viewer into a strange realm. Familiar enough to be possible, surreal enough to not be, Schaerer's images are a poignant comment on the practice of architects and developers showing renderings and heavily photoshopped images. Find this penccil project at #9371

Emerging trends: Chinese photographer Lou Dan employes a historic, nearly forgotten photographic process - the collodion process - to depict people in remote valleys of Yunnan province. The process brings out a particularly touching beauty in his portraits. Find the project at #9551

Chinese photographer Lou Dan employes a historic, nearly forgotten photographic process - the collodion process - to depict people in remote valleys of Yunnan province. The process brings out a particularly touching beauty in his portraits. Find the project at #9551

Emerging trends: Bas Princen shows us the absurdity of everyday architecture through forgotten corners, ignored perspectives and overlooked viewpoints. He says: ‘I go out to find photographs in which the artificial and the natural take each other’s forms and in which one is unable to see if things are being constructed or destroyed. I think that is the most interesting thing that can be said right now about the cities in which we live, and the landscapes in which we dwell (and vice versa).’ See the project at #8766

Bas Princen shows us the absurdity of everyday architecture through forgotten corners, ignored perspectives and overlooked viewpoints. He says: ‘I go out to find photographs in which the artificial and the natural take each other’s forms and in which one is unable to see if things are being constructed or destroyed. I think that is the most interesting thing that can be said right now about the cities in which we live, and the landscapes in which we dwell (and vice versa).’ See the project at #8766

Inspirations.

Looking West

Glimpses at sunset, Snapshots of beauty, How deep the sea, Cliffs that soar away. Imaginings of the ...

Casa Sperimentale

One of the most visionary built experiments of 20th century architecture was created through the per...

Discs and Plates

Swirls of colour, lines, spots, imaginary layers of depth brought out into the light by transparency...

Gin is the Thing

While searching for inspiration for sculpture, a friend was talking about the ideal glass for drinki...

PYROLYSIS

Artwork Statement: "PYROLYSIS" What is it about fire? So attractive, So lovely, desirable, reaching ...

SCARABOOK