Bronze Homeware Design · 2024
Nose Bookend
by Zeynep and Konstantinos Paradeisopoulos
- A' Design Award 2024 Bronze Winner in Homeware Design
- Awarded April 15, 2024
- CLIENT: Kazoo
- Estimated Number of Design Views: 21,104
- Verification code 3427AE59AF · Verify this award
About Nose Bookend
The nose bookend Pop Art inspired sculptures offer a playfully artistic element to any library of books. These functional pieces not only serve to hold books in place between shelves or on tabletops but also infuse a sculptural elegance into the space doubling as a canvas for creative expression. The noses also represent dichotomous concepts, such as light versus dark or convex versus concave, inviting viewers into a contemplative dialogue about societal norms surrounding aesthetics and beauty.
Press Kit
- Unique Properties
- The nose bookend sculptures represent a playful and artistic addition to home decor items. Their whimsical design serves to infuse a sense of sculptural elegance into the functional task of holding books in place between shelves or on tabletops. These nose bookends offer a unique and delightful way to elevate the aesthetic appeal of any book collection, adding a touch of artistic flair to the space. The noses also represent "dichotomous concepts" such as light versus dark or convex versus concave. It is also a playful touch on the contemporary aesthetic trends in society, inviting viewers into a contemplative dialogue about societal norms surrounding the topic of aesthetics and beauty.
- Dimensions & Packaging
- Nose bookend dimensions are 110 x 125 x 160 mm
- Tags
- nose shaped bookend, book lovers accessories, home decoration, library decoration, home decor, product design
- Production Technology
- 3D printers are used to print prototypes and molds for the design.
- Project Duration
- Project started in 2021 and was crafted by the end of 2021.
- Operation Flow
- The bookends, available in various colors, feature unique shaped designs that allow for customization through interchangeability in sets, doubling as functional art pieces that can serve as a canvas for creative expression.
- Inspiration
- Nose bookend set not only serve as practical bookends but also add a quirky and artistic touch to any bookshelf. Unlike traditional bookends that simply hold books upright, these Pop Art Décor bookends feature unique convex and concave shapes that add a playful and functional element to any space. Their relative size also allows for a closer observation of the anatomical part of the body they depict, making them a unique and intriguing addition as home decor design pieces.
- Patents
- File Number is 2021/004917
Patent application Date is 15/04/2021
Colors of Nose Bookend
Design Interview about Nose Bookend
Throughout the years, we needed to buy bookends for our books but with very few exceptions we couldn’t find something we really liked. We believed we could make something nice and playful but also fully functional when it came to doing it’s job, supporting books on a shelf.
We aimed to design two complementary objects that not only showcased aesthetically pleasing form, but also served a practical purpose.
Make versions in many different colours and use it as a canvas to create different patterns.
Since coming up with the idea, within a couple a weeks time we had our first copies.
The project was an idea that came to mind that later turned into a final product.
We are producing all the copies in our workshop.
We wanted to create an object deriving from an anatomical feature of a person. We felt like the nose with its’ triangular form was the ideal feature to draw inspiration from and design a bookend.
The Areaware HARSKG Roller skater door stopper designed by Harry Allen that sits on our bookcase and supports our books very well was an inspiration for coming up with a non-conventional bookstand.
The target customer is booklovers and art admirers since it will grab attention wherever it's placed.
We think it combines a good balance of form and function.
It’s self-explanatory.
Softimage and Zbrush for designing the object as well as the molds and Zbrush for creating booleans.
The opposing nature of the concave/convex profiles found in the two different noses types create a complementary union.
We worked on this project from start to finish.
The object and its’ mold were designed digitally and were then 3d printed.
No it’s not.
We decided to see what an international board of judges would think about this design.
Both noses have been inspired by two musicians we admire. We have chosen not to mention who they are in order to not make the objects seem like memorabilia for the groups they were part of.
Grand Interview about Nose Bookend
Since the beginning we always wanted to create an object referencing a human anatomical feature. The idea for the Nose Bookends evolved from this concept, leading us to design a pair of complementary bookends, one concave and one convex. The decision to use the nose shape was driven by its distinct, recognizable form and its triangular structure, which made it both visually dynamic and functional enough to hold books from both ends.
We imagined the noses supporting a set of books from either side. We decided to design a pair of noses with a complementary nature in order to emphasize each one’s form. By choosing the human nose as our medium, we wanted to spark a dialogue about beauty standards and the ways in which contrasting elements can come together to form a harmonious whole. The bookends reflect this contrast, where each form serves as a counterpart to the other.
Our background in computer-generated imagery and visual effects played a crucial role in the development of the Nose Bookend. Both noses were digitally modeled in a specialized 3D sculpting program, allowing us to refine every detail. The extensive study of human anatomy from our previous VFX work provided us with a deep understanding of the shapes and structures, which guided our decision to use the human nose as our medium. Our expertise in 3D sculpting proved invaluable, enabling us to precisely model the concave and convex forms in a digital space before translating them into physical prototypes.
The product was digitally sculpted, then a prototype was printed and finally a mold was made out it, in order for the copies to be casted. The only difference between traditional craftsmanship and our pipeline is that in the case of the former the prototype is physically sculpted while in the latter its’ digitally sculpted. However every other step remains identical. When it comes to the objects, when done digitally, it is possible to achieve your end goal much faster and you also have the luxury of making quick edits or any undos which is a great time saver.Additionally, using 3D printing allows us to achieve our prototypes faster but we didn't want to get restricted by using PLA to achieve the final copy result. Instead, we can use our preferred casting material which in this case was Jesmonite.
Since the beginning, we’ve always tried to design intriguing-looking objects that also function successfully. We always keep in mind that form follows function and not the other way round, since if an object looks “cool” but doesn’t serve the purpose it was designed for initially, it will just end up collecting dust in some corner of a room or basement.
We carefully considered the dimensions of the Nose Bookend based around the typical size of books found in an average household, particularly novels, historical, sociological, and philosophical books. The proportions were designed to ensure the bookends would be functional for a wide range of books.The convex bookend, with its larger volume and weight, is specifically designed to support taller and heavier art books, ensuring stability and balance. The final size of both bookends was chosen to be large enough to make a strong sculptural presence on a shelf or in a bookcase, while still being perfectly practical and not too heavy to change places.
For the nose bookends we have chosen the casted material to be a sustainable eco-resin, Jesmonite. It’s a very versatile material that renders any level of detail because of it’s fine grain. At the same time, as a material it’s considered to be a lot more environmentally friendly compared to other types of resin and leaves a smaller carbon footprint. Additionally, Jesmonite provides a substantial, stable finish that complements the weight and presence of our Nose designs, and the fact that the final casts can be painted to our desired variety of colors is an extra bonus.
The main source of inspiration for this object was Harry Allen’s Roller Skate. Harry Allen designed it as something that can be used either as a door stopper or as a bookend. Since this is a product we have in our home and have observed it for years, for sure we were influenced to come up with another non-conventional design for this particular use.
Nearly all of the products in our catalog are available in a variety of color options, and the Nose Bookend is no exception. We strongly believe that offering multiple color choices allows each buyer to find the one that best suits their individual style and interior needs. This flexibility makes it easier for customers to integrate our designs into different environments, ensuring that the object complements a wide range of home décor styles. By providing this level of customization, we create an opportunity for personal expression. From our experience, we've noticed that neutral colors like white or gray tend to fit in easily, but we’ve always had a deep appreciation for the impact that color can have in an interior space.
We’re hopeful that the Nose Bookend’s recognition at the A’ Design awards will push us to continue thinking in non-conventional ways for future products. And will give us the courage to keep on being bold and colorful with our future design ideas.