Rethinkthings review of late 2013

2013 Review

For those who have been keeping up with our activity, you will know that we have been exploring many new avenues in 2013 including make it yourself and downloadable products (MIY), screenprinting and bespoke commissions. This culminated with a shift in focus from wholesale to retail trade at the latter end of 2013 with a week-long appearance at Liverpool’s Urban Winter Village (container market) in December and the introduction of the new Mental Baggage series by designer Lance Walker.

Urban Winter Village

Christmas saw us present dozens of REthinkthings products and work by other noted designers to Liverpool’s first shipping container pop-up market, the Urban Winter Village at Williamson Square.

Kaspa lamps, Bauhaus birdfeeders, Scumbags and Accent teatowels were among the attention grabbers at the UWV. Despite one day of howling wind and rain we loved the opportunity to meet so many people and show off work by creative British designers. We also got the chance to meet lots of other stallholders, many of which were new British brands with serious creative vision, it felt refreshing to gain feedback direct from end users and the whole experience gave us real insight and food for thought going forward.

As part of the year-end fun we ran a huge sale on many items on our web site. Many of these are still discounted for a limited period (whilst stocks last), to  advantage of these, click here.

Mental baggage collection – Orwellian inspired

The headlines coming out of Downing Street and Washington DC this year have had a certain Orwellian quality to them. Unprecedented news of widespread eavesdropping, constant surveillance and the omnipresent directive to fear terrorism at any moment has us in a constant state of anxiety.

Combine that with the news last spring of austerity measures, here and in other European countries, while the ultra-rich are hiding their money away offshore, the new economic and political landscape becomes clear and its making many of us indignant!

 Designer Lance Walker joined us in late 2013 with a series of cotton tote bags bearing contemporary versions of the Newspeak slogans that featured heavily in George Orwell’s classic dystopian novel 1984. Presented as bold statements of the official party line, these bags espouse the current party slogans:

SURVEILLANCE IS SERVICE

FEAR IS SECURITY

AUSTERITY IS WEALTH

These new bags were launched at the Urban Winter Village last December and have been selling steadily as public focus increases on such topics. Make your statement against thought control with one (or all three) of these statements parodying the party line - purchase here at the introductory price of just £5!

Retailers can access wholesale prices here

Aside from new product launches and pop up stores, Director Ilsa Parry continues to remain involved with the promotion of a wider mission for design. Her manifesto for Rethinkthings and her own consultative approach to creative work remains strong as she continues to seek opportunity for sustainable engagement and creative awareness through commercial activity. Ilsa Believes that design has the power to transform the frame of mind, and as such she was asked by BoConcept last November to host a 40 minute talk on what constitutes good design. You can read more about this here:

Spirollight

Spirollight is one of the latest joint ventures between Ilsa Parry and Andrew Luft at the REthinkthings 

studio. Using 94 standard toilet paper tubes, anyone can create this shining sculpture. A statement 

piece, this mono-material lamp shows just how easy it is to create products from everyday "waste".

The geometric structure forms the light as it is projected onto the ceiling from the Spirollight pendant. This simple yet effective idea will be launched with "make it yourself" instruction packs for sale at the MOSI Mini Makers Fair, taking place at the Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester, England from the 10th to the 11th of August. 

Why pay for designer lighting when you can employ your own creativity and make your own whilst 

helping to reduce unnecessary waste?

Spirollight uses toilet paper tubes which are cut into rings, and slotted together in pairs of rings to create a near spherical shape using the easy to follow template guides. Upcycling materials diverts from landfill and the ability to say you made this yourself can bring a worthwhile sense of satisfaction.

Hard copy instruction packets and downloadable print-it-yourself instructions will be available to buy online from www.rethinkthings.co.uk/spirollight from 1st August.

Check out its development on our facebook page and follow us for more variations on this unusual design.

REthinkthings at Liberty London and Spring Fair 2013

REthinkthings LTD raise the bar from Liberty of London to Spring Fair UK!

REthinkthings are looking to 2013 with renewed optimism as their ever expanding collection of carefully selected design led products were successfully pitched at the Liberties London open day last week, just three weeks prior to their first own branded showcase at Spring Fair International.
 Managing Director Ilsa Parry describes the decision to raise the bar: “We have been working hard to increase our product offering online whilst retaining the instantly recognisable quirky aesthetic of our collection. Our site now has over 50 products, 33 of which we own exclusive IP rights or license to trade. REthinkthings feels much stronger as a brand and so we felt confident in showing our most successful wares at Liberties. The enthusiastic response the range was met with by Ed Burstel (Managing Director of Liberty) and Katrina Burroughs (Sunday Times and Telegraph interiors writer) gave us affirmation of the design quality of the work. We felt it only fair to allow other design conscious buyers in on the huge commercial potential the range projects, hence our decision to go solo at spring fair this year!”

Check out the video above to see what we experienced during the Liberties pitch REthinkthings are incredibly excited at the prospect of becoming a supplier to Liberties. The buyers were animated with the Bauhaus birdfeeder which Katrina instantly recognised from features she has written in the past. Ilsa Parry (REthinkthings Managing Director) introduced the two to “Flo” the innovative standing and walking aid newly launched last year, Ed was surprised by the unusual and efficient functionality but both felt that their hearts were much more in line with the cute, bright and colourful items such as “Cliff” hanging hooks “Kaspa” the ghost light and “Spyke” the baseless glass set, they spoke of their plans to launch a new design led garden room and felt that Bauhaus and perhaps even “Spierre” the one legged outdoor seat could be a great fit.  As a global icon for sophisticated and cutting edge home and giftware with a deep and rich heritage, Liberty offer “a voyage of discovery and excitement” which fit in perfectly with the REthinkthings brand values.

Just as Liberty offer an “eccentric, indulgent and utterly charming world” in which you can get truly lost, the studio is currently planning a new journey for the brand, beginning with Spring Fair 2013. From the 3-7^th February trade visitors can see all their products in the “DesignLAB” area of hall 7 on stand 6R45 set in a mystical world of warmth and conversation. 

Ilsa comments:“We too are trying to build a global brand, one which is accessible by buyers, consumers and manufacturers alike. We wish to be at the heart of sustainability and efficiency for production, forming a family of creativity through design which connects people, instils optimism and leaves memories”

2013 will see the brands 4^th birthday and welcomes a fresh outlook on how everyday items reach consumers, REthinkthings has invested heavily in R+D to forge expansion and transform themselves into a more adventurous proposition able to undertake varied 3D commission works in new fields such as Typography, Graphic Communication and Brand Experience to persuade more clients and collaborators to merge with their way of thinking and strive for engaging innovation and evolution collectively.

Flo Set To Launch!

REthinkthings Launches the long awaited Flo Standing and Walking aid designed alongside Philippe Starck on BBC Design for Life 

2012 will see major changes for REthinkthings LTD. A design led product brand based in Liverpool founded and Directed by designer Ilsa Parry. In just under 3 years Ilsa has been on a mission to bring new and exciting everyday products to market and this year they launch the much celebrated “Flo” standing and walking aid, designed by Ilsa under the tutelage of world renowned designer Philippe Starck.

Buy Flo walking aid now

The Flo product is a change in direction for REthinkthings who have become known for quirky and inventive home accessories and giftware. In just over a year they have worked with over 25 retailers to distribute their new and exciting designs though 8 international trade shows and have proved to offer meaningful and quality creative products with a twist.

This year as they enter the independent living market, the launch item “Flo” represents the same human led thinking as it strives to offer an alternative tool for transfer and mobility that is multifunctional, super strong, lightweight, elegant and funky all at the same time. The product has an innovative USP as it wraps around the lower leg, locking it in position whilst employing upper body strength to allow the user to lever themselves out of a chair, it can then be used as a walking cane.

Buy flo walking aid now 

 REthinkthings MD Ilsa Parry who originally designed the product whilst being filmed for a BBC reality documentary said:

“I have worked on this particular product relentlessly over a three year period. We have created over 15 prototypes and we are now patent protected. This product is the one I am most proud of due to its simplicity and clever functionality. I hope it proves to be valuable item for consumers which they enjoy using.”

The Flo product moves away from traditional “medical” aesthetics in its design and actively seeks to introduce a new visual language to the industry. The product which was coined by Starck himself as a “Salvador Dali stick” will be launched at Naidex international independent living show at Birmingham NEC, stand C177A on the 1^st May 2012. It will be available to both trade and consumers in 6 vibrant colours made from carbon fibre and includes an elegant and replaceable foot bung for grip, designed exclusively for the Flo product, and a wrist strap, both of which are available in custom colours. The product is designed to support up to 25 stone in weight when transferring from seated to standing and comes with a lifetime guarantee on functionality. Currently available for just £299rrp.

When the product was first prototyped, Starck commented “It is one of the most beautiful things I have seen in a long, long time.” Interested parties can pre order Flo online from the REthinkthings website or contact info@rethinkthings.co.uk

Buy flo walking aid now