Ambiente 2015: Your guide to gifts of now and the future

With 4,811 exhibitors from 94 countries, Messe Frankfurt’s Ambiente is the biggest consumer goods show in the world. At Ambiente you can check out all the latest creations from global designers, but more importantly, the international fair is the perfect place to get a glimpse into the future.

Unlike other well-known shows, Ambiente offers a free exhibition space to young designers, studios and university graduates, as well as the chance for their ideas to be transformed into reality. A talent programme was launched in 2001, and this year 33 young designers from 15 countries presented their creations to 143,789 international visitors and potential manufacturers.

In this special report from the Ambiente 2015 fair, Agenda.ge presents a some of the most trendy, modern items available for purchase right now as well as a sneak peak into gifts of the future, which are only prototypes at this stage. Take a look below.

Talent 2015

Studio YOY

This table and floor lamp, presented by Tokyo-based studio YOY, will bring an amazing atmosphere to any room. Designers Naoki Ono and Yuki Yamamoto have used the element of surprise in this creation - when the light is switched on, a shade of light will appear on the wall behind.

Lamp by studio YOY. Photos by Yasuko Furukawa.

This lamp presented at Ambliente 2015 is currently a prototype.

This unique book by studio YOY is also a prototype. Unlike other books, there are no pages in this novel. Instead it's a flowerpot which you can open and see inside. It is waterproof and will add an extra dimension to any bookshelf.

Book-Flower Pot by studio YOY. Photos by Yasuko Furukawa.

But don't despair - some creations by the the Tokyo-based design team are already available in the market.

These CANVAS sofas and chairs are a mix between modern art and functional furniture. They are suitable for use and you even can wash the removable cover, states the MoMa online store in the chair’s description. CANVAS furniture is produced by Innermost of the United Kingdom.

CANVAS sofa by studio YOY. Photos by Yasuko Furukawa.

To buy these freestanding BLOW shelves, you have to contact producing company Pianoprimo directly, but the effect on your walls is well worth you efforts.

BLOW shelves by studio YOY. Photos by Yasuko Furukawa.

Jeho Yoon

Germany–based South Korean designer Jeho Yoon shows Agenda.ge how he plays with his reflection using his mirror The Pond. The mirror can be moved to different angles and is fixed with magnets, allowing you to get the reflection you desire. This prototype has a 'coming soon' notice on the designer’s website – let’s hope this creation will be available soon.

Kim Hyun Joo Studio

This next item makes you the creator every day. South Korean designer Kim Hyun Joo was inspired by the autumn’s fallen leaves when she invented flexible Leaf trays. You just shape it as you need. Made from aluminum and traditional Korean paper, Leaf trays are available in different sets and sizes from the Netherlands’ online store.

LEAF tray by Kim Hyun Joo. Photo from designer's official website.

Studio Marlene Huissoud

When it comes to collaborating design with nature, Marlene Huissoud from the United Kingdom is the perfect example. At Ambiente 2015 she presented a collection of vessels, titled From Insects, and joked that honey bees and silkworms were "the best designers". Her honey-scented vases were made from bee glue – propolis.

The experimental designer underlined: "I try to discover how we can produce valuable handmade artifacts from insects’ natural waste products. I see insects as partners,” she said.

Watch the video below to see how designer creates the bases from the propolis and the wooden leather with the help of Indian silkworms.

Wooden Leather was another concept developed by Huissoud, in partnership with Indian silkworms. This concept could be used in furniture and interior design, said the designer.

Wooden leather (on the left) and Huissoud's scarves (on the right). Photos from designer's website.

As a textile designer Huissoud created her silk scarf company in 2012. Now they are sold worldwide, with each piece representing between 20-30 hours of hand drawing.

Guide to unusual gifts

Impressed by all these great ideas, Agenda.ge asked Hansjerg Maier-Aichen, Professor of Arts and Design, to guide the visiting journalists through the 45km of aisles through Ambiente 2015, and asked what designers should do if their small country (meaning Georgia) was largely unknown in the design world.

Ambiente is the best entry ticket,” said the Professor.

"I think it is very easy. It does not depend on how big the country is. Russia is a huge country but for years they have shown nothing here.”

Professor Hansjerg Maier-Aichen is demonstating one of his selections at Ambiente 2015 to the press. Photo by Natalia Amaglobeli.

"What you should do as a small country, it is a little bit like what the fair does with the talents. You have to find a small group of identifiable young designers. You should make a selection of products and ideas. You cannot just present ordinary stuff. If you send a presentation to Nicolette Naumann (Vice President of Ambiente) and manage to gain entry to the fair, it would be a fantastic thing.”

We also discussed the best gifts seen at Ambiente 2015 with the Professor.

Unbrella

This is not a spelling mistake - the next creation is an upside-down umbrella.

"Normally the term gift in a touristic sense means something which you do not need. But I think it is possible to have gifts that transfer into more functional items. If you have seen the umbrella which is upside down, this would be a gift for me, [it’s] a fantastic idea.”

UNBRELLA at the section Solutions 2015 on Ambiente 2015. Photo by fair's press office.

"If you run through a city in Georgia with an UNBRELLA everyone will look at you because you have a different umbrella, it is exceptional,” says Maier-Aichen.

Watch the video below to see all advantages of upside-down umbrella.

The UNBRELLA was designed by Japan’s Hiroshi Kajimoto for +d/H-concept.

Nana Kimura from +d/H-concept showed me all the advantages of this unique item.

"[With this] innovative umbrella, you are not getting wet once you close it. Also it can stand up on its own. The designer Hiroshi Kajimoto spent more than 10 years thinking about how to make an upside down umbrella. Once he found a way to make it, we now produce it,” said Kimura while telling me the story behind this invention.

Glass-looking silicon glasses

Another amazing item which catches your eyes at the Japanese pavilion is silicon glass-looking glasses produced by Shupua. This is the perfect gift for families with small children – they are very practical to use on picnics or other outdoor activities.

The silicon glasses from Shupua look exactly like the glass. Photo by Natalia Amaglobeli.

Watch the video below to see the demonstation of the product on Ambiente 2015.

"Broken glass causes a lot of problems when you have children or when you are at a picnic. This is progressive material,” underlines Kimura from "+d/H-concept”.

"It was very hard to make them so clear in silicon. You can find a lot of coloured silicon glasses but now it looks completely the same as glass. They are dishwasher and microwave safe too.”

Kehrbesenset and book stand

The next gift selection was made by Professor Maier-Aichen. This broom set from German company Side by Side is a multi-functional brush or broom. Kehrbesenset by Side by Side is a very simple and useful idea. The brush can be used as a single unit or can be attached to the broom handle using the attached magnet. Simple as that.

Watch the video below to see how Kehbesenset works.

Book stand by Side by Side

Book stand by Side by Side at Ambiente 2015. Photo by Natalia Amaglobeli.

Another useful item by the same company is this book stand. Instead of folding over the corner of a page to mark your spot, simply rest the book over the top of the stand to mark where you stopped reading. Finding your place when you next continue reading is a breeze.

Suitcase with integrated power box and weight scale

And finally, the perfect gifts for travellers has been created by Dutch company Princess sports gear and traveler. The company created a suitcase with built-in-power box, allowing the user to charge any of their devices while on the move. Several devices can be connected at the same time.

Stay connected with this new gadget. Photos from Princess sports gear and traveler's website.

As the company's commercial director Florentine Ouborg says, the Princess Power Box has enough battery storage to charge a phone five times or a tablet twice. Because of flight regulations surrounding batteries, at this stage the company currently produces only a cabin-size suitcase.

Furthermore, suitcases with integrated weight scales are available in sets. With this invention packing has become a piece of cake - as you can determine the weight of your bag before you get to the airport. With these suitcases, the hassle of packing and repacking your bag to ensure it matches your baggage weight allowance is a thing of the past.

Set of suitcases with built-in weight scales. Photos from Princess sports gear and traveler's website.

This company also produces a backpack with portable solar charger.

If you want to explore the future in consumer goods, join Agenda.ge next year at Ambiente 2016.