Work to Watch

It escapes me when I first came across Alonso's work, but what struck me first was his use of color in the above pictured series of desk trays for PRAXIS. Not only is the form of each delightfully minimal, the palette reminded of time spent hours wasted on Kuler. Just this morning as Salone press continues to crop up all over the internet, I find a table by the same Spanish designer, Tomas Alonso.

Collapsible and (presumably) light, this table will appeal to those who find themselves moving home base often, as well as those looking for more versatility in the studio. Although he describes his work method as "à la Castiglioni", this piece seems to wink at Mari and Papanek. Details such as notched corners to hold the legs in place are well consider methods of joinery that require neither glue nor hardware and break down in seconds.

Production methods of many of his pieces are all fairly straightforward, possible to construct in the atelier even- a boon to the manufacturing end of design. This stamped set of cutlery pictured below, for example, is so strikingly compact I'd expect to find it in the catalog of a camping brand such as Snowpeak. Alonso's inclinations toward modern design really work for this piece; he incorporates structural necessities (the grooves add stability to an otherwise flat handle) as part of the form that also aid it in being stack-able and keeping a low profile- perfect for picnicware or backpacking. Stamped metal can be a less costly method of production than, say, cast or forged metal; much of the cutlery you find at your local chain retailers are stamped for this reason. However, turning over a highly embellished piece of decorative, stamped silverware only to find a ghosted image of the opposite side is a disillusion and a disappointment. Alonso's set is honest in this regard. Although this may not a set for everyday use (ergonomics- blah, blah, blah), I wouldn't mind having eight set just in case.