Astronaut collection by Christina Skouloudi & Athanasios Babalis

Christina Skouloudi Design Studio and Athanasios Babalis are two independent creative design practices that focus mainly on furniture and product design.

This year they decided to work together in order to create objects with clean but intense sculptural forms, with respect to the material’s qualities and an unconventional approach in the objects utility. The objective was also to collaborate with local but highly skilled crafts people and companies and together redefine the limits of design and craft.

The results are five objects that are designed and made in Greece but will travel through Europe and the rest of the world in a series of exhibitions in order to find distribution throughout the world. All the objects are made of various species of solid wood (or wood veneers) as it is one of the most kind materials to the environment.

The name “Argonaut” collection was inspired by the ancient Greek myth of the Argonauts. The Argonauts, went on a long journey to seek the “Golden Fleece”. Metaphorically, the modern Argonauts: the team of designers, makers and their work, are on a long journey in search for design excellence.
The Argonaut collection includes the following objects, named after the crew of the original myth:

1. The Actor notebook case. A wooden mini suitcase, tailor made for modern notebooks. The case is light, friendly and fully protects the notebook, its power supply and the mouse. It can accept various sizes of notebooks (up to 17” screen size). The stainless steel door can be secured with a lock or a thumb screw. The interior is covered with thick felt, for maximum protection.

2. The Iolas serving tray. A light wooden tray with handles that are an extension of the tray surface. The elliptical “lip” of the opening provides easy control over the contents while moving. Available in two sizes (47 and 60 cm in length) and two kinds of wood veneer (Oak and Walnut).

3. The Atalanta fruit-bowl. A restless solid wooden bowl! The bowl can rest at any given point (line) depending on the distribution and weight of its contents. Available in a variety of solid woods and protected by a food friendly wax finish. It comes in three sizes (S M L) for any occasion.

4. The Atalanda salt & pepper set. A pair of wooden bugs made of light and dark solid wood (light for salt and dark for pepper). The two bugs absorb humidity and allow the ingredients to flow easily, while they are lying there waiting to serve you.

5. The Staphylos fruit-bowl. The solid wood, pebble like shape of the bowl was inspired by the variety in size of the fruits themselves and especially the shape of the grapes. Available in light white or black wax finish.

Christina Skouloudi Design Studio and Athanasios Babalis will launch the Argonaut collection at 100% Design London 2011. Note that we will have an extensive post about the UK's leading contemporary design event.