Last night's University of Quebec Design Student show was well attended, no room to move kind of well attended. Architect Patrick Evans, one of the professors, gave me a tour of the smartly designed projects from his studio group which featured several themes, among them, multi-functionality, new materials, society and sustainability. Leading to one of our favorite themes, meaning in design. I enjoyed learning about all of the projects, but here are a few that struck a chord; Valérie Descarrega and Mathieu Dionne's "Tu m'allume" interactive lighting system was simple and fun, Julie Dion's Bamboo Transfer Bench, a bamboo bench for small spaces that folds back onto itself to become a chair, Fanny Dupont and Hélène Tremblay's Banc 1 and High Chair, two pieces from a series of objects designed using unusual heights to redefine and reanimate everyday activities like eating and cooking, Karine Proulx and Jose Paz's weighted lounge chair, and Corinne Farmer and Clara Charbonneau's Béton Armé, a heated outdoor bench which makes innovative use of the city's grey water sewer lines to keep the bench warm all winter (it gets cold here). More pictures after the jump and the official video below.

Fanny Dupont and Hélène Tremblay's Banc 1 and High Chair, two pieces from a series of objects designed using unusual heights to redefine and reanimate everyday activities like eating and cooking. The table is at a height that makes it easy to continue meal preparation at the table while standing up. It's also made entirely out of bamboo.



Valérie Descarrega and Mathieu Dionne's "Tu m'allume" interactive lighting system was simple and fun.




Julie Dion's Bamboo Transfer Bench, a bamboo bench for small spaces that folds back onto itself to become a chair.



Corinne Farmer and Clara Charbonneau's Béton Armé, a heated outdoor bench which makes innovative use of the city's grey water sewer lines to keep the bench warm all winter.