The Design Dozen

Dorothy Kalins

THE STARCK STROLLER: 'Children are not cartoons,' says Philippe Starck of his new Maclaren

THE KRUPS BLENDER: Like a Harley in the kitchen, by the German designer Konstantin Grcic

Tables Turn: Milan/Detroit

Terrific products bubble up from the inspired collaboration of designers and manufacturers--an everyday occurrence in Milan, less frequent in, say, Detroit. But today the provenance of a great idea can be anywhere.

SCOTT KLINKER: It was a match made in heaven, or at least in Michigan. Kerry and Bryce Moore, owners of Context, a small contemporary-furniture company in Royal Oak, met Scott Klinker--designer in residence and head of a graduate program at the renowned Cranbrook Academy of Art--at a local party. They quickly regrouped at Klinker's studio, where Scott showed them a prototype of the A-frame table (below) that had been giving him production problems. The Moores worked out the technical kinks just in time for Klinker's solo exhibition this year at Cranbrook, and the Truss Collection was born--10 pieces: tables, chairs, a desk. "Most important is that we share common values," says Klinker. "Context is design-driven; they want to lead the market, not follow it." Inspired by such elemental American icons as railroad bridges, Truss pieces have, their designer says, "an expression of unadorned structure that's almost simplistic, rustic." Context's digital manufacturing process turns out furniture made to be shipped flat, with minimal assembly. It's a process that minimizes cost as well. Says Klinker: "We're at an interesting intersection--affordable and contemporary--that's being underserved. Where do young people go after IKEA?"