BMW i ♡ NYC
Experience the BMW i3 Concept and the BMW i8 Concept Spyder at 6thAvenue/42nd Street 1095 Avenue of the Americas – just across from Bryant Park from 14 to 18 November, 2012. Gain an exclusive view behind the scenes of future mobility, which will be defined by sustainability. BMW i is pairing up with local designers and businesses to showcase different ways how sustainability can be a part of our lives without us making sacrifices.
Red Paper Heart.
Red Paper Heart is a small art studio of designers, artists and coders based in Brooklyn, New York City. They work together combining interactivity and animation to connect objects, spaces, and people on an open and honest level. Starting with emotions and sense memories, Red Paper Heart builds experiences that are relatable on a more-than-visual level. Using simple means to drive their work, such as the beating of a heart, they build an emotional connection between the heart of every spectator and their work using innovative technology. BMW i offers a similar approach: By bringing emotion, innovation, design, interaction and ecological awareness together, outstanding products are born.
Emotions are not the only inspiration for the creative minds of Red Paper Heart. Being based in New York City, it is hard not to take inspiration from the metropolis itself. Perhaps this is why their installation "Pulse", especially made for BMW i, literally reacts to the heartbeat of the city's inhabitants. Thanks to Red Paper Heart you are no longer just a viewer, you become a spectator, performer, and creator, with your own touch driving the exhibit. Be excited to see what happens when Red Paper Heart connects with you!
The Sway.
“Things that don’t date in style and quality” are the secret behind the success of The Sway. Indestructible tough leather biker jackets, and durable handbags made from recycled material are manufactured using an intensive patchwork technique – the hallmark of the label since its foundation in 2010. “The idea for The Sway came, when I realized I wanted to design in a sustainable way and use reclaimed and recycled materials,” explains Belinda Pasqua, innovator and identity behind The Sway.
The Australian-born and Brooklyn-based designer is inspired by music, street art, and the Australian culture, which is often reflected in her work. And her success is proving her right: the latest highlight and must-have item of the collection is the Marlo shag tote bag, awarded with the “Best Green Handbag Award” in 2011. Furthermore, the manufacturing facility where The Sway’s collections are produced is powered by advanced natural alternatives. And on top of that, ten percent of the sales profits are donated to charity. This holistic approach entirely matches the mindset of BMW i – sustainability at the very core.
EOps.
Founded in April 2002, the designers from EOps began with a philosophy that life should be about embracing the present and creating functional innovative products. They should be simple to use whilst also incorporating stylish and playful elements into the design.
The New York City music tech brand EOps and UK designer Michael Young therefore created a special set of eco-friendly over-ear headphones in 2011. Crafted from recyclable stainless steel, aluminium, and biodegradable cornstarch bio-plastics, the EOps Noisezero O+ Eco edition over-ear headphones were the first headphones of their kind. When in use, the soft sheep leather ear pads effectively cover the entire ear to provide high wearing comfort combined with passive noise isolation for amazing audio results. With a vision of more commitment to originality and sustainability, EOps is developing a portfolio of next-generation products tailored to our urban lifestyle needs.
Danielle Trofe Design.
Brooklyn-based design studio Danielle Trofe Design has developed a functional, sustainable, and socially-responsible approach to furniture and lighting design. Danielle Trofe Design bases her design practices on the philosophy that a creator is not only responsible for bringing beauty into the world but should also do so with minimal impact on the environment.
At the BMW i Born Electric Tour she is presenting her Live Screen, which is designed to promote urban gardening and the integration of living plants into interior spaces by using vertical hydroponic technology. It is a self-watering system that simplifies the process of growing one’s own plants while making interior gardening much more accessible to those seeking a greener lifestyle. The system allows people to grow their own healthy plants, fresh fruits, herbs, and vegetables at their homes, offices, and public spaces using hydroponics, one of the most sustainable growing practices based on hydroculture.
Vanessa Chew.
Brooklyn resident Vanessa Chew achieved her Master’s Degree in Industrial Design at the Pratt Institute in New York City. Conscious of Earth’s limited resources, she is sustainably minded when creating her designs. She focuses her ideas not only on the wearer, but also the environment by minimizing waste and utilizing materials to create a lower impact on nature. What started out as gifts for her family and friends has now expanded to a collection of several necklaces and earrings. With her “Roots” line of wooden handmade jewelry Vanessa Chew is proving her outstanding natural perception of organic design.
The jewelry is backed with wool felt (a renewable resource) using non-toxic adhesive, a natural oil finish, and gold-filled chains. Each piece is carefully hand-sanded and oiled to emphasize the natural beauty of the wood. Take a closer look and be amazed by Vanessa Chew’s collection: no two pieces are alike. Each composition is a unique phenomenon.
Big Ass Fans.
With more than 70,000 fans up and spinning worldwide, the Big Ass Fan Company takes constant improvement to heart when looking for long-lasting, energy-efficient ways to create and augment air movement. Big Ass Fans has established its position as the leading manufacturer of ceiling fans for large industrial, agricultural, commercial and residential settings, and has recently expanded to offer smaller fans for more typical living spaces and smaller commercial settings.
The 60-inch Haiku® ceiling fan is a perfect example of the company’s attention to detail and quest for perfection; combining precision handcrafting, high-quality, sustainable materials and energy efficiency that exceeds the ENERGY STAR® testing requirements by 450 to 750%, Haiku has garnered major international design awards in its debut.
