New DWR Video: One bed, many ways.

With our new DWR Bedding Collection of sheets, duvet covers, blankets and pillows, there are many new ways to make the modern bed.

Gwyneth meets our Pouf in Paris.

Gwyneth Paltrow checks out our Ernest Pouf at Maison et Objet, the biannual Parisian goods and furniture show. This Pouf by Donna Wilson is just one of the items that caught Paltrow's eye at the show, and her complete coverage can be found in her newsletter Goop.  

Image via Goop.

Celebrating Verner Panton, who was born on this day in 1926.

“At school, when we had to paint something, I always tried to do things in a different way,” wrote Verner Panton. “I have always tried to find other ways, and have simply not been able to refrain. It has also been a handicap; it is easier to do what the others want. You don’t make yourself popular if you have other ideas.”

To the late Verner Panton, we raise our glasses to you today, on what would have been your 86th birthday, and we are very glad that you had the courage to follow your crazy ideas.

 

Shown: Fun Lamps and Panton Chairs.

IFB Conference Recap.

On Wednesday, DWR proudly sponsored a lounge for the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference at Milk Studios in New York. Hundreds of stylish attendees mingled and made friends, listened to panel discussion ranging in topic from blogger worth to branding across social media platforms, and stopped by to hang out on our Neo Sectional or sit for the camera atop our magenta Swan™ Sofa (click here for photos).

Here’s what we learned and what we saw:

1. You can’t do it all. Most bloggers stay connected to their followers via blogs and Twitter, with each platform serving a different function.

2. Fur. Whether faux or real, fur was out in force at IFB.

3. The preferred blogging platform? Wordpress. It's customizable and supports ad network integration.

4. Neon. From earrings to laces to handbags and dresses, neon was ubiquitous.

5. Own your domain from the beginning. If your blog takes off, your foray into branding and business ventures will be easier.

6. Be yourself. Develop a unique voice and viewpoint. Quality content is driven by individuality. Don’t imitate others. 

7. Emerging social media platforms. Bloggers seemed to have a waning interest in Facebook but were buzzing about Pinterest, Tumblr and Instagram.

8. Individuality. While designer labels were spotted, a majority of fashion bloggers embraced an individually constructed style.

 

DWR at the 2012 IFB Conference.

DWR is a proud sponsor of the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference going on today at Milk Studios in New York. The all-day event features panel discussions by some of the fashion blogging community's most fabulous bloggers including DKNY PR Girl Aliza Licht, Refinery29's Connie Wang, Lifebooker's Lauren Tesar and fashion jet-setter Bryan Boy. There are more than 300 international fashion bloggers in attendance, some from as far away as Sweden and Australia! We'll be updating our real-time photostream throughout the day as attendees stop by the DWR Lounge and strike a pose.

Which lives longer, a Chicken or a Cat?

Assuming that the chicken and cat are not living together, you may be surprised to learn which one has the longer lifespan. Find the answer on this very cool animal longevity chart by Otto and Marie Neurath, who pioneered the International System of Typographic Picture Education (ISOTYPE).

A Sommelier shares his home bar tips.

Greg Dickinson works as a sommelier and manager at Boston's L'Espalier restaurant, complementing the Back Bay gem's daily tasting menus with perfect bottles of wine. We were thrilled to get his expert advice for getting any Line Bar, Barboy, or Ollie ready for some spectacular entertaining.

What wines should every home bar have for entertaining?

Personally, I always like to keep bubbly at home. It's an ideal cocktail wine and is always appropriate for any occasion when entertaining or ANY time of the day (morning, noon, or night). For everyday, I like Segura Viudas Cava brut NV. It retails for around $6 to $8 and mixes well with cordials. For special occasions, my go to is Pol Roger's Sir Winston Churchill Cuvee.

Q&A with Judy White, designer of DWR Bedding.

If you missed the story in last week’s New York Times, there are some exciting things happening in the modern bedroom. Namely, we now offer an exquisite line of DWR Bedding designed by Judy White Studio. We recently caught up with the busy Ms. White to ask her a few questions.

Q: Who is someone you admire?

The late Carl Sagan. In his Cosmos series he revealed the wonders of our universe, made us think and dream bigger, introduced us to mysterious things explained through science. His was a validation of inquisitive nature, exploratory quests, and analytical problem solving. Which is similar to the thought processes behind design briefs in my field.

From the TED Talks archive: Niels Diffrient rethinks the way we sit down.

 

The designer of the groundbreaking Freedom® and Liberty™ task chairs (both shipping for free, by the way) Niels Diffrient talks about industrial design, the human body, office chairs, and the reason he became a designer instead of a jet pilot. “Why should you have to read a 20 page manual to know how to run a chair?” asks the designer. Learn more in this video from the TED Talk archive.

If the video doesn't load above, you can watch it here on the TED website.

Craving culture? Exhibitions to see now.

Museum Exhibitions

Milwaukee Art Museum (shown above)
Building a Masterpiece: Santiago Calatrava and the Milwaukee Art Museum
Ends Feb. 12

SFMoMA
Less and More: The design ethos of Dieter Rams
Ends Feb. 20

Philadelphia Museum of Art
Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion
Ends March 25

Eames Elephant goes on safari.

 

Charles and Ray Eames were fascinated by elephants, and in 1945 they designed one out of molded plywood. Two prototypes were made, but complex manufacturing techniques kept the Elephant out of production. It wasn't until Charles' grandson Eames Demetrios collaborated with Vitra that the Eames® Elephant was mass produced, now made of molded polypropylene. (A miniature version made of wood is also available.) Demetrios recently took the Elephant on Safari, creating this film for the Eames Office. For a fun twist, mute the soundtrack and replace it with “The Lion Sleeps Tonight” by The Tokens.

A fete for the 2012 Metropolis Game Changers.

Last evening, DWR Soho Studio hosted more than 200 guests for the 2012 Metropolis Game Changers awards reception. The Awards, now in their second year, celebrate individuals who are breaking conventions across various disciplines such as architecture, business, education, graphic design, healthcare, technology and typography. 

Buon Compleanno a Mario Bellini!

Photo on left: Bellini Chair sketch by Mario Bellini, courtesy Mario Bellini.

The DWR team wishes the happiest of birthdays to Mario Bellini: celebrated architect, industrial designer, teacher, spokesman, curator and editor (whew!). His namesake Bellini Chair® for Heller®, became an instaneous classic when it was introduced in 1998, and it continues to have a ubiquitous presence in cafés and public settings around the world.