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Compared to the energetic buzz of Tokyo, the city of Kyoto still operates at a satisfyingly measured hum, retaining much more than a veneer of the country’s deep seated traditions, crafts, and history. It is a city where heritage still survives in spite of the encroachment of contemporary conveniences and technologies, and where the history of many businesses can be measured in decades…or even more than a century.
If you ask Brendan Kramer and Nisha Mirani which product most accurately reflects their textile studio Sunday Monday, they might just say Kanso, the designers’ recent and first full pillow collection. Beyond the studio’s design values, Kanso also represents Kramer’s Japanese heritage and Mirani’s Indian heritage. The collection is named after one of the seven principles of Japanese zen philosophy, “kanso,” which refers to the elimination of clutter in order to promote well-being. While designed in New York City, the pillows are block-printed by hand in Rajasthan, India, an homage to Mirani’s cultural background.
AI. There isn’t a corner of the design world not talking about artificial intelligence–what it means for humans in the creative process, how it will change intellectual property protections/concerns, and whether it reflects–not corrects our oh-so-human biases. The conversations are happening in the philosophical realm, industry-wide, and at the production level at design studios such as Athens-based brand.new.
Keeps, a direct-to-consumer residential furniture brand focused on simplicity, functionality, and sustainability, is best known for their easy-to-assemble bed frame. Living at the intersection of high design and accessibility, the brand recently expanded its contemporary lifestyle offerings with The Coffee Table and Off-Cuts limited run accessories. All new pieces carry on with Keeps’ mission to push back on fast furniture – they’re accessible, modern, and built to last while retaining their versatile and adaptive qualities.
It’s an interesting moment for artist Jacob Hashimoto. For nearly three decades, his kite-constructed works have captivated viewers with a fusion of meticulous hand-craftsmanship and the optical effect of digital pixels. His wall works often consist of six suspended layers of circular paper and bamboo “kites” that obscure as much as they reveal, shifting with every footstep. His newest exhibition
Sketcher Press is the love child of Gabriel “Gabi” Campanario and all the illustrators who are given the chance to compile their work under his self-funded imprint. “I love the power of drawing as a storytelling medium,” says Campanario, who launched Sketcher Press in 2022, but whose interest in publishing has overlapped with a decades-long career as a journalist and newspaper artist.