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Designer TVs: Armani & Samsung Unveil Premium 46" LCD TV

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Below is the actual press release:

16 APRIL 2007, MILAN – On the occasion of the opening day of the Milan International Furniture Fair Samsung Electronics and Giorgio Armani unveil the new Armani/Samsung premium LCD television. Designed for a discriminating consumer, who is seeking a prestige television that combines sophisticated design and leading flat screen technology.

The Armani/Samsung LCD Television is the second product (following the Giorgio Armani - Samsung mobile phone) designed by Giorgio Armani under a strategic marketing alliance announced by the two companies in September, 2007. The alliance foresees the development of a range of prestige portable and home consumer electronics products matching Giorgio Armani’s iconic design aesthetic with Samsung’s cutting-edge technology and leadership in consumer electronics.

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Unique design elements include a stylish remote control and a special 4-mode lighted power switch that customizes the display of the two companies’ logos on the front of the television. At rest, the remote mirrors the simple elegance of the television itself. When handled, the unit immediately comes alive with radiant backlights to present a full range of convenient features. The television also comes with a smaller, pebble-shaped remote for basic functions that rests at the corner of the stand.

The unit is further accentuated by glass in the front and shows simple but solid natural lines that convey pure emotional expression. Both models, 46-inch and 52-inch, are to incorporate many of the features and cutting-edge technologically, such as 100Hz Full HD and HDMI connectors, that have made Samsung Televisions world renowned for their outstanding picture quality and high-end functionality.

The design of the Armani/Samsung LCD Television has been inspired by Giorgio Armani's new 2008/09 Armani/Casa home furnishings collection, which includes the Brahms tea table in pleated effect glossy black lacquered wood which has been specifically designed to host the new television.

Giorgio Armani said, "There was once a time when one would want to hide a television as it never failed to disturb the ambience of a living room. Now, through the incredible advance in technology, flat screen televisions can easily be incorporated into the design solution for a home."

Bookeun Yoon, Executive Vice President of Visual Display Division of Samsung Electronics said, “There are more and more consumers today who are increasingly style conscious in their selection of home electronics products. They are looking for products that unite the best contemporary design with technological performance and functionality. This partnership therefore affords us the chance to offer those consumers unique products matching Giorgio Armani's sophisticated, iconic style with Samsung's leading technology."
The 46-inch Armani/Samsung Television, will be launched initially in Europe, Korea and Russia in mid summer . The 52-inch model will be launched in late-summer in the same market.
Samsung site.
Armani Casa

Kudoke : Hand Made German Skeletonized Luxury Watches





There's a new luxury watch player in town. Introduced at Basel Miami were one-of-a-kind hand made mechanical watches from German watch manufacturer KUDOKE. They specialize in skeletonizing and hand engraving and create only a limited number of each watch, making them very valuable and desirable. They have watches for women, men, and unisex styles.

The KUDOKE Mysticum:

Case:
Stainless steel, yellow or white gold
Diameter 42 mm
Strap elements screwed
Screwed base
Sapphire crystal on top
Case back: hardened mineral crystal (electively sapphire crystal)

Dial:
Hand engraved and skeletonized

Movement
Diameter 36,6 mm
Height 4,5 mm

Hands
Handmade Kudoke steel, tempered blue

Strap & Buckle
Louisiana crocodile or genuine leather strap (electively available in
other kinds of leather & colours)
Sewed by hand
Buckle made of stainless steel

Images are some of their other models, see the site for details.

Their unisex model:


Men's Gold:


Men's Silver:




To see their complete line and learn about the craftsmanship, models, history and more, visit
their site.

Louis Vuitton's First Corporate Advertising Film. Ever.

From LVMH press release:
Louis Vuitton has produced the first corporate advertising film in the history of the brand, expressing its unique identity and values. The captivating film evokes travel as a discovery of the world and a process of self-discovery. The campaign broke on February 15, 2008.

Images and music combine to create an atmosphere of escape as the camera encounters landscapes and faces as if in a dream, accompanied by the captivating Gypsy guitar of composer Gustavo Santaolalla, who won Oscars for his scores of Babel and Brokeback Mountain.



Questions appear on the screen, asking viewers: "Where will life take you?", "What is a journey?", "Does the person create the journey, or does the journey create the person?"...


Above: Louis Vuitton's first corporate advertising film © Louis Vuitton

The new TV ad follows the Louis Vuitton's "Core Values" corporate campaign featuring Mikhail Gorbatchev, Catherine Deneuve, André Agassi and Steffi Graf. This Louis Vuitton's first corporate advertising presents travel as a personal journey, without recognizable stars or products, references to the brand or even recognizable places. The effect is a total and immediate immersion.

This first-ever on-screen corporate campaign by a luxury house has been translated into thirteen languages. It will be shown worldwide in selected movie theaters and on cable and satellite TV channels throughout 2008.

Film Director: Bruno Aveillan
Soundtrack: Gustavo Santaolalla
Creative Director: Christian Reuilly (Ogilvy&Mather)

Ten Good Reasons To Go To Next Month's ICFF



With hundreds of established and upcoming designers and products, this years show should be quite impressive. Below is a sneak peek at a very, very tiny selection of what you will find there.

Just 10 of the cool products to be shown at this years ICFF show:

Above: The Milk desk from Holmris Office, designed by Holmris Hansen

Above: The Bettylou lamp from mark mckenna

Above: Marcel Wanders new outdoor furniture, the Chubby, from Slide Design of Italy

Above: The Zephyr Rug by Kelly Wearstler for The Rug Company

Above: Central Saint Martins Wallpaper by eco for Graham & Brown

Above: the Gli Specchi di Dioniso mirror by Ettore Sottsass for GlasItalia


Above: The Arne Tub for Rapsel Spa

Above: The Wandregal one piece shelving from Atelier Alinea

Above: the Fibo mirror from Prealpi


Above: the beautiful silk tibetan and new zealand wool rugs of Amy Helfand

This years IFCC (International Contemporary Furniture Fair) will be May 15-20 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City.

2008 Bombay Sapphire Prize Gallery
Of Over 30 Finalists

UPDATE:
Live from Milan: the winners of the Bombay Sapphire Prize have been announced, with designers Annie Cattrell and Yuichi Higashionna sharing the £25,000 prize money. Today’s movie on Dezeen features interviews with judges Karim Rashid and Dan Klein who explain the winning pieces and why they won.




It's that time of year again.
The time when Bombay Sapphire announces the shortlisted finalists for their every growing Glass Competition, this year shown at The Milan Furniture fair.

What Is It?
Begun in 2001, The Bombay Sapphire Prize is now the largest worldwide glass design competition.

All entries submitted must have used glass as the primary material in a physical structure or object. Acceptable entries included products, artwork, buildings or part of a building and must exist as a tangible object or structure. Film and documentation were accepted only as part of an architectural submission. Glass must be essential to both the concept and the desired expression. Winner gets £20,000 and best newcomer, £5,000.

Who picked the finalists?
Judges included Ron Arad, Tom Dixon, Nicole Fahri, Thomas Featherwick, Lesley Jackson, Dan Klein, Karim Rashid, and Nadja Swarovski.

Below is the gallery of over 30 finalists directly from Bombay Sapphire, to see the shortlisted 25, check over at Dezeen. And be sure to see their video diary of the competition here.

















The winner has yet to be announced.

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