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Friday Five with Samuel Wilkinson

Industrial designer Samuel Wilkinson, who opened his own studio in late 2007, has designed a number of award-winning items, including the Plumen 001 light bulb ( a collaboration with design brand Hulger), which earned him the grand prize from the London Design Museum of “2011 Design of the Year” and the “Black pencil” from the D&AD. His work spans the range, from furniture to accessories, and even includes a tech-y terrarium, the Biome, that uses a smartphone or iPad to control its climate, water level and nutrients. Our personal favorite? The Hoof table, which has funny hoof feet. Wilkinson’s Friday Five is equally diverse, with picks that span categories.

1. Grand Prix Chair by Arne Jacobsen
Trying to pick any one chair as a favorite is very difficult. The Grand Prix chair however, is a chair that I’ve always had an affinity with. It has a strong timeless identity and a high level of comfort. Originally it was known as ‘Model 3130’ until it was renamed after it won the Grand Prix at the XI Triennale di Milano in 1957.

2. CD Player by Naoto Fukasawa for Muji
Most of Muji’s products are inspirational but this has to be one of the best. It’s function is totally refined which creates its pure aesthetic. Form function beauty! Perfect.

3. Calatrava
Calatrava produces some of the most spectacular structures in the world. Nearly all have great poise and balance coupled with gravity defying beautiful engineering. The Alamillo bridge in Valencia is probably my favorite. What a statement!

4. Gili Islands, Indonesia
I visited the Gili islands 5 years go and it still holds great memories. It was the first time I tried scuba diving and the sea life there is out of this world. It has everything you can imagine and more (sharks/turtles/rays/amazing coral etc). Scuba diving is such a surreal experience as you feel like an alien entering a new world inhabited by such amazing and inspiring creatures.

5. Unique Forms of Continuity in Space
This work typifies the type of sculpture I love. Boccioni’s work centered around the portrayal of movement, speed and technology. It has so much character and dynamism.

Marni Elyse Katz is a Contributing Editor at Design Milk. She lives in Boston where she contributes regularly to local publications and writes her own interior design blog, StyleCarrot.