ear adapter v2.0 – 2012

this project refers to a previous project, you can find more
information in this link

I’ve also shared the fild for this work in progress thing in
Thingiverse.

milky way – 2012

Milky Way is made with only recycled tetra brick
packaging. The addition of 8 identical parts putted
together creates a strong full size lampshade.
Re thinking and re using disposable materials is
possible everyday; in every product we buy and
everything we dispose there is a new possibility.
In this case we can imagine the shade inside or outside
depending on the use you might need, by putting the
aluminum side inside as a reflector or outside for a
solid metallic look. Folded marks of the bricks reminds
of other materials like the one used in the roofing of
most Parisian buildings.

ruban lamp – 2012

RUBAN LAMP is a small usb rechargeable desk lamp.
All connection and hinges are made with magnets,
large ones for ground and small ones for current. By just
putting the lamp together light goes on and of when you
move it to a off position or simply by taking it apart.

The shape is based in simple torn and bend operations
of the ribbon. All connections inside the wood are made
with copper tape connected to the magnets.

The light source is composed of 3 power leds integrated
in the top ribbon part of the lamp.

the wild chair – 2012

The Wild Chair ( salvaticus cathedra ) is the wildest
species of seating furniture. The most recognizable
feature are his 4 legs and no tail. They are solitary but
social, also very territorial they live in very populated
places on earth, this has caused significant conflicts
with humans.

When a stranger brakes her quietness, they scream
and raise their wharp wooden spines to defend from
predators.

To approach a wild chair is very tricky. the wild chair
is sensitive to soft talk and kind gestures, but   you
can’t approch directly to it.

when domesticated the wild chair can be very useful,
but remember, a wild chair will always be a WILD CHAIR.

project by j.c.karich & pauline jamilloux

http://hlt.media.mit.edu/workshops/ENSAD_2012/

Wild Chair Video (Original)

glass punch – 2011

This is the upcoming glass version of the punch mug.
If the mug was supposed to wake you up the hard way,
this one is for good times, but don’t let anyone mess
with you beer… and if you have something to say please
don’t take it outside!

© 2011  j.c.karich – images by martin le tiec

ear adapter – 2011

I’m probably not the only one who thinks in-ear
headphones are not the more comfortable but more
important than this is the fact that is headphones allow
you to isolate from the rest sometimes but what if you
could decide either tu use your headphones inside or
over you ears? you could still be hearing what happens
around you and still listening to music at the same time.
This adapter can hold you in ear headphones just a little
over you ears, and the shape intents to be open to
ambient sounds so the will mix in with the music.

stl files available here

ear adapter video

headband and ear adapter

ready to use

headphone detail

soft matrix – 2011

The soft led matrix is made with conductive thread,
spacer fabric, power leds and simple metalic snap on
buttons. By just snap or not different points in the
surface of this matrix It’s possible to create forms text
and another interesting effect is done by not snapping
but just touching the fabric surface to created a light
sensible surface.

soft LED matrix with snap on connectors

demo video of the sof LED display

light cube – 2011

Part of using a Makerbot is also about trying to find
new uses for it and experimented unexpected
things, even if this means unpredictable results
or problems during the process. This is a pretty
simple idea but the fun part is about doing a
printed light that is lighted straight out of the
3d printer while it’s still hot. For this I designed
first the 3d file made out of a simple cube that
is hollow inside, but not just hollow because the
shape has to be printable so the way I figure was
to extract a sphere shape from the cube.
Once the machine is printing I started preparing
a little LED connected to a coin cell battery just
wrap it together with some kapton tape and
drop it inside the cube while its about 3/4
printed ( you can pause the machine to do this
but I just didn’t) and then you just wait until the
print is finished and the cube is completely
closed. I did a white version first but the red
light just works better when the cube is still warm.
The light will run around 48 hours before it runs out.

live printing of a 3D cube with LED and battery inside

fold  beat speakers – 2011

Some early models of the fold beat speaker project,
a simple folded surface to create a resistent and
simple looking stereo speakers. Next models will
be fully functional and will integrate speakers and
amplifier components to snap and fold into the
template and connectors to use the speaker
with telephones or mp3 players.

paper models – © 2011  j.c.karich

developable speaker fold – © 2011  j.c.karich

designlab exposition at Le Laboratoire – 2011

DesignLab presents the prospective prototypes of
researchers (EnsadLab) and fifth year students of
ENSAD (l’École nationale supérieure des Arts
Décoratifs) created in collaboration with the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Media Lab
High Low Tech Department.

Some of the objects presented here came from the
“Hybrid Materials” and “Intelligent/ElectronicPrint
making” workshops (2010-2011) in collaboration
with three MIT engineers: Leah Buechley, Dana
Gordon and Jean-Baptiste Labrune. The other
projects were developed within theframework of
two EnsadLab programs: DCIP (Design, Conception,
Innovation et Prospective)lead by Patrick Renaud
and Elisabeth de Senneville, and MEDTEV (Matériaux
à EffetsDynamique, Toucher et Effets Visuels) lead
by Vonnik Hertig and Christian Stenz.

The “Hybrid Materials” workshop explored different
ways to make inert materials “living” by imagining
a new definition of “material”. The “Intelligent
Electronic Printmaking” workshopreinvented silk-
screening techniques for paper and textiles with the
purpose of conceiving newinterfaces while
integrating electronic elements and captors to create
large dynamic surfaces.

exposition website http://designlab.ensad.fr

gallery website http://www.lelaboratoire.org

press release http://lelaboratoire.org/CPDesignLab%20V7.pdf

Please, lamp and drawer – j.c.karich & liberty adrien

Please, drawer – j.c.karich & liberty adrien

This exposition presents prospective projects conceived through new creative processes coupled with a dynamic of sharing. From the digitalworld, data sharing and open source are now extending into the realm of the physical. This revolution allows designers to give birth to newideas and new uses, with access to know-how and tools which were once inaccessible. Workshop prototypes, these Do-It-Yourself projects werere-dissected on a laboratory table, with sharing in mind, in order to give visitors the necessary elements to understand the creative process of each of these projects.

One of the main ideas at the heart of this exposition is the appropriation of the principles of physics and existing technologiesin order to integrate them, through hacking, into a creative process. They were adapted to meet the needs of innovation in the projects through a multitude of experiments which are described below. This approach led us to freely mix techniques, technologies and materials, both traditional and modern, creating a hybrid of sorts. You will see how designers re-invent their tools, develop “low-tech” technology appropriate to their projects and create intelligent materials, all to make the conception of interactive objects more accessible.

So-q – j.c.karich & bo pang

Time goes by (slowly) – light & clock – j.c.karich

Soundsitive – gesture controlled speaker  - j.c.karich

Sandbox – j.c.karich, martin de bie & martin le tiec

Sandbox – j.c.karich, martin de bie & martin le tiec

1- « Prospection »: Prospection is the continuous observation of the evolution of society and the industrial world in order to propose pertinent and appropriate uses.

2- « Open source »: Initially, the word “open source” applied to programs which could be used and redistributed freely with access to the “source code”. Today, the concept still evokes the idea of sharing knowledge and enriching creativity through community. This is also seen in other fields (open medicine, open materials, etc.).

3- « New Uses »: The evolution of our environment, our way of life, our movement, our work, linked with new technologies leads to new uses.

4- « Prototype »: The term “prototype” means the first model of an object which will be reproduced in a series. It’s a functioning 1/1 scale model. Quick prototyping (or 3D printing) is made possible by digitally controlled machines, capable of quickly mass producing objects created in a 3D program.

5- « Do it yourself (DIY) »: Today, this expression has a much broader sense. With the multitude of tutorials online, DIY has become a promotion of open source and a reaction to consumerism.

6- « Hacking »: Hacking is the use of an object, a material or a technique for another purpose than was originally intended.

7- « Experimentations »: An experimental method validates a hypothesis or a fabrication process through repeating experiments to collect data.

8- « Hybridization »: Hybridization is combining many distinct entities in order to create a new, single entity, using different processes, different technologies and different materials.

9- « Low tech »: On the opposite end of the spectrum from “high tech”, this expression is given to cheap and apparently simple techniques, using common and recycled materials, for a technological purpose.

10- « Intelligent materials »: An “intelligent” material is capable of changing one or many of its properties responding to an external or internal stimuli. These materials both react and act on their own without the need for a separate control device.

g.i.p.s. – global intuitive positioning system

gips is an instinctive tool wich favors the wandering
and discovery of the city while walking towards a
specific destination.
For many centuries, orientation tools have become
more precise. Today with improvement and
democratization of these tool there is no place
for the unknown or those lost in the city.
From one point to another point there is not only
one way but many.
Unlike orientation tools that provide us with precise
paths, gips bring imprecision during displacement.
As an orientation tool, gips will lead us to a
destination by using instinctive and sensitive
indications like warm and cold.

gips is simply connected to a computer or mobile
device via an usb cable.

demonstration video

3d printed model

gips – j.c.karich, martin de bie & martin le tiec

dollar bill ghetto blaster – 2011

Almost everyone has a dollar bill in their wallet, this questions us about what foreign currency means when you are no longer inside the country of origin of the bill, and how when old on to these bills like lucky symbol or souvenir of a trip. We decided to make something out of this idea, this way we can give another use to this but trying to keep the object still intact or at least to be recognizable as what it is and what it means.

This exercise was done during a trip to boston in march early this year as a part of experimenting with sound, paper circuits and conductive fabric at the high low techresearch group form the mit media lab

The result is this, we called it “One Dollar Bill Ghetto Blaster” it’s a dollar bill with a sonic coil connected to a potentiometer made of velostat and to a transistor and a a coil speaker made out of conductive fabric with a magnet on the backside of the bill. The circuit is powered by a coin cell battery.

Thanks to Hannah Perner Wilson for leting us participate in one of her workshops “a kit of no parts” we learned a lot!

dollar bill ghetto blaster – j.c.karich & martin de bie

architect magazine award object – february 2011

For the second year in a row Architect magazine asked me to make the design for the award object of their famous progressive architecture award. Like any designer when you redo an object for the second time you try to improve de design make it simpler without changing it to much. The case was made differently from the first one, it was milled from a solid aluminium block with less screwed parts.

This objects try to bring a creative approche in a traditionaly useless object without changing it’s precious and significant weight, bright and size. It’s a different way to conceive an award, giving to it a playful and strong value.

The name of the edition and the prized architect or firm is engraved into to sliding cover of the box.

http://www.architectmagazine.com/awards/pa-awards/

Please, – january 2011

‘give a hand’ How could we used this expression in the
Workshop context. If we want the result to be a poster,
the question is :
“How could you give a hand to our poster to make it work?”
In our society Art is something you can not touch. The
quantity of “Don’t touch” notes everywhere are there to
remembered you to keep your hands close to your body.
The only movement, when you allowed yourself to touch a
painting, its to put it straight when it is tilted. In fact,
staying in a room where everything is in order except a
tilted painting, will have a huge tendency to make you
nervous.
Here was born our idea. What if we create a tilted painting
who can reveal its message only when the spectator puts
it straight? A kind of unreadable message, playing with
graphic, who make you think that this tiltedness is just an
installation mistake and push you to interact with the poster…

more info and images:

http://hlt.media.mit.edu/workshops/ENSAD_2011/?page_id=12

project by j.c.karich, liberty adrien and helena front

time goes by (slowly) – december 2010

« This object does not give the exact time, but it
offers a different way of experiencing time. Each
moment is represented by a specific position and
light intensity. As time goes by slowly,you will be
reminded of your childhood, when you used to
experience time as a series of events rather than
by hours and minutes. A microcontroller connected
to a pendulum and alight produces indicators
which relate to the changes in the wood material
and the position of the dial on its track. »

french touch – tokyo designers week – oct/nov 2010

During 2010 tokyo designers week, I presented some
prototypes of the 40 armchair, the canyon stool, the
swan lamp, the punch coffee mug and the flat salad set.
I was part of the french touch section organized by the
french embassy and ubi france.

sandbox – december 2010

‘sandbox’, an interface for capturing and sharing short
audio clips. composed of light-sensitive voice recording
systems buried under the sand, the work encourages
visitors to create and bury messages for others to dig
up and discover.

the main idea was to be able to create rich material that
could store data and become a platform for people to
exchange secrets and ideas anonymously,’ the designers
explain. ‘this project is an example of how natural
materials can become a richer interface for playing,
creating new ways of communication thanks to a simple
interaction.

‘sandbox’ is filled with regular sand but features an
electronic and audio layer underneath, composed of
an arduino microprocessor with a voice memory module.
this allows multiple control points under the sand, with
each including a photocell, LED, microphone, and
speaker. when the point is revealed, the LDR photocell
triggers the recording mechanism if the voice memory
module is empty. if not, it plays the last message
recorded and stored.

soundsitive speaker – 2008/2011

‘soundsitive’ is an interactive sound object, functioning
as both speaker and remote control, whose volume and
track position are adjusted by intuitive gestures. users
may move their hand slowly up and down above the object
to control the volume, or quickly swipe a hand over the
top in order to jump to the next track.

sketch 1

1_wood cylinder
2_perforated sheet
3_screw
4_Infra red sensor
5_speaker
6_mounting plate
7_linear actuator stepper
8_battery
9_electronics
10_jack input
11_usb connector for pen drive and SD card slot
12_power button
13_power connector
14_perforated sheet
15_wood cylinder
16_wood cylinder
17_inside enclosure

swan lamp – 2010

The “Swan” lamp, is a very simple lamp that takes form
from a single folded piece of steel or aluminium plate.
After being folded it takes a shape that reminds you of
a swan, elegant and light shape. The shade is in the
upper part, with a small perforation that can receive the
light source support. It’s a small and simple lamp, made
of a few simple folding operations, the back side leaves
place for the cord to run down easily.

mirror stainless steel top view

mirror stainless steel swan lamp

unfolded die cut

40 chair – 2010

Little armchair with armrests, made in lime wood,
satin finish in natural wood.

first protorype

side, front and top views

canyon stool – 2010

The “Stack” stool, is a very simple yet sculptural piece
of furniture, it made out of discs of solid wood, these
discs are piled up increasing in diameter all the way up
to the seat composed of 3 larger diameter discs, all the
discs are mounted disaxed. This gives the stool a
particular organic and sculptural shape.

canyon stool

perforated discs

seat

l’imprimerie, dijon – 2010

second floor dinning

balcony and stairs

main view from entrance

colors and objects

second floor view

old poster wood letter case panels

books and everything else

architect magazine award object – february 2010

I designed the award object for the 57th annual
P/A Awards, it recognizes nine projects that exemplify
the speculative value of progressive design.

aluminium micro ball polish game set

sliding cover

« Hybridizing padding with electronics, we created a
piece of furniture covered with a sensitive material:
the surface changes when you sit on it, visualizing
the shape and the movements of your body, together
with the time you remained seated. For further
development, we could have the furniture record and
recreate some positions, or we could synchronize two
of them soas to create a sensitive and intimate form
of communication. »

armrest chair

full size

side view

video simulation of a trace

J.C. Karich & Bo Pang

silver where – 2010

this particular set is made of mirror plastic. The fact
of being able to fold and unfold them is a pretty
magic experience. This because once mounted they
look exactly like silver but not. I’ve been looking for
the right material choice for this set, though I have
not fout the perfect material, flexible enough to fold
and bend but strong enough to actually use. Next
model will be made of film cardboard, hopefully they
wont be wasted even if they are suppose to be one
time use servers…

mounted salad set

xray case – 2010

This is my friendly version of the xray case for laptop
computers.This case is exactly what you need for your
indispensable laptop when you travel a lot. Since it’s
X-Ray friendly you won’t have much trouble at the
airport either, at least you shouldn’t anyway because
everyone can see trough it.

macbook 13″ xray case

plastic zipper angle corner view

ring dog leash – 2009

The o my dog retractable leash is a prospective project
about pet life and how accessories can evolve in their
shape, function and aesthetic for a russian company.
The ring leash can be playful colored or elegant and
neat. The leash is still under study and I hope to solve
the mechanical issues soon in order to find a way to
put it to production.

bi color versions

red and black in ABS rubber finishing

couple cups – 2009

This is a set of two cups in porcelain or melamine.
I’ve called them “couple cups” because of the handles;
the cups have two different grips representing male
and female symbols. These cups are also stackable.
I wanted to design a new simple cup, for serving coffee
& tea trying to create a cup with a shape that can
me easily recognized by its handle, the essence of the
project.

couple cups

o stool – 2009

This is a stool with a wireframe structure with a wooden
seat. The concept for this stool was to make something
out of very few parts (4) legs, rings and seat. The upper
ring is very useful when it comme to pick up or move
the stool, this because of the small gap between the
seat and the exterior ring ( O stands for orbit, the ring
trace and orbit around the seat) and the lower ring is a
little wider to perfectly become a nice a comfortable foot
rest when in use. Materials are brushed stainless steel
structure and the seat is solid beech wood or oak.

o stool side view

oposite side view

fisticup by fred and friends – 2009

For a knockout cup of coffee!

Do you take your morning brew light and sweet, or are
you a hard hitting black coffee type? Either way, you’ll
get a fistful of your favorite beverage with this smashing
new mug. Sleek ivory high-fire ceramic contrasts
dramatically with the steely metallic handle.

Packaged in a full-color illustrated giftbox.

http://www.worldwidefred.com/fisticup.htm

FISTICUP BY FRED ©2009

l’imprimerie, st.quentin – 2007

coffee seating main floor

poster wood letter case and red & gold velvet bench seating

drawer tables with case latter boxes under glass

secord floor, large press photographs, books and comfortable seating

books, custom wallpaper and wood letters

large plastic lighted sign letters

more images here

network chair – 2007

andreu world design competition finalist 2007 – valencia

Network, elegant and functional. A complete scale of
executions with variety of applications. The chair consists
of bend Beech wood, Oak wood or Walnut plywood cutout
and is a very versatile concept. Network, a chair with a lot
of options, suitable for the contract interiors. Because of
its elegance, comfort and possibilities, Network has even
all the options to be suitable as residential furniture!
The chairs can optionally have armrest and even the option
of a writing tablet is not at all excluded for education uses.

The chair comes into shape by a bend operation with 3
parallel axes of a simple plywood board and that’s all.
In a grid the chairs cutout shape fits with each other
perfectly and with no space between them, constituting a
network in all directions.

Resuming, Network is not just a chair, it’s a system, even
better than this I could say it’s a simple concept that involves
main design ideas, like use of renewable and degradable
materials, a simple shape with very little loss and a
simplicity that could evolve into many different furniture
products.

Out of this simple design process other furniture products
such a low lounge chairs, tables stools and other accessories
can be created and could complement the system.
And in the particular case of the chair, a upholstered seat and
back can be added for even better comfort.
Seating and furniture products like this one are the kind of
designs that suit better our times, being in synchrony with
contemporary shapes and remembrances.

the network

the chair

french connection – casa mater 2007

rb secretaire with meridiana chair by christophe pillet

rb secretaire with meridiana chair, filter lamp

simple bed and log side table by 57studio, wall lamp by adrien gardere, artemide

view of the garden

b stool – 2007

the concept behind this stool/bench wass to solve the
use in two different situations, a high bar height seat
for adults and a rocking low bench for kids all in on
single piece of furniture. when you thing of combining
uses you also think of gain of space and economy of
resources.

horizontal and vertical positions

punch coffee mug – 2006

This coffee cup reminds you that getting up is hard,
you need strong coffee and a good punch in the face
to get going.
This cup is not for mobsters, gangsters or hooligans,
we advice people to use this cup for coffee drinking
purposes only.

White Ceramic finish for beginners.
Silver coated for abusive users.

White and Silver Versions

plant lamps – 2006

Sculptural yet functional « plant » is a lamp. As we all
know plants get energy from sunlight, so why not try to
create a plant that generates light. Thousands of plant
species are cultivated to beautify the human environment
as well as to provide shade, modify temperatures, etc.
This is another way to express something aesthetic trough
a well know human created object. The fact that the lamp
presents itself as a upside down plant permit a unlimited
number of applications in various sizes and shapes.
The plant lamp, is a delicate object, always in balance,
supported and structured by thin wire legs, between these
wires only a couple go all the way to the wall outlet. The
shade is a real plant pot, upside down, clay colored but
plastic made it directs light up and down while glowing
with a warm red and light brown colour.The plant lamp
can be scaled from a desk lamp, to a standing lamp or a
pendant lamp.

table size and large size versions

knot chair – 2006

knot chair, steel frame structure and strong fabric seating and back rest

seat detail from front

leg detail from back

flat salad set – 2006

I Started experimenting with curved surface shapes
from plastic bottles, which ultimately resulted in his
elegant fork and spoon Flat Salad set design. The
design has been picked up by Milan-based disposable-
sustainable cutlery and table accessories company
Pandora Design, presented in their new collection
during the Milain Fair.

This project came out after a workshop under direction
of the Campana Brothers, who guided me during the
research process, the first approach to was to use empty
plastic bottles and container to create new products, so
at the beginning I was looking for shapes that existed
already in the bottles trying to smartly cut them out,
then using the flat parts of the containers I figured a
simple way to fold the plastic sheet to obtain a curved
and strong structured shape, yet ergonomic.

The constraints recycling disposable materials can
ultimately end up in simple projects like this one.

white mounted flat salad set

red snap off set

grace chairs – 2004/2005

Gerdau Aza Design Competition 1st prize 2004

Grace chair is the evolution of one of the first chairs
I designed. It’s intended to be light and graceful, the main
concept was to achieve comfort and express lightness with
only few elements using strong but flexible materials.

grace chair system: chair, stool and armchair

concha y toro winery – wine tasting room – 2003

Inside one of the buildings of puente alto concha y toro
we developed a program for the wine tasting room of
the winery. This project consisted in creating a space
with a special and custom furniture. The principal
element was a folding table that could evolve depending
on the number of wine glasses to be used during the
different wine tastings. Other original furniture, always
around the wine theme were the large storage for wine
glasses made of blue UV glued glass with stainless steel
mechanism for doors and wheels. Last but not least was
to work together with refrigerator manufacturer to make
special leather door wine storage with adjustable
temperature. We also developed other furniture for
consulting maps, soil samples, workstations and
conference tables.

in collaboration with alberto mozo, architect.

main view of the room

folding tables

table organisation, back storage and wine refrigerators

conference table organisation

wine glass storage units

wine glass storage door detail

mono bar – 2002

The transformation of an old pizzeria into a night bar.
Acces to the terrace is right from the street with a very
low budget wa managed to create everything from scratch.
We worked with light and color, getting reed of the
unnecessary items. Changing completely the exterior look
of the building to recover the full height of the original
architecture with a backlighted logo in red to sign the bar
name and dark panels, making the interior lighted ambience
the principal focus point.
The interior is shaped in a L where we designed high seating
with lighted table tops. The rest of the furniture is really basic.
The hanging light point are just made out of a tube section
and an halogen light source hanging by black wire that
disappear into the black acoustic ceiling.

in collaboration with 57studio.

sketch, façade and floor plan

exterior night view

interior view of the bar