2011 International Home + Housewares Show

Special coverage of the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, host to over 2000 exhibitors of consumer goods for the home. Follow along as we track down the coolest stuff on display!

Live Coverage Sponsored by the IHA.

Posted by core jr | 10 Mar 2011  |  Comments (1)

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Wrapping up our whirlwind, three-day tour of the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show, we loved seeing less packaging and more stackable, squashable and sustainable goods. A brief history of the AMAC plastic box reminded us of the beauty in this ubiquitous object. We talked to an Iron Chef, fell back in love with ceramics, discovered non-magnetic "magnets", and found more and more reasons to drink water from the tap.

+ Welcome to the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show
+ alex Bottle's Mix and Match System for Easy Cleaning
+ AMAC's Plastic Box, beloved by Warhol, collected by MoMA
+ Born in Sweden and the Gravity-fed Watering Can
+ Bodum Brings Back the Cone-Shaped Grill
+ Casabella x Keith Haring
+ Cat Cora, Iron Chef and mom, for Starfrit
+ Chicago Metallic's Winged Cookie Sheet
+ Fusionbrands CitrusPods
+ iSi's Twist 'n' Sparkle
+ Jasper and Black's Non-Magnetic "Magnets"
+ Joseph Joseph Pie Chart Timer
+ Kikkerland Loves Designers
+ Kor Water now in Stainless Steel or with a push-button cap!
+ Italy's LegnoArt, Wood Housewares
+ Loveramics, Design-Focused Ceramics
+ Museum of Robots, inspired by Sci-Fi
+ Pacific Cornetta's Cardboard Booth
+ Replenish, Cleaning from Concentrate
+ Slice's U-Shaped Box Cutter
+ Student Design Competition Winners
+ Zebag, portable wine case!
+ Oddities like the Towelagator, Urine Off and Really Useful Box!

See our complete coverage archived here!

Posted by core77 events |  9 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Jan van der Lande, owner of Kikkerland, describes his belief in a key element of their business: designers. They're always looking for great ideas, but, as Jan generously points out, "even if it's a bad idea, we'll always give it good consideration."

Posted by core77 events |  9 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Morgan O'Hara introduces us to the latest Casabella project: a partnership with the Keith Haring Foundation to feature the art of the late graffiti artist on their products.

Posted by core77 events |  9 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

This year, we were so pleased to discover Loveramics, a design-focused ceramics manufacturer based in Hong Kong, named for their love of Ceramics. They work with designers like Simon Stevens, on camera above, to produce innovative and delightful tableware, like his three-footed Tripod collection.

Posted by core77 events |  9 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

The Home and Housewares Show represents many international vendors and manufacturers. Among them is LegnoArt, a home goods company from Italy that specializes in wood.

Posted by core77 events |  9 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Jeremy Black of Jasper + Black demonstrates lulalu, a non-magnetic "magnet" for stainless steel fridges and other non-ferrous surfaces. The whole system relies on a proprietary adhesive that leaves no residue.

Posted by core77 events |  9 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

We caught up with Jason Foster of Replenish, a new packaging system that delivers cleaning product to the consumers as a highly concentrated solution, reducing both packaging and shipping inefficiencies. The system comprises two parts: a reusable bottle and a concentrate pod. Were looking forward to the day that the concentrate pod will be refillable at one's local grocery.

Posted by core77 events |  8 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Garrett Smith, designer of the new Winged Cookie Sheet for Chicago Metallic, points out the special features of the design, from the unique curve of the bent surface to the silkscreened edges.

Posted by core77 events |  8 Mar 2011  |  Comments (4)

Chris Hotell, Founder of Alex Bottle, and Treasure Hinds and Greg Janky of Anvil Studios, his designers, introduce the company's take on the stainless steel water battle. The smart design unscrews in the middle for easy cleaning and storage. Bonus: Mix and match components to create different color combinations and sizes.

Posted by core77 events |  8 Mar 2011  |  Comments (1)

Steve Catechi, VP of AMAC Plastics, tells our favorite kind of story, one that links the particularities of manufacturing to its cultural reverberations. AMAC boxes not only permeate our everyday lives, but have also been collected by the Museum of Modern Art and were Andy Warhol's box of choice for his piece at the Ten from Leo Castelli show in New York.

Listen to Catechi's brief history of the AMAC box in the video above.

Posted by core77 events |  8 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

No Home and Housewares Show video coverage is complete without a quick tour of the show fringes, away from big names and design-savvy marketing, where housewares get really quirky. We've gathered the most charming of them here--you may or may not find them useful. Don't miss Really Useful Box's standout performance of All You Need is Love at the end of this video.

Also, tidbit: Urine Off really does work. Apparently, the Ringling Bros. Circus donates big cat urine to the company for their demonstrations in exchange for a supply of their product. In other words, there is tiger pee on the premises. Just another Home and Housewares Show fact.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Antoine Gillain, founder of French company Zebag, explains the many configurations for this light, sturdy, and portable wine case.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (1)

Winners of the Home and Housewares Student Competition discuss their designs for better living: Wes York's LED lit outlet cover, "Illumine;" Katlyn Ross's flat unpack first aid kit, "Quick Fix;" Chet Larrow's slim and modular "Barnacle Air Purifier." Judge Mike Elwell explaining a bit about the goals of the competition.

Hit the jump for runner-ups Kevin Wu, Brendan Joyce, and Yu Zou.

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Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

This year at IHHS 2011, Scandinavian housewares distributor Urban Butik brings Born in Sweden products to the US. For example, Jean-Luc Bouchard shows us the gravity-fed watering can, a simple construction composed of a metal canister, a rubber hose and a magnet.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

We love how business owners and designers Richard and Vicki Küng from Museum of Robots describe their line as "somewhere between Alessi and Kid Robot." Check out their line of science fiction inspired tabletop goods, like the Spacemat Placemat.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

KOR Water founder Eric Barnes gives us a brief run through on the newest iterations of their water bottles: the Delta, with a push-button cap, and the Vida, KOR's first stainless steel product.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (3)

Slice cloaks sharp, ceramic blades in a series of safe, household-appropriate, and especially design conscious handles. Founder TJ Scimone takes us through their line up of star designers and demonstrates their latest utility knife, a U-shaped box cutter that's both ergonomic and protective.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Joseph Joseph co-founder, Antony Joseph, leads us through their clever products, old and new. Windup "Pie Timer" shows how much time remains at a glance. "Elevate" is a line of cooking utensils designed to keep the messy part off the counter. And expandable trivet "Stretch" can handle a solo meal or dinner party equally well.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Pacific Cornetta structures their booth from reclaimed cardboard tubing. Take a look at how they use shipping containers as display surfaces and tubing for walls.

Posted by core77 events |  7 Mar 2011  |  Comments (2)

Jorgen Bodum is back again this year with an expanded line of Bodum grills. There are several new additions and a surprising revival—keep an eye out for the cone-shaped FyrKat grill, complete with rotating roasting spit, originally designed in 1967.

Posted by core77 events |  6 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

"Everything tastes better with bubbles."

Judiann Woo, Culinary Director for iSi, can add sparkle to any beverage. Use Twist 'n' Sparkle, a direct carbonation system, to pump your drink up. Try milk, coffee, flat beer...or just stick with fruit juice.

Posted by core77 events |  6 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Turn any plate into a serving tray with "ServeItUp." Slice, squeeze and store citrus with "CitrusPods." Kraigh and Anna Stewart show off new products for Fusionbrands.

Posted by core77 events |  6 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

Iron Chef, Cat Cora introduces her new line of products for Starfrit. Watch above as she demonstrates her cook and serve bamboo piece, functioning as cookware, trivet and bowl.

Posted by core77 events |  6 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

The Core77 team has just arrived at McCormick place in Chicago for the annual International Home and Housewares Show, just in time to scope out the last day of set up. Catch a behind-the-scenes glimpse of the massiveness of McCormick Center, the mayhem of installation, and a sneak preview of some highlighted products.

Stay tuned for more.

Posted by core jr |  3 Mar 2011  |  Comments (0)

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We're counting down the days to Sunday when we'll be bringing you live coverage of the 2011 International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. Stay tuned here for exclusive video content covering the latest in homeware design, product presentations, exhibition design and industry trends. We'll comb through the 2000 exhibitors and be your eyes and ears for product demonstrations to bring you the best and brightest DIRECT from the floors of the Show.

The 2011 International Home + Housewares Show (IHHS) is a three-day event held annually by the International Housewares Association (IHA) to feature the newest product innovations and trends for all areas of the home. Exhibitors, industry leaders, buyers, and professionals from all over the globe attend this world-class trade show to see what's new and discuss the future of the industry.

Check out our coverage from last year's show:
>> Joseph Joseph
>> Karim Rashid + Bobble
>> Bodum
>> view Home and Housewares 2010 gallery

Posted by core jr | 28 Feb 2011  |  Comments (0)

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In its 18th year, the Student Design Competition sponsored by the International Home and Housewares Show announced this year's winning product designs from students representing institutions from around the country. The design competition's annual challenge to students is to redesign a current housewares product to meet the needs of the future or to create a concept for a new product. Winning projects are selected for their innovation, understanding of production and marketing principles and quality of entry materials.

Wesley York, a senior studying Industrial Design at Southern Illinois University from Decatur, IL, won for his design of "Illumine" -- The Pathway to Safety, an emergency light built into an electrical outlet cover. Currently, commercial buildings mount emergency lighting at ceiling level, but during a fire, smoke rises and blocks the light. "Illumine" not only lights up the floor level, but has built-in red and green LEDs that show the correct way out of a building.

"Last semester, our industrial design professor tasked us with designing some sort of lighting, and I immediately thought about emergency lighting," York said. "My father, who has been a fireman at a chemical plant for 17 years, quickly confirmed that this is an issue in commercial buildings."

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Second place was awarded to Chet Larrow, a junior at the University of Cincinnati, for the "Barnacle" Air Purifier, a household air purification system, and Katlyn Ross, a senior at the Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design, for "Quick-Fix," a first-aid system that makes treating an injury fast and easy.

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Using a battery-powered motor, the "Barnacle" takes in dirty air, removes pollutants and circulates clean air back into the home environment. The attractive unit can be magnetically mounted on appliances in the kitchen or placed on a table in another area of the home. The "Quick-Fix" system organizes a first aid kit's contents into smaller boxes that are labeled by type of injury or emergency, such as cuts, burns, stings, breaks/strains, choking and poisoning, and include simple instructions. The kits help users quickly choose the correct supplies and make first aid procedures more intuitive.

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