A 'Snow Beasts' MINI and Custom Burton Snowboards by Illustrator Andreas Preis.

A creative collaboration between MINI, Burton Snowboards and urban artist Andreas Preis resulted in hand-painted Burton snowboards and a decked out MINI Paceman, all created for the Burton European Open in Laax.








A matte white MINI Cooper D ALL4 Paceman was given to Preis to use as a blank canvas. Left to the creative devices of Andreas, the car was transformed into the MINI Paceman SNOW BEAST.







Highlighting the MINI maxim of Creative Use of Space, he went to work emblazoning each side with heraldic creatures of the highlands, or SNOW BEASTS, as he calls them. The five emblematic animals include: the lynx for its gracefulness, the eagle for its vision, the ibex for ambition, the wolf for teamwork, and the owl for its wisdom.







"SNOW BEASTS all have properties that make them role models for people who move in the mountains and snow," Andreas explained while a warm winter sun shone through the glass of the MINI C_ART Container. "Snowboarders move with grace, ambition, vision and wisdom and have the most fun when they're on a team. These technical and aesthetic qualities of SNOW BEASTS are what I wanted to express on the MINI."



A dedicated snowboarder (and skateboarder) himself, Andreas imbued the installation with his first-hand knowledge of these qualities... and may have done some extra research while on site. "During the breaks I was able to get together with the Burton and MINI crew and put in a few runs, which was really cool. I'm definitely not as good as the kids competing, but I love to ride."

The beautiful snowboards:





In addition to the patina he gave the MINI Paceman, Andreas's stickers and hand-painted MINI custom SNOW BEASTS snowboards were given away to lucky riders both on site and online.


above: Andreas Preis with one of his custom Burton snowboards that was raffled of at the event.

You can also find some of Andreas' illustrative work for sale here at Society 6

information and images courtesy of MINI , Burton, and Andreas Preis

Turn Your Genetic Profile Into Jewelry, Furniture and Home Accessories.

Call it a literal expression of life. Or just a very unique way to create an object that reflects your genetic makeup. Whatever you choose to call it, the customized products designed by Dutch DNA and created by by Frank Tjepkema's Design House Tjep., make the world's most personal gifts.

Dutch DNA has a creative process that samples a person’s life-code using a DNA profiling test and, through the language of design, plots the distinguishing genetic characteristics on a visual design map. Based on a unique design process, the beautiful and elegant forms which capture the eloquent expression of life, are then modeled into a specific item (furniture, jewelry or objects) before being handcrafted in the Netherlands and shipped to its destination.



The DNA patterns used to form designs can be anyone’s. Just like nature, combinations can also be used to create a unique articulation of a couple’s love or a family’s remembrance. “I see two lovers creating unique artefacts for their shared home that is truly a conjoint reflection of both individuals,” notes Frank Tjepkema.

Guilia:
The first display pieces were made from Giulia Wolthuis’s DNA. Giulia  is a Dutch contemporary dance performer and model, and daughter of Eric Wolthuis, the founder of Dutch DNA.



The first collection was made from Giulia’s life pattern. To capture and express Giulia’s life, Dutch DNA sampled her life code and through the language of design translates Giulia’s distinguishing genetic characteristics into visual forms, such as the four pieces shown below.

Jewelry Designs from mapping Guilia's DNA:


In the collection are two types of designs. One is based on abstract forms, where each genetic map itself if the defining source of inspiration. The second combines the genetic maps with symbolic forms. The symbolic pieces are more constrained and the design incorporates the genetic characteristics into patterns that are used to modify existing forms, such as the Shifting Hearts. Both types of pieces create beautifully expressive designs; the preference of choice is purely a personal decision.

Each piece in this exquisite collection expresses the genetic uniqueness of its creator. Custom designed by acclaimed design house Tjep. and handcrafted by artisans from the finest materials, every item is a true work of art.

The Collection:

DNA JEWELRY
Flow Rings:


Bloom Rings:


Blossom bracelet:


Reflection pins:


Double Love Heart Pendant:


Shifting Heart Pendants:


Silverline Heart Pendants:


DNA FURNITURE
The Darwin table is crafted through precision 3D milling and hand-finished in the Netherlands by the same artisans that create Joris Laarman’s furniture. Eric Wolthuis initiated the investigation into how genetic patterns could augment design. “I first looked at jewelry, which is very personal, but knew there was more. Furniture is a natural extension of our desire to create original and personal habitats; what is more personal than modeling your home through your own DNA?”

Dutch DNA Darwin Coffee Table:






OBJECTS/ HOME ACCESSORIES:

Shifting Heart:


Porcelain Heart:


Helix sculpture:


To commission your own personal expression of life, review the collection and then contact Dutch DNA to arrange the first step in the creation process - DNA profiling.
Dutch DNA also undertakes tailored commissions for items not listed in this collection. Contact them to request more information.

PARTNERS:
• Tjep.
Tjep. are an acclaimed design house who fuse together peerless design with accomplished expertise in the latest production techniques. Internationally, Tjep. is recognized for their award-winning product, interior, architecture, furniture and jewelry design. Their iconoclastic work is defined by strong design concepts, beautiful aesthetics and great functionality.

• Tjalling Wolthuis
Founded in 1933, Tjalling Wolthuis is a fourth generation, family-owned business with a heritage as specialist art dealers in 17th century jewelry and silverware. The company ran a selection of jewelry stores until the late 1980’s, and now produces commemorative jewelry. As the production partner to Dutch DNA, their expertise guarantees the highest quality materials, methods and artisans are engaged in the fabrication of each piece.

• BaseClear
BaseClear is an independent and accredited service laboratory for DNA-based research. The leading laboratory in the Netherlands, they provide the fast and secure DNA profiling required for the initiation of each Dutch DNA project.



Eric, who has commissioned designs based on his daughter’s, his wife’s and his own genetic patterns, states “Seeing yourself and your family visualized in this way is very powerful, it’s a deeply emotional way of embodying everything that they represent to you.”



Dutch DNA
Breitnerlaan 6
3735 LW Bosch en Duin
The Netherlands
info@dutchdna.com

Holiday Kaleidoscope Cards For The Luxe Project Are Both Beautiful and Beneficial.

The Luxe Project is a new initiative that teams brilliant creatives with Luxe by MOO – and helps good causes as well. Their designs will be showcased for a month, and 100% of net proceeds will go to the designer's charity of choice.




This month's design is Holiday Kaleidoscope, a collection of postcards or notecards that feature Christmas and winter iconography as stylized snowflakes or mandelas. There is a different design on every Postcard or Notecard in a pack and they are available in various colors.





Designer Armin Vit of UnderConsideration tells Mohawk Papers that "I had just finished doing this faux redesign for Brand New where I did these funny “moustache mandalas“. I really liked the process of doing them and the result, so when MOO.com asked us to do the holiday card I thought it would be a good opportunity to keep flexing that idea. I asked my wife Bryony, who does these great charming illustrations, to do as many holiday “thingies” as she could. In about eight hours she had done about 20 or 30 of these things, then I obsessively arranged them in 12 different radial configurations, which became 25 different cards."



The Holiday Kaleidoscope collections benefit Blink Now, an organization that aims to do more than just make ‘quick fix’ donations – it empowers young people to come up with and achieve lasting solutions to poverty issues in their communities.





About the Designers:


Holiday Kaleidoscope was designed by Bryony Gomez-Palacio and Armin Vit. Born and raised in Mexico City both are graphic designers and co-founders of UnderConsideration, each with a decade of experience in various disciplines including corporate and brand identity, annual reports, business collateral, web design and programming, packaging, as well as magazine and book design.


About Luxe Cards:


Luxe are the gold standard of paper quality at 600gsm/32pt, everyone who receives one will experience a quality and weight like no other card.

Luxe, available as Business Cards, MiniCards, and Postcards, was designed by Product Designer Paul Thorogood to be the ultimate conversation starter. With that in mind, they invented a technology called Quadplex, (entirely unique to MOO) so that Luxe cards could look as spectacular as they feel.

UnderConsideration's set of ready-made 25 Greeting Cards is on sale right now and with their quick turnaround (about three days), you can still get them in time for Christmas.

Shop The Luxe Project here