Thanks to our design writer, Yvonne Courtney, and her informative report on CDW 2011 for Futurespace Magazine, we have sourced an inspirational sports design brand, Loki Longboards by Young and Norgate. Now you can cruise and commute around the city on a solid timber longboard deck handcrafted by a design based workshop in Devon from recycled furniture. With names like Lazboy, Tallboy and Sideboard your new Vans can now surf the city transported by the latest design trends.
Yvonne Courtney spotted two design tropes at this years CDW 2011. One was a welcome appearance of new British based design brands, “What’s struck me at this year’s CDW – is that there are some cracking new Brit design+manufacturing companies – which is some feat, given how tough it is to get things made in the UK, economic climate”, and two is the new aesthetic of organic materials and retro design, ‘bygone era’ aesthetic using natural/solid materials.
As featured in the CDW 2011 report, Yvonne spotted Young and Norgate, and described them as;
‘Another company epitomising the best of British design was Young and Norgate, a Devon-based studio that crafts beautifully timeless pieces that can be adjusted to individual needs, incorporating different woods and coloured finishes, that will age well over time.’
I spoke to Dave Young about his workshop and lifestyle in South Devon and he mentioned Loki Longboards recently launched this spring. The beautifully shaped and hand crafted boards epitomise the two trends spotted by Yvette. I asked Dave Young, from New Zealand, what the rationale was making the boards. The response was, ‘the aesthetic, the classical shapes of longboards and the idea of using recycled furniture in the construction. The longboard as an object of design and art as well as function’. Dave added ‘I grew up with skateboarding and the culture surrounding it’. Loki longboards is all about ‘stripping back to bare essentials’. This is the spirit of Modernism and the outcome is, a unique juxtaposition between the organic feel of recycled hardwoods and the aesthetic of modern shapes.
Dave Young, mentioned two early adopters of the Loki long boards. Craig, 35, moved to New York from Canada, works in advertising and will use the board to ‘roll around the area’ and Richard, 37 also works in advertising, lives in London and will use the Loki Longboard to commute to work. He is heavily into outdoor sports and this is his ‘escape in the city’.
Longboards are the cruisers of the skateboard world, so you can just have a Loki Longboard for a laid back ride in the city. Take in a Design Museum or Fashion store, but you may find your deck the talking point.
