„The very fact that our applications were accepted and our ideas approved by the qualifying committee is, in itself, a great success,” emphasises Robert Pytlos, the amber coordinator to the Mayor of Gdańsk, who piloted this exhibition project. Polish amber design thinking is represented there by 10 prototypes of switches and sockets made of Corian, decorated with natural Baltic amber, as well as by the publication released this year for the fourth time Trend Book, presenting the latest trends also in amber jewellery.
The idea for a series of light switches and sockets decorated with amber arose during amber craft workshops for commercial sectors, organised last April in Gdańsk by the National Chamber of Amber Commerce, in collaboration with the Office of the Mayor of Gdańsk. Participants included designers from Zuo Corp (clothing), Beza Projekt (product design), Nick-Nack (clothing), Zouza (handbags), Solo Femme and Marta Kuba (footwear), and Agnieszka Maciejak (fashion). The most innovative idea was presented by the designers from Beza Projekt. „We want to tell the story of Baltic amber to visitors at the Tent London exhibition, using everyday objects. Amber is most commonly used in jewellery and decorative items, but we want to suggest a different, more functional way of using this precious resin, utilising its healing properties: through amber-decorated switches, people will have contact with this positive energy,” say Anna Łoskiewicz-Zakrzewska and Zofia Strumiłło-Sukiennik from Beza Projekt. Their innovative ideas for using amber will be presented at an original, specially designed interactive stand.
It will also be there Trend Book – the fourth edition of the annual album dedicated to analysing trends and systematising information necessary for utilising stylistic trends in design. It also features photographs of prototypes and original amber jewellery pieces created by students and graduates of the Jewellery Design Studio at the Academy of Fine Arts in Gdańsk, inspired by the trends described in the publication. Their works, produced in the leading amber design studios and companies in the Tricity area, form an exhibition accompanying the publication, which promotes Gdańsk as a city conducive to the development of creative industries.
This is the first presentation of amber-based design abroad. „The aim is to seek contacts and opportunities to implement these projects in production. The funds raised will be used for further promotion. Trend Book both organising further editions of amber workshops for utility industries. Both ideas have already proven their worth and we know it's worth investing in these forms of promoting amber,” sums up Robert Pytlos.