MoMA will be showing the first ever  major retrospective of designer Ron Arad in the United States starting August 2, 2009. The show will run through October 9, 2009 and will feature the Israeli industrial designer’s furniture, sculpture, and chandeliers for Swarovski, which display text messages from strangers that are sent to the lamps by incorporating light-emitting diodes.

Regardless of material, which include crystal, metals and plastics, Arad’s work always has a humor and charm. And the work almost always plays with proportions to dramatic effect. You should check it out

The economic downturn has altered the zeitgeist and design students from Pratt Institute have responded. They recently showed off their unique creations at the International Contemporary Furniture Fair where they gained press attention with their “Design for a dollar” exhibit. As the name suggests, each student only had a single dollar to spend, but their imagination and resourcefulness resulted in some remarkable works, such as Sara Ebert’s lampshade “made from a sweater that had been donated to the Salvation Army and a discarded apple juice bottle.”

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