FOC Talents   15.Jul.2010

Apparently Josien Pieters is in a winning mood since the jury consisting of Frank Tjepkema, Jurjen Rolf and Janne Kyttanen has selected her ‘Freshfibers’ Blackberry case design as best out of 14 entries. The entries are assessed anonymous by the jury and again her design came out as winner, after she also won the first Talents competition with her wedding ring design ‘Reality Check’.

The jury had a fierce discussion on who to select from three entries: ‘Linguini’ by Lionel Dean, ‘B100’ by Peter Hermans and ‘Freshfibers’ by Josien Pieters. The jury praised the forward thinking of Lionel Dean and the intriguing, innovative shape of the Linguini case. B100 was classified as a fun gimmick and a real conversation piece. ‘Freshfibers’ was finally selected as winner, because according to the jury this entry is an original answer to the first design criterion of the assignment that was provided by Freshfiber; “make the Blackberry use more fun, or have more impact”.

The user starts of with a case consisting of 48 detachable, mono-colored pieces: ‘Freshfibers’. These Freshfibers can be swapped with users that have a different color, in Josien her entry matching the country that the user lives in. The jury thinks the case can become a very social thing, since ‘Freshfibers’ can really stimulate (physical) interaction between global Blackberry users. The anticipated vivid (online) trade of Freshfibers can definitely increase the fun and impact of having a Blackberry and should result in increased social interaction. Also the scarcity of some Freshfibers’ colors can result in real collector’s items. READ ON

FOC Talents   30.Jun.2010

After two successful Talent competitions in which the Talents were asked to design a new wedding ring concept and a case for the Blackberry, the third competition is related to the FOC lighting collection. Lighting is the most important product category of the FOC Collection. The lights have won many awards and are taken into the permanent collection of the Vitra design museum, MAD New York and Design Museum Holon. Successful light designs include the Dahlia, 1597 and Palm series, all designed by Janne Kyttanen. These designs are inspired by phenomena in nature and therefore have an organic feel compared to the more recent Riot and Filament series.

From our clients we notice that there is strong demand for a new hanging light that is in line with the organic series mentioned above. Demand for a new hanging light is strongest, because the Collection portfolio at the moment only includes one hanging light model: ‘Palm’. READ ON

FOC Talents   23.Jun.2010

FOC Talents assignment 2010-Q2 was created together with Freshfiber and we asked the Talents to design a case for the Blackberry Bold 9700. We have received 14 entries and Mid-July the jury result will be published on the FOC website, but Freshfiber has already selected 4 designs which will be further developed for commercialization.  Although these are just the concepts and not the final products, we could not wait to share them with you! Here is an overview of the 4 selected designs:

Read more about the selected Blackberry case designs below READ ON

FOC Talents   17.Jun.2010

In January 2010 the FOC Talents program was launched with great excitement, but also some uncertainty on how it would evolve. Assessing the first results, we see that we are on the right track and that the potential is huge.

The founder of FOC Talents, Bram de Zwart:

“Creating a distanced network of the worlds’ best 3D designers and centrally commercializing their designs, is something of which we know little examples.  It is only recently that such a new and efficient approach to product development is made possible thanks to the rapid evolvement of 3D software, 3D printing and not to forget the internet. The selection of designers that we have made and who will have to make this adventure successful, has proven to contain real Talents.

These are young people who have fresh ideas and create new form archetypes, helped by their superior Computer Aided Design skills. In the future I want to find more ways in which FOC can further educate the Talents about 3D Printing design rules, since I think the promise of 3D Printing to society is huge, but can only be realized if there are enough designers who know how to fully utilize its potential.”

Some of the popular Talents Q1 design which are now for sale:

Two months ago the first Talent designs (rings) have been launched and so far we see a steady rise in sales and also in interest from the press. Some Talents organize their own promotion, like an exhibition during the Milan designweek (Studio Mango), a book publication (Josien Pieters) and their own photoshoots. READ ON

FOC Talents   1.Apr.2010

Together with electronics accessory company ‘Freshfiber’, FOC has created the second design brief for FOC Talents. In FOC Talents assignment 2010-Q2 the 20 pre-selected Talents are challenged to design a CASE for the Blackberry Bold 9700. Freshfiber wants to bring art and fashion to electronics and is also an official Apple supplier, with successful iPhone cases in their collection. If the Talents’ entry match Freshfibers’ conditions, this product will be added to the Freshfiber collection and commercialized through its global distribution channels.

READ ON