Karen McCartney introduces German brand (smow) and the European-designed products it champions. 

There is a growing emphasis in the design world on problem solving, and creating cleverly designed objects that are not only functional and beautiful but respond to the way we live today.

People now want to know what materials are being used and if products are produced sustainably, do they solve a problem in their busy lives, are they good quality and will they look good – for a long time? We ask a lot of the things we put in our homes, and designers are responding with ingenuity and responsible production that mixes the best of technology with genuine craft skills. Today we introduce (smow) a distributor of some of the world's most innovative designs where everything is considered, from how components flat pack to travel the globe most efficiently, to how the pieces look in your home. So without further ado I would like to meet the brands and the designers who are changing the way design does business.

Nils Holger Moormann is, unconventionally, the name of the brand and the name of the designer who runs it and champions the work of young talent. His ethics are very clear. He lives in Aschau im Chiemgau in Bavaria where he has a guest house or 'berge' which showcases his distinctive aesthetic and places emphasis on local manufacture. The designers he works with are philosophically aligned to his notions of simplicity, intelligence and innovation in design. He is known for his wit and is quoted as saying (rather obliquely) "If there is one thing where I am really obstinate it is flexibility". His products illustrate this with their ability to tune into the needs of modern life, occupying the space where useful meets beautiful and adds a bit of charm to daily life.



His Liesmichl bookcase (above left) is a good example, serving as storage for a few favourite books with a place for the current one to sit open at the right page, next to your coffee or wine depending on the time of day. Other clever designs include the self-assembly Minimato (above right) - a lightweight side table with a quiet designer elegance that allows it to slip into many an interior setting.



One of Moormann's early design collaborations was with the now internationally acclaimed Konstantin Grcic (when you have product designs in the permanent collections of MOMA in New York and the George Pomidou Centre in Paris you are allowed to call yourself 'internationally acclaimed'). Grcic is a designer who is known for his careful research and his passion for both technology and materials. Hence his 'Hut Ab' (Hats Off) coat-stand (above right) is something of a design classic. It is a sculptural object when not in use, is collapsible for easy transportation and, while practical,  brings the satisfaction of good design into the everyday. The Strammer stool by Max Frommeld (above left), employs a red tension cord in its construction which can be fixed with the timber provided, or you can invent your  own style by using a wooden spoon or even a rolled up newspaper.



Two more brands represented by (smow) are Kabre-Leipzig, a German company, and LoCa from Denmark. One of the most famous and award-winning designs is the 'Falter' folding stool (above right) created by designers 'Three point four'. It is light, coming in at under 4kg, but strong and flexible – as it is German made it's has been tested by TUV Germany 1,000,000 times! So you can rest assured should you store it in a cupboard, or hang on a wall, there is no limit to the number of times you can do it



And finally to LoCa, a small Danish company of only 10 employees who are world specialists in coat rack, stands and hangers. These Knax wall-hung hooks (above) are a beautifully resolved design in timber (oak, beech and walnut) with aluminium hooks that are flush with the timber when not is use.

Simple designs with purpose – what is not to like.