New British Inventors: Inside Heatherwick Studio

tHe d MuSeuM has chosen to feature Heatherwick Studio for their second-ever exhibition. With help from Kate Goodwin, curator at the Royal Academy of Arts, the exhibit depicts three different elements that the firm relies on to produce its creative designs—Thinking, Making and Storytelling. Thomas Heatherwick, who founded Heatherwick Studio in 1994, came to the exhibition to explain his inspirations and what components of the exhibition he particularly emphasized. Inspired by flaws he saw in public spaces, he thought of creative solutions to realistic problems. “Creativity is just a survival technique,” he explained. Case in point is the New Bus for London, 2012—a model of which is currently at the exhibition. The rounded corners of the bus and its new elegant design allow for more passengers without losing out on aesthetics. This and other symbolic works, such as a few of the copper petals used on the London 2012 Olympic Cauldron, are featured at this exhibition. This interactive exhibit allows you to more fully engage with each design. Even from the moment you step into the exhibition, your hands are drawn to grab the fluttering pamphlets that are hung from a tree-like structure—setting a physical tone that liberates you from the conventional concept of viewing art. Several of Heatherwick’s round metal Spun chairs (2010), on which one can sit and spin, are set up so that you can literally play with the design and feel its functionality. One of the highlights of the exhibition is a box filled with beautiful acrylic rods used as part of the display at the UK Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo 2010 that Heatherwick Studio designed. Each rod displays a high level of craftsmanship and, like crystals, the rods reflect light. The stationary pieces stir curiosity and make you lean in closer to examine their details. Here, you will be able to create you own memorable experience—making this exhibition definitely worth going to.  by Sung Chul-jun