We were invited by Lift Conference in Geneva to be part in the Lift Experience , presenting the Brainstorm Tables.

Lift is a series of events built around a community of pioneers who get together in Europe and Asia to explore the social implications of new technologies. Each conference is a chance to turn innovation into opportunities by anticipating the major shifts ahead, and meet the people who drive them.

Besides fascinating talks, one of Lift Conference’s special treats is the Lift Experience. Think of a huge space where artists and designers are invited to present activities that make you create, play, see, listen. Meet other attendees and get inspired by a series of project aim to provoke a dialogue between people with different backgrounds and cultures from all over the world. Lift Experience embraces artistic and social activities to explore what is beyond digital lifestyle.

For the department Interactive/Media/Design at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) from The Netherlands, I’ve developed a social brainstorm table. Paper is the start of great new things, innovations, conversations, designs, etc. You can doodle, draw and write on the top sheet while having a conversation and when you’re done, tear it of, hang it on a wall while a fresh white new tabletop waits for new ideas! The tables consist of approximately 4,000 sheets of paper, so plenty of room for thought. Over time it transforms from active height to a more lounging height, so the more ideas you generate, the sooner you can relax! Meeting people, sharing your newly gained insights and ideas has never been easier and more fun.

Created in partnership with ModoVanGelder.

Photo’s by Victor Zwiers.

Superstore is a fusion of a pocket size design department store and a miniature museum containing a special selection of innovative, mostly dutch, fashion and design products. the concept evolves around creativity, relaxed shopping, entertainment and being seriously informed on leading developments in the area of style and design. this inter-disciplinary initiative presents in addition to established names, new talents, monumental unique pieces and mass production fit for a museum.

Modefabriek celebrated its 20th edition marking its 10-year anniversary. A extra festive fair programme had been put together for these anniversary events: big names on the catwalk (including Hans Ubbink, Levi’s, Bruuns Bazaar and Mads Nørgaard), high-profile exhibitions and inspiring presentations. The fair floor was also extended to include Fashion Items – a fair for high-end jewellery labels that perfectly complements the standards and objectives of the modefabriek. The summer fair alone attracted a record number of visitors totalling 11,000.

My presentation is a kind of a ‘flashmob’ presentation since only three weeks ago I decided had to show my design in Milan. Dutch television picked up my ‘guerilla’ action and is following me in his unconventional ‘road to Milan’. Haha!

During the International Furniture Show in Milan from 5-10 April 2006 Marcel Kampman will be introducing ‘A+B’, a new piece of modular furniture for a modern way of life. What makes the design of this piece furniture exceptional is its unique approach towards what furniture is, or what it can be, disregarding all common rules for furniture design. It can be a shelf system to place your books in, in any height or width required. But with your added creativity it could be a base for a table too. You decide.

Example
A + A + B + B + A + A + B + A + A + B + A + A + B = a 5 stories high library.

It’s a solution for a lot of people, like for instant students, people that move a lot, people with an ever-expanding library and even guerilla stores. It can be produced in any finishing, it’s smart, it’s extremely flexible (you can even use it in any situation), it’s portable, it has design value, it’s sturdy, it needs no construction manuals or tools and it’s endlessly expandable.

Marcel managed to ‘hack’ himself into the presentation in Milan, in a presentation of 20 Dutch and Belgian designers who present themselves collectively as ‘Tutto BeNe’. The designers of WAACS (best known for its award-winning design of the Senseo, the best-selling coffee machine of all time) have been so kind to host and support him. His presentation is a kind of a ‘flashmob’ presentation since only three weeks ago he decided had to show his design in Milan. Dutch television picked up his ‘guerilla’ action and is following him in his unconventional ‘road to Milan’.

Marcel Kampman is best known as the founder and creative director of the international highly acclaimed creative network Texelse Boys, a platform for boundless creativity. From September 2006 he will be lecturor and coordinator Interactive Media Design at the Royal Academy of Art in The Hague (NL). He works as cross-media director at …,staat in Amsterdam (NL).

For the cultural VPRO television program, ‘Picabia’, Marcel is filmed during the development of his very first prototype leading up to the launch of the ‘A+B’ at the Furniture Show in Milan, 5-10 April 2006. This VPRO broadcast will be aired 16 April 2006 at 22:20, Net 3.