In-Review: Design Miami 2008 Highlights

Design Miami 2009 opens to the public on December 2nd 2009. In the meantime, here’s a few of our favorite images and reports from last year’s amazing show. {Stay tuned for our Design Miami Coverage starting Dec 1, 2009).

Design Miami 2008 in one word: Impressive. A must see for the design aficionado. Not just for the designs exhibited but for the breathtaking structure that houses said exhibits. The Design Miami exhibition structure was created by the New York-based architectural firm Aranda/Lash, and sets the tone for the outstanding and innovative design finds housed within.

Exterior "lace draped" entry – Design Miami Exhibit Hall and detail view of "structural lace"

Beyond Organic: Design in the State of Nature is the first Design Miami in-house curated exhibit. This exhibit is a stylish nod to the role nature has in design.

GLASSLAB performed live outside, creating unique and beautiful glassware. They captured the attention of the press, and the general public as they demonstrated the age-old technique of glassmaking.

Tom Dixon‘s installation of heavyweight furniture created through the industrial process of flame cutting steel. The furniture was designed and created for the grounds of the 14th century Sudeley Castle.

One of my personal favorite’s was the Al Sabah Art & Design Collection. The Bokja design collection by the very talented artist/designer team of Hoda Baroudi and Maria Hibri is pictured below. Their fresh, colorful approach to design married with the artisanal traditions of the East creates a unique, original piece of furniture with a story of its own. The Bokja collection is housed in a Design Miami satellite location on 40th NE street. You must make time to visit and enjoy this amazing visual experience. Actually, the entire experience at Al Sabah’s exhibit was extraordinary. From the beautiful music, incredible fragrances and delicious Middle Eastern treats created an environment that delighted, enticed and seduced the senses. Like I said, you have to make Al Sabah Art & Design Collection a must see on your Design Miami/, Art Basel and Art Miami excursions this week and over the weekend.

Industrial Organic Chic by Sebastian Erranzuriz from Cristina Grajales Inc (New York). The images speak for themselves. Mr. Erransuriz is a tremendously talented artist that has captured and fused the beauty of nature with the hard reality of industrial materials like glass and steel. My favorite pieces are the bamboo plant wall shelf "Bilbao"- absolutely ingenious design and the rooted tree table base. I like the duck lamp for its surreal beauty and the fashion in which the lamp mimics the duck’s posture (had it had a duck head).

David Wiseman‘s collage chandelier and wall sculpture. Beautiful. Inspiring.Captivating. Ground-breaking. Just a few words to describe this work of art. Take it in for yourself at R 20th Century‘s exhibit booth.

Campana Brothers at the Albion Gallery Exhibit Booth.

Chandeliers from XYZ Designs at the Contrasts Gallery Exhibit Booth.

Jousse Enterprise presents Rick Owen’s Stag Benches and Table Base.

Priveekollektie showcases the "Cliclounger set Miami" designed by Alexander Pelikan and the "Fredersen/Miami" wingchair by Joe Kranen and Johannes Gille.

Matthew Marks Gallery Roy McMakin Domestic Furniture.

The Decorating Diva Best of Design Miami 2008: Exhibit Booth Design

Sebastian + Barquet (New York & London) -The Decorating Diva winner for Exhibit Booth Design at Design Miami/ 2008.