Modern Meyerhoffer Surfboard Wins Presitigious Design Award

above photo by Daniella Zalcman for NY Times

American Thomas Meyerhoffer has won Australia's 2010 International Design Award for his groundbreaking surfboard design.


above image courtesy of Quality Peoples

Evolution? Revolution? Future surfing solution? The Meyerhoffer is possibly the most radical design innovation in longboarding for a generation.

Maverick designer, Thomas Meyerhoffer, is renowned for his innovative product designs including the ground breaking eMate. His quest was to merge industrial design processes with his passion for surfing.

Using the natural world as an inspiration, “the resulting shape is organic and fluid which seems to fit the wave better. Instead of surfing the wave, the wave surfs you. The board integrates with the wave seamlessly. You become one with the wave.”


above: World Champion surfer Jen Smith on the Meyerhoffer board


above: the radical board design has an hourglass shape

The purpose? “The three main sequences of longboarding – turn, glide and nose riding – are pushed to a higher level. The shape with its different sections has been designed to give you something unique. The total experience is a board that is faster, turns better and delivers a higher level of surf experience”



All boards are constructed in SLX to ensure maximum responsiveness. We have glassed all boards with white tinted epoxy resin. They have 2 x 6oz on deck and 1 x 4oz bottom with a 6oz patch on the fin area. We give the boards the gloss polish finish and they come standard 6” or 8” Centre fin and FCS side fins.

Thomas describing his design:



Designer Cynthia Rowley collaborated with Meyerhoffer for these limited edition versions of the Meyerhoffer board.





Purchase the Cynthia Rowley Roxy Meyerhoffer boards here.

Other examples of some custom Meyerhoffer boards:



The actual press release (with images added by me):
The Meyerhoffer Rides Away with The Australian International Design Award 2010
June 7th

The most radical design innovation in longboarding for a generation - the Meyerhoffer Surfboard last night won a very prestigious Australian International Design Award!

The Australian International Design Awards, a division of Standards Australia, is recognised by the Commonwealth Government and the International Council of Societies of Industrial Design [ICSID] as Australia's peak design assessment and promotion body, and for its important role in fostering a culture of design and innovation in Australia. The judges said the board was a ''major design innovation'' that would create ''global shockwaves''.


above: surfer Belinda Baker rides the Meyerhoffer

Manufactured by Global Surf Industries (GSI), this ultra-modern take on the traditional Longboard by world renowned industrial designer Thomas Meyerhoffer brought design excellence into the realm of the everyday surfer last year, increasing the ultimate experience. The groundbreaking design propelled surfing into mainstream consciousness around the world.


above: surfer Michael Wallace rides the Meyerhoffer

Designer of this radical surfboard, Thomas Meyerhoffer, was "over the moon" about receiving the prestigious award. "To be recognised in a country where surf culture rules and is part of everyday life for so many people, is truly special", said Mr. Meyerhoffer.


above: Surfer Mark Kelly with the board, courtesy of Sydney's Daily Telegraph

"I owe many thanks to Mark Kelly of GSI for his vision and surfing skills. Almost two years ago now Mark tried a Meyerhoffer prototype and was convinced that he was surfing better than ever! Now because of Mark, the board is surfed and enjoyed by many surfers worldwide. I'm a proud winner of an Australian International Design Award, but I ultimately hope that the endorsement from the award will make more people to try the board - open up their minds and get a fuller experience on their next wave."


above: Surfer Grant Price on the Meyerhoffer board

Each section of the board is optimised for maximum performance, the design evolving into an incredibly complex shape with three different bottom contours that transitions smoothly into one other with its own purified purpose in an organic and seamlessly effective shape. Just like nature itself. The evolution of the Meyerhoffer has been a process of taking away more than adding to traditional forms, enabling Thomas a greater opportunity to shape the board.

From the wide tail through a minimal waist and into a more classic nose, the design brings short board elements into a longer board to maximize speed and turning, provides paddling ease and high performance nose riding. Every element of the board provides the ability for a smooth transition from front to back.


above: surfer Mike Tabling rides the Meyerhoffer board

GSI'S Managing Director, Mark Kelly, was also in high spirits about being named the winner of the Australian International Design Award. "I am absolutely stoked that we have won this award", he said. "Surfboard design for years has been via fine tuning processes, some so small they can hardly be noticed. Thomas Meyerhoffer helped take surfboard design a giant leap forward".

Evolution or revolution? "I think a bit of both. I am very proud to be part of this design and its launch into the marketplace around the world. The feedback has been great and this award tops it off.

"Global Surf Industries is a company for recreational surfers, and I cannot wait to give every surfer out there the opportunity to ride this innovative piece of modern design," concluded Mr. Kelly.

The Meyerhoffer surfboard is also one of 10 winners and finalists that will be part of a special exhibition at the Powerhouse Museum from July 3rd 2010.


Find a dealer for the Meyerhoffer Modern Surfboard.

images courtesy of Thomas Meyerhoffer, Meyerhoffer Surfboards, Global Surf Industries, and other cited sources.

SODA - Modern Furniture Design from Nada Nasrallah and Christian Horner

above: the Lester leather indoor deck chair by SODA design.

Design studio SODA Design, based in Vienna, is comprised of Nada Nasrallah and Christian Horner, who met studying Industrial Design at the University of Applied Arts in Vienna and the ENSCI/Les Ateliers in Paris.

They have created tailored, elegant products for such respected and well-known brands as Ligne Roset, MDF Italia, Rapsel spa and Wittman and have garnered numerous awards, nominations and exhibitions for their work.

What intially caught my eye was their stunning leather tufted deck chair and matching ottoman, The Lester — a deckchair for indoor-use with fine leather upholstery produced by Wittmann Möbelwerkstätten.



So, I looked into them a little more and found they have have a project portfolio worth sharing.

Two of their most recent projects:

The SO chair presented at SALONE DEL MOBILE 09 at LIGNE-ROSET, and the ARNE bathtub nominated for ELLE DECO International Design Awards

Other projects:

Dorian Mirror/hanger:

Leather indoor raft (prototype):

The Lester with leather raft and leather innertube prototypes:

The Tavolino side table/magazine holder:


Salt and Pepe - Magnetic Salt and Pepper shakers:

The Rondo chair:

The Lux - an illuminated bar table:

The York leather sofa:



About the designers:


Coming from the different professional backgrounds of carpentry and gold/silversmith, the common interest that lead to their working together was the taking up of challenging design projects. With teaching experience from the NDC/Kingston University and work experience at Sottsass Associati and Paolo Rizzatto in Milan, Philips Design Vienna/ Singapore and SAGEM, Soda Designers are now based in Vienna and are engaged in a variety of projects covering furniture, consumer-electronics and interior design.


SODA Design

Nada Nasrallah & Christian Horner
Liniengasse 18, 1060 Wien, Austria
tel +4369919458281 / +4369919458282 fax +4319458281
mail: soda@soda.at

What You Will & Won't See Of Marcel Wanders' Christmas Collection For Target

You may have already heard about, or seen, the 2009 Holiday collection for Target by Dutch designer Marcel Wanders. A designer with a sense of whimsy, excellent taste and style (and easy on the eyes to boot), I have blogged about him four times before, including his gorgeous Christmas collection and displays for the Dutch department store, Bijenkorf from last year.

This year, he lends his Christmas designs to Target. In his own words, here's the directive from the United States chain of stores: The brief asked for a modern and unexpected "Wanders" twist to the traditional holiday giving season. The concept behind the collection, "It's A Gift To Give" resulted in a holiday collection that reinterprets classic icons and plays with charming patterns, festive decorations, and distinctive designs with flair and style that will surprise and amaze guests all over the U.S., making it enjoyable to be the gifter or giftee.



But it's what you don't see at Target that is really spectacular. In addition to the items in the collection, I'm going to share with you some of his prototype designs for Target from his Inspiration Book. I'm also going to show you some of his sketches, fun 'extras' and photos of his work, some of which combine several of his pieces for Target with some of his pieces for Moooi and Droog.

What You Will See At Target:
First, the products that were produced and are presently being sold at Target consist of wrapping paper, a bell wreath and bell tree, flocked stockings and tree skirt, tableware, disposable tableware, pillar candles, some bar ware, a few vases, a teddy bear with light-up nose and a few other attractive, but inexpensive pieces of festive decor:







Shop for the above items and more from the collection at Target here.

When shopping online at Target, the Marcel Wanders collection, while appealing, is not incredibly impressive. The simple products on white backgrounds don't do the work of Mr. Wanders justice. For example, the products for Target, when placed against his signature flourishes, backgrounds and patterns in the four images below, take on a greater festive significance and style:






That's where his "Inspiration Book", a 314 page online flip catalog created by the Marcel Wanders Design Studio and Culture & Commerce. comes in. It is from this catalog that all of the following images come.


What You Won't See At Target:

Temporary lip tattoo:

Pattern Paint:

Helium Filled Flying Balloon Netted Chair designed to fly over the North Pole during Summer:

Faces Of The World Ornament:

Bobbleheads:


Still lives of his products for Target combined with his products for Droog, Mooi, Habitat and from his personal collections:




Pages from his sketchbook of Target products:



Rejected By Santa:



The Use... And Misuse Of Products:

The Marcel Wanders Paper Doll:

A special Christmas Edition of his VIP Chair produced by Moooi for Santa:


This is just a small sampling of the fun, inspiration and design process behind the Marcel Wander Collection for Target. There is so much more to enjoy, like I said, the Inspiration Book is 314 pages. See more here.


More Marcel Wanders:

•Marcel Wanders Designs a Regal Christmas Collection for Bijenkorf Department Store

•Marcel Wanders For Holland Electro: WOW

•Marcel Wanders' Carpets For Colorline: World Carpets & Tartan Collections

•Marcel, Mondrian & Miami: Wanders Designs Luxury Apt. Complex In Biscayne Bay.