As usual, it is no easy task to narrow down show faves, but I have to ask myself what images linger in my mind. I have already mentioned a few hits, here are five pieces that stand out. Studio Nacho Carbonell's Skin furniture at Droog were compelling in look, feel and function, and the use of wool was the perfect way to highlight all these factors. The thought of including a tombstone in a design Top 5 might seem a little odd, but the Seeyou Project is the gravestone I would like to have. I was a bit surprised that Matali Crasset's Open Room No. 1 for Established and Sons turned out to be such a keeper, but the sense of space within space always appeals. I loved Cecilie Manz's Pluralis chair right away: it brought on a sense of peace and usefulness, yet is most likely oft-overlooked. And when I opened my suitcase and pulled out my 5.5 Designers tableware, I knew that all the effort had been worth it, at the very least for the story behind it. More after the jump.

Pieces from Studio Nacho Carbonell's Skin collection at the Droog exhibition stayed with me. A thin, elastic top layer has a rubbery feel and allows for unexpected storage. The shapes are haunting, as the furniture consumes items that change its form.



The Seeyou Project by Ivanka's Akos Maurer and Peter Kucsera is a tasteful concrete gravestone that incorporates rain and fallen leaves as peaceful tokens of respect. It is a solemn piece without being depressing or morbid.



Matali Crasset's Open Room No. 1 for Established and Sons is a room within a room. According to Crasset, "It's an open structure. But at the same time, you feel as if you're inside of something - the object becomes space."



Pluralis is a chair by Cecilie Manz for Mooment that was exhibited as part of the Danish Mindcraft show. Its simplicity was striking: clean lines and gentle curves in soft Oregon pine. The chair is attached to a side bench that can also be used as a step or tables. It is soft to the touch, and the details of the wood serve admirably as adornment.



I'd heard about the Save a Product project by 5.5 Designers, so I jumped at the chance to participate. The group had designed a line of tableware that was suddenly cancelled two weeks before the press launch. The production of 45000 pieces was already packaged and labelled, so 5.5 Designers bought the stock to keep it from being bulldozed. Now the group sells the pieces themselves, at the ridiculous, yet symbolic, price of 1 euro per package. The Milanese were happy to help out. Everywhere I saw people carrying the brightly-coloured sets. Even I was stopped in the street when a couple was intrigued by why I was lugging such lovely tableware (pizza serving set, cake serving set and appetizer serving set) around.