After a mildly traumatic experience during a lecture in France, the design firm åbäke decided to consider the medium of the conference as a subject in itself.
åbäke is a graphic design practice based in the UK. Its partners, Patrick Lacey, Benjamin Reichen, Kajsa Ståhl and Maki Suzuki, met while studying at the Royal College of Art in London and founded their practice in 2000.The group works with and for a wide range of collaborators and clients including The Cardigans, Maison Martin Margiela, Peter Jensen, Bookworks, and the British Council. They co-edit and design the magazine Sexymachinery and co-direct Kitsuné, a clothing and record label. Their work often involves the orchestration of events and activities which encourage social interaction such as dancing, eating, cooking, and teaching. In their Trattoria event they prepared a multi-course meal for 40 people who sat on Martino Gamper’s chairs. Other projects include setting up a “plant exchange” at London’s Columbia Road Flower Market and a Kitsuné all-day disco as part of an exhibition at Somerset House in London.
The Fall 2011 Design Criticism MFA Lecture Series is open to the public. You are warmly invited to attend our lectures, to see our new department and to meet with speakers, faculty members and students over a drink.
dcrit.sva.edu/view/events/lecture-with-maki-suzuki/