Blac - the Nerd Knowledge - Optiek Van der Linden
Blac - the Nerd Knowledge - Optiek Van der Linden
Blac - the Nerd Knowledge - Optiek Van der Linden
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[All <strong>the</strong> important stuff about <strong>Blac</strong> ]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> <strong>Nerd</strong><br />
<strong>Knowledge</strong><br />
carbon fibre<br />
fibreglass<br />
Danish design<br />
handmade in Denmark<br />
www.blac.dk
[<strong>the</strong> telling points...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> fabulous story<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> fabulous story<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> is a novel, innovative eyewear brand. Revolutionary designer eyewear for men<br />
made from carbon fibre and fibreglass reinforced with titanium. <strong>Blac</strong> is <strong>the</strong> world’s<br />
first adjustable carbon fibre frame. Designed and handmade exclusively in Denmark<br />
by renowned designer eyewear company BELLINGER A/S.<br />
The fabulous story of <strong>Blac</strong> begins with designer Claus Bellinger and his fascination of McLaren’s<br />
carbon-composite MP4-1 body, which rocked <strong>the</strong> Formula 1 world at Silverstone in 1981.<br />
The MP4-1 was <strong>the</strong> first all composite Formula 1 body, designed as a moulding, ra<strong>the</strong>r than<br />
<strong>the</strong> traditional series of flat aluminum panels mechanically fixed toge<strong>the</strong>r. The reward for<br />
challenging conventional thinking was a gigantic leap in strength and sturdiness that would<br />
revolutionize racing car design.<br />
The characteristics of <strong>the</strong> carbon fibre and fibreglass composite are its unique woven surface,<br />
an unusual lightness combined with great strength. Carbon fibre and fibreglass are used in<br />
products where lightness and strength are determining factors: Airplanes, F1 racecars, motorcycles,<br />
boats, knee joints, surfboards, wind turbines, as well as in space travel industry, Ray<br />
and Charles Eames’ Fiberglass Chair (1948) and in Verner Panton’s Chair Classic (1960).<br />
Masculinity, strength and lightness<br />
Claus Bellinger built a team of designers, technical engineers and inventors. Toge<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>y created<br />
a vision: The new eyewear brand should be masculine, light, strong and feature new and<br />
innovative designs. The breakthrough to use composite materials for eyewear frames came<br />
from a design team members’ fascination of Matra Murena; a French three seated fibreglass<br />
sports car produced from 1980-83.<br />
Carbon fibre - an industry-first<br />
Years in <strong>the</strong> making, <strong>the</strong> development of <strong>Blac</strong> is that of a true pioneering marathon. Never<br />
before have composite materials been applied in eyewear productions so hands-on experience<br />
was gained from teaming up with an expert in carbon fibre knee joints and athletics sprint<br />
pros<strong>the</strong>ses. A hard-earned, labour-intensive, voyage of exploration through trial and error<br />
land that has resulted in cutting edge carbon fibre manufacturing know-how.<br />
Every <strong>Blac</strong> frame is unique…<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> is handmade in Denmark by our own specialized production team located in Århus, Denmark.<br />
A patent pending, and thus top secret, novel production process allows for each <strong>Blac</strong><br />
frame to get special attention and craftsmanship, ensuring a unique design of each frame. All<br />
frames are custom made by hand for each individual customer with hinges, screws and end<br />
tips tailored for our <strong>Blac</strong> frames.<br />
All carbon fibre and fibreglass frames in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> line are manufactured using <strong>the</strong> raw material<br />
directly in <strong>the</strong> process. No lacquer is attached providing each frame with a unique raw surface<br />
of <strong>the</strong> woven carbon fibre and fibreglass fabric.
[<strong>the</strong> story of...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> stormri<strong>der</strong>s<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> stormri<strong>der</strong>s...<br />
The design of <strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> collections are inspired by <strong>the</strong> surf world, <strong>the</strong> shapes and materials<br />
of surfboards and <strong>the</strong> designs that are used in this environment. So it was natural to choose<br />
names that evolved around surfing. The name Stormri<strong>der</strong>s is <strong>the</strong> over all description of <strong>the</strong><br />
<strong>Blac</strong> collections. Stormri<strong>der</strong>s is also <strong>the</strong> title of a surf book describing all surf spots around<br />
<strong>the</strong> world. We chose <strong>the</strong> best, most famous, wildest surf spots/breaks as names of <strong>the</strong> frames.<br />
Bunkers is one of <strong>the</strong> best breaks to surf in Denmark, Cavaliers and La Piste are both four<br />
star breaks in France and attracks <strong>the</strong> Pro Surf Tour, as well as Lunada Bay, California...<br />
Check out <strong>the</strong> full range of <strong>Blac</strong> frames at www.blac.dk<br />
Hanelei [Hawaii]<br />
Cavaliers [France]<br />
Bunkers [Denmark]<br />
Waikokos [Hawaii]
[<strong>the</strong> story of...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> Titanium<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> Titanium – pushing <strong>the</strong> envelope<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> Titanium – a brand new eyewear line in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> family. <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium is revolutionary<br />
eyewear for men, with a sleek Beta Titanium front and carbon fibre and<br />
fibreglass temples reinforced with titanium.<br />
Our goal with <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium is to design a unique frame that combines <strong>the</strong> streamlined<br />
minimalistic titanium look with <strong>the</strong> super cool fibre surface of <strong>the</strong> temples. The<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> Titanium collection is inspired by racecars, racetracks and motorsports icons<br />
such as Steve McQueen & Burt Reynolds. Named after motorsports terms and locations,<br />
<strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium models carry names such as “Parabolica” which is one of <strong>the</strong><br />
best curves at Italy’s Monza racetrack as well as at Hockenheim in Germany.<br />
With <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium we have once again pushed <strong>the</strong> limits of what is technically possible<br />
in or<strong>der</strong> to achieve our design goals - and gotten <strong>the</strong> most optimal front to our<br />
carbon fibre temples: <strong>the</strong> world’s first beta titanium front with a thickness variation<br />
to obtain perfect front flex and endpiece strength.<br />
Check out <strong>the</strong> full range of <strong>Blac</strong> frames at www.blac.dk<br />
…and so <strong>the</strong> fabulous story continues…
[mounting guide]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> technical guide<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> technical guide<br />
The <strong>Blac</strong> how To guide [mounting]<br />
1] how to mount <strong>the</strong> lens in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> &<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> Titanium frames<br />
2] how to adjust <strong>Blac</strong> & <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium temples<br />
3] how to adjust hockey ends<br />
4] how to adjust nosepad arms<br />
2]<br />
4]<br />
Adjust <strong>the</strong> temple in/out by hand<br />
...no more than 45 degrees<br />
Adjust <strong>the</strong> nosepad arms by hand<br />
1]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> & <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium<br />
[The Technical guide]<br />
Loosen one screw on <strong>the</strong> frontpiece<br />
Now you can easily mount <strong>the</strong> lens<br />
3]<br />
Adjust <strong>the</strong> hockey ends by hand<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> The imPoRTanT sTUFF<br />
1] <strong>Blac</strong> is truly handmade in Denmark<br />
2] Designed by BeLLinGeR - <strong>the</strong> best in Danish design!<br />
3] <strong>Blac</strong> is <strong>the</strong> world’s first adjustable carbon fibre frame<br />
4] <strong>Blac</strong> frames weigh half of regular frames<br />
5] Carbon fibre is super strong and extremely light<br />
6] all <strong>Blac</strong> frames are non allergenic<br />
7] Carbon fibre is a woven fabric which gives <strong>Blac</strong> its<br />
unique texture<br />
8] every <strong>Blac</strong> frame is unique<br />
The <strong>Blac</strong> RecommendaTions [lenses]<br />
1] all lenses should be in 1.6 or 1.67 material<br />
2] The recommended base curve for <strong>Blac</strong> is 4.0<br />
6.0 for <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium.<br />
3] always cut <strong>the</strong> lens to exact size with a plus-tolerance<br />
4] Minimal lens-edge thickness: 2.4 mm.<br />
5] Groove-measures: 0.5 mm. deep and 0.8 mm wide.<br />
For easy mounting - trim/round <strong>the</strong> groove edges<br />
6] For <strong>Blac</strong> frames with straight upper-rims:<br />
cut <strong>the</strong> lens 0.1 mm. larger; groove-measure 0.6 mm.<br />
deep and 0.8 mm. wide<br />
7] Take note of <strong>the</strong> frame curvature angel<br />
The <strong>Blac</strong> please do noT guide!<br />
1] do noT heat <strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> frames at any time. carbon or<br />
fiberglass will not be adjusted by heating. Heavy<br />
heating will damage <strong>the</strong> material.<br />
2] do noT use any type of loctite or anaerobic<br />
adhesives/Sealants on <strong>the</strong> hinges/screws because it<br />
will damage <strong>the</strong>m!<br />
3] do noT use tools with a metal surface directly<br />
against <strong>the</strong> carbon fibre or fibreglass material. When<br />
adjusting <strong>the</strong> temples this can easily be done by hand.<br />
4] do noT try to adjust <strong>the</strong> carbon fibre front in any<br />
way. The frame might break! (no problem for titanium)<br />
5] Be careful using chemicals. acetone will damage <strong>the</strong><br />
surface of both carbon fibre and fibreglass.
[important stuff]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> selling points<br />
Every <strong>Blac</strong> frame is unique...<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> is handmade in Denmark by our own specialized production team located in<br />
Århus, Denmark. A patent pending, and thus top secret, novel production process allows<br />
for each <strong>Blac</strong> frame to get special attention and craftsmanship, ensuring a unique<br />
design of each frame. All frames are custom made by hand for each individual customer<br />
with hinges, screws and end tips tailored for our <strong>Blac</strong> frames.<br />
All carbon fibre and fibreglass frames in <strong>the</strong> <strong>Blac</strong> line are manufactured using <strong>the</strong> raw<br />
material directly in <strong>the</strong> process. No lacquer is attached providing each frame with a<br />
unique raw surface of <strong>the</strong> woven carbon fibre and fibreglass fabric.<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> selling points<br />
1] <strong>Blac</strong> is truly hanDMaDE in Denmark<br />
2] Every <strong>Blac</strong> frame is unique!<br />
3] <strong>Blac</strong> is designed by BELLInGER, <strong>the</strong> best in Danish design<br />
4] <strong>Blac</strong> is <strong>the</strong> world’s first adjustable carbon fibre frame<br />
5] <strong>Blac</strong> frames weigh half of regular frames<br />
6] Carbon fibre is super strong and extremely light<br />
7] All <strong>Blac</strong> frames are nOn allergenic<br />
8] Carbon fibre is a woven fabric which gives <strong>Blac</strong> its unique texture<br />
9] Each frame consist of 4 layers - minimum 2 layers of carbon fibre
[carbon fibre facts...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> facts<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> facts<br />
Lenses:<br />
Recommended material for lenses is ONLY 1.6 or 1.67 material<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> lenses are made in base curve 4.0 - <strong>Blac</strong> Titanium in base curve 6.0<br />
Groove size: 0.5 mm. deep & 0.8 mm. wide<br />
Minimal lens edge thickness: 2.4 mm.<br />
Inclination: 11%<br />
Weight:<br />
From 7.5 g. (without lenses!)<br />
Production:<br />
Production is handled 100% in Århus, Denmark.<br />
Each frame is made of four layers of composite material with cross-layered woven carbon fibre<br />
material for optimized strength. The two middle layers are always carbon fibre material because<br />
this is slightly stronger than fibreglass.<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> is <strong>the</strong> output of craftsmanship and is predominantly handmade.<br />
All spare parts are custom made for <strong>Blac</strong>.
[Super nerd knowledge...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> facts<br />
Background knowledge on carbon fibre #1<br />
Carbon fibre (alternatively; graphite fibre, carbon graphite or carbon fibre reinforced plastic - CFRP<br />
for short) is a high-performance organic fibre known since <strong>the</strong> late 1950s. It is a composite material<br />
consisting of extremely thin fibres about 8 µm (0.005–0.010 mm) in diameter composed mostly of<br />
carbon atoms. The crystal alignment of carbon atoms makes <strong>the</strong> composite extremely strong for its<br />
size.<br />
Made by controlled pyrolysis and orientation of polyacrylonitrile, thousands of carbon fibres are spun<br />
toge<strong>the</strong>r to form a yarn, which may be used as is or woven into a fabric.<br />
Carbon fibre has many different weave patterns and can be combined with an epoxy or polymeric resin<br />
(plastic) and wound or molded to form composite materials such as carbon fibre reinforced plastic<br />
to provide a higher strength-to-weight ratio than metals. The density of carbon fibre is consi<strong>der</strong>ably<br />
lower than that of steel and with a maximum tensile modulus of 520 GNm-2 (over 2.5 times that of<br />
steel) and a specific gravity of 1.96 its specific modulus is almost 10 times that of <strong>the</strong> best steel wire,<br />
making it ideal for applications requiring low weight.<br />
Carbon fibre properties such as high tensile strength, low weight, and low <strong>the</strong>rmal expansion make<br />
<strong>the</strong> composite material very popular in aerospace, civil engineering, military, and motorsports along<br />
with o<strong>the</strong>r competition sports.<br />
Background knowledge on carbon fibre #2<br />
Carbon fibre is a super strong material. At <strong>the</strong> same time it’s also extremely lightweight. Engineers<br />
and designers love it because it’s five times as strong as steel, twice as stiff, yet weighs about twothirds<br />
less.<br />
Carbon fibre is basically ultra thin strands of carbon - even thinner than human hair.<br />
The strands can be twisted toge<strong>the</strong>r, like yarn. The yarns can be woven toge<strong>the</strong>r, like cloth. To make<br />
carbon fibre take on a permanent shape, it can be laid over a mold, <strong>the</strong>n coated with a stiff resin or<br />
plastic (kind of like how you would make something out of papier-mâché by putting newspaper strips<br />
over a mold, <strong>the</strong>n adding paste to force it to hold <strong>the</strong> shape).<br />
Car manufacturing<br />
Most car components are made of steel. Replacing steel components with carbon fibre would reduce<br />
<strong>the</strong> weight of most cars by 60 percent. That 60 percent drop in weight would, in turn, reduce <strong>the</strong> car’s<br />
fuel consumption by 30 percent and cut greenhouse gas and o<strong>the</strong>r emissions by 10 to 20 percent.<br />
That’s a huge fuel savings, even without changing <strong>the</strong> car’s engine. With a lighter carbon fibre body,<br />
car makers could build cars with smaller, more efficient engines, or increase <strong>the</strong> use of electric engines,<br />
resulting in even more fuel savings.
[Super nerd knowledge...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> facts<br />
Background knowledge on carbon fibre #2<br />
[continued...]<br />
Ten years ago, carbon fibre cost $150 a pound. Now, <strong>the</strong> price is around $10 a pound. Steel, on <strong>the</strong><br />
o<strong>the</strong>r hand, costs less than a dollar per pound. Many analysts say that for carbon fibre to make it into<br />
widespread use in cars, <strong>the</strong> price will have to drop to about $5 per pound. Cost is <strong>the</strong> main hurdle<br />
carbon fibre will have to overcome before it can provide a viable energy solution.<br />
The challenges of carbon fibre<br />
Only a few cars available at your local dealer use carbon fibre. The BMW M6 has some carbon fibre<br />
panels on its body, as does <strong>the</strong> Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 and <strong>the</strong> Ford GT. The Audi R8 also includes<br />
some carbon fibre. What do all <strong>the</strong>se cars have in common? They cost a lot of money! It’s rare to see a<br />
car with carbon fibre because it’s expensive!<br />
Lifecycle & recycling<br />
Both carbon and fibre glass is categorized as a sustainable and easy to maintain with a long durability.<br />
But when for example a car breaks down, its steel can be melted and used to construct ano<strong>the</strong>r car<br />
(or building, or anything else made of steel). Carbon fibre can’t be melted down, and it’s not easy to<br />
recycle. When it is recycled, <strong>the</strong> recycled carbon fibre isn’t as strong as it was before recycling. Carbon<br />
fibre recycled from a car isn’t strong enough to be used in building ano<strong>the</strong>r car.<br />
What is fibreglass?<br />
Fibreglass, (also called glass fibre), is material made from extremely fine fibres of glass.<br />
What is commonly known as “fibreglass” today, however, was invented in 1938 by Russell Games<br />
Slayter of Owens-Corning as a material to be used as insulation. It is marketed un<strong>der</strong> <strong>the</strong> trade name<br />
Fiberglass, which soon became a generic term. A somewhat similar, but more expensive technology<br />
used for applications requiring very high strength and low weight is <strong>the</strong> use of carbon fibre.<br />
Uses for regular fibreglass include mats, <strong>the</strong>rmal insulation, electrical insulation, reinforcement of<br />
various materials, tent poles, sound absorption, heat- and corrosion-resistant fabrics, high-strength<br />
fabrics, arrows, bows and crossbows, translucent roofing panels, automobile bodies, electrical insulation<br />
and boat hulls.<br />
Sources:<br />
Kanellos, Mike. “Here Comes <strong>the</strong> Everyday Carbon Fiber Car” CNET.<br />
Motavalli, Jim. “How Efficient Can Internal Combustion Get?”<br />
Oak Ridge National Laboratory. “Carbon Fiber Cars Could Put U.S. On Road to Efficiency.”<br />
Smock, Doug. “Magnesium, Aluminum will Play Big Role in Auto Weight Reduction.” Design News.<br />
Woodyard, Chris. “Carbon Fiber Sparkles with Diamond Like Appeal.” USA Today.<br />
Zoltek. “Letter from <strong>the</strong> CEO.”<br />
Larousse Dictionary of Science and Technology
[<strong>Nerd</strong> knowledge...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> facts<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r fabulous carbon fibre designs...<br />
The material of <strong>the</strong> future...<br />
Carbon fibre, carbon for short, is <strong>the</strong> current star among high-performance materials. This industrial<br />
material, which we frequently encounter combined with something else, for example plastic, to make<br />
it stronger, has <strong>the</strong> appeal of technical lightness and panache like, a good century ago, <strong>the</strong> silvery gray<br />
lightweight metal aluminum. Just as <strong>the</strong> latter, with its minimal weight and malleability, became <strong>the</strong><br />
ultimate material of technical progress and ultimately, from household appliances to <strong>the</strong> Dymaxion<br />
house, symbolized Mo<strong>der</strong>nism that had been spurred on almost ecstatically, it is now carbon that<br />
embodies all <strong>the</strong> attributes of <strong>the</strong> future and speed. It is treated as a “Formula 1 material”. The body of<br />
<strong>the</strong> Boeing 787 Dreamliner is almost all carbon. The body of <strong>the</strong> Porsche Carrera GT is made of<br />
this innovative material of <strong>the</strong> future, as is <strong>the</strong> streamlined roof of <strong>the</strong> BMW M3 Series.<br />
Lightness and stability...<br />
Carbon materials primarily unite two properties. They are sensationally light and unimaginably<br />
stable. This makes <strong>the</strong>m <strong>the</strong> perfect material for automobile construction and space and air travel,<br />
as well as for motorbike helmets, tennis rackets, speed skates, racing sails and bicycle frames, which<br />
you could lift up with your little finger. In product design, carbon, with its uncanny abilities, is only<br />
at <strong>the</strong> beginning of a brilliant career, although <strong>the</strong> material is essentially still too expensive for larger<br />
quantities and it seems its sustainable disposal has not yet been fully clarified ei<strong>the</strong>r. The first product<br />
innovations made of carbon fibres are already on <strong>the</strong> market however, and <strong>the</strong>ir number is set to grow<br />
soon.<br />
Tables and racing cars...<br />
John Barnard and Terence Woodgate have ingeniously formed <strong>the</strong> qualities of this industrial material<br />
with <strong>the</strong>ir beautiful table Surface Table. Barnard is already well known as an industrial designer,<br />
while Woodgate has made a name for himself as a developer and designer of Formula 1 racing cars.<br />
Toge<strong>the</strong>r, <strong>the</strong>y seem an ideal combination to design an everyday object using high-tech materials.<br />
Their design for <strong>the</strong> English company Established & Sons was presented at this year’s Milan Furniture<br />
Fair. The carbon table is three meters long and its form cuts a weightless line of sight in <strong>the</strong> space. The<br />
tabletop is just two millimeters thick and is thus, so <strong>the</strong> designers say, about five times thinner than<br />
similar-sized table constructions. None<strong>the</strong>less <strong>the</strong> table, which is only produced on or<strong>der</strong>, seems anything<br />
but fragile and delicate. The high-tech tabletop is available in “walnut veneer” or, even better,<br />
“unidirectional carbon fibre finish”.
[<strong>Nerd</strong> knowledge...]<br />
<strong>Blac</strong> - <strong>the</strong> facts<br />
[Planes, Porsches, BMWs, Racing Cars,<br />
Space Rockets, Rackets, Speed Skates, Bi-<br />
O<strong>the</strong>r fabulous carbon fibre designs...<br />
cycles, Chairs, Tables...and now ...Supercool<br />
Eyewear...]<br />
The unique material...<br />
With its trailblazing image, carbon has already generated an aes<strong>the</strong>tic quality all of its own. Admirers<br />
want <strong>the</strong> carbon surface visible with its characteristic, meshed web structure and not painted over,<br />
covered up and treated. We recall <strong>the</strong> “DAR” (Dining Armchair Rod) by Charles and Ray Eames,<br />
made of fibreglass-reinforced polyester. In this product design icon, which is a real heavyweight compared<br />
to a carbon chair, <strong>the</strong> formal innovation was accompanied back <strong>the</strong>n by <strong>the</strong> fibreglass material<br />
left bare and “natural”, so to speak, a daring industrial aura, which seemed virtually revolutionary<br />
surrounded by familiar materials such as wood and steel tubing. Today, when anything is actually<br />
possible and as such nothing is remarkable anymore, it is carbon that is succeeding in making an aes<strong>the</strong>tic<br />
transfer such as this once again.<br />
high-tech chairs and chaise-longues...<br />
The two designers Bertjan Pot and Marcel Wan<strong>der</strong>s were probably also thinking of <strong>the</strong> “DAR” when<br />
designing <strong>the</strong>ir chair. The “Carbon Chair” designed for <strong>the</strong> Dutch company Moooi, Marcel Wan<strong>der</strong>s’<br />
own brand, with its base and <strong>the</strong> ergonomic seat, almost seems like a tribute to Charles Eames’ fibreglass<br />
chair of 1948. Here, however, <strong>the</strong> material is not shaped with futuristic high-tech panache, but<br />
ra<strong>the</strong>r as a break with <strong>the</strong> expected. The seat is plaited so wildly using carbon fibres, as thin as wool, as<br />
though this artfully chaotic web technique transports <strong>the</strong> basket-like objects of Egon Eiermann<br />
into <strong>the</strong> next Mo<strong>der</strong>n age. The designers were interested in combining high-tech and skilled craftwork,<br />
so <strong>the</strong>y say. And aes<strong>the</strong>tically, <strong>the</strong>y succeeded superbly. When we look at its dull non-color, <strong>the</strong><br />
matt jet black of <strong>the</strong> chair reminds us of good old wood charcoal.<br />
Carbon, still courted at present like a rare diamond among industrial materials, inspired designer<br />
Konstantin Grcic to produce a “Limited Edition”. The edition of his chaise-longue, called “Karbon”, is<br />
limited to 12, plus two prototypes. This graceful design, represented by <strong>the</strong> Parisian Galerie Kreo, also<br />
brings <strong>the</strong> advantages of <strong>the</strong> material into an extraordinarily dynamic form. The hammock-like<br />
couch curves as softly as an engine hood and is so gracefully angular it looks as though it was drawn in<br />
<strong>the</strong> space like a line drawing as someone walked by. Even now <strong>the</strong>se first “avant-garde” objects reveal<br />
<strong>the</strong> creative innovations carbon can inspire, and what this material can make possible in product design<br />
in terms of novel forms and constructions. We can look forward to <strong>the</strong> next spectacular designs.<br />
The potential, at least, is already in <strong>the</strong> start boxes.