BlogTour London: 100% Design - MacKay Design Studio

Neil Musson and Jono Retallick, of MacKay Design Studio based in England, welcome all of the Design goers to 100% Design with a jaw dropping "molecular" inspired light fixture / art installation, and I had a chance to find out a little bit more about their inspiration and story.

As the first official day of my BlogTour London visit with Modenus kicks off, we head to the design show in the heart of London known as 100% Design.

Very much a mixture of international interior design products with lighting playing a very large part of what caught my eye... this initial piece, especially.

Just looking through their inspiration board with them, I could quickly grasp the how the worlds of the Irish artist Eva Rothschild, as seen in the Tate Britain's commissioned work played a part in the part of the overall structural shape and form.
         

Eva Rothschild - Tate Britain

This was the first time a single work has been designed to stretch nearly the full length of the space, over 70 meters and much like the work in the entrance of 100% Design by Neil & Jono, there was a minimal amount of material used while still being able to creates a complete sense of 'visual energetic chaos'.

Both MacKay Design Studio designers continually investigate the new relationships between volume and mass, surface and structure, and with the initial loose take on the new 100% Design logo, the piece was transformed and realized.

Detail: Inspiration Board 

Illuminated Lances of the Battle of San Romano, with drilled anodized aluminium tubes is part of a series of art which was very site specific in galleries in the UK, US and Middle East.

Funded by the Arts Council, these organ inspired almost Star Wars lances, made up lines of light creating forms once again changing the dynamics of the environment of which they are in. 

Illuminated Lances of the Battle of San Romano

Drilled anodised aluminium and fluorescent light through church window

drilled anodized aluminium tubes

Another very special installation work by this lighting design team, was an integral part of the London Olympic & Jubilee celebration as the bells across the town rang simultaneously in joyous rapture! Can you just imagine, how incredible this must have been?

Supernature: Guildford’s Jubilee Wood in Stoke Park

"Supernature" was created using light, sound and sculpture, to awaken all of the senses simultaneously. Although I was not able to be in London during the Olympic celebrations, I did watch each and every event throughout the summer, and this was a beautiful way to celebrate the arrival of the torch in Guildford.

MacKay Design Studio acted as creative consultants to Metal Monkeys in partnership with Mary Branson and Mat Clark. 

via Metal Monkeys

The sound and light show, was a sequenced lighting to a soundtrack which turned a Guilford woodland into a magical place. The 9 meter high columns are made up of fragments of chalk, delicate ceramic leaves and phosphorescent bugs; all elements of the woodland itself.

taking its inspiration from the very chalky Surrey Countryside.

Make sure to keep following my Instagram, Twitter and Facebook feeds as well as the posts which will be covering in depth reports about the sponsors that have made it possible, as well as all of the great products, designers and artists that I have a chance to meet while visiting all of the design events throughout London with this great group of bloggers..