The nature of our society has always been to explore the unknown, discover new and better ways and to utilize our natural resources to improve our lives. Every generation surpasses the last with ingenuity and developments that were not even imagined by our ancestors. It has always been a great learning experience and today we face another challenge. Our forests and land are beginning to dissipate from continuous use of our planet’s generous gifts and our misconception that there will always be more. A change must take place and they are doing just that in the contemporary furniture field.
One company has been working on just this rumination for more than two years and has recently been testing the water with new ideas that not only save much needed oil and protects our trees but has brought their products to into the art world through international artists and designers. Orange22, a Los Angeles based design lab founded in 2000, creates and fabricates mass-market and limited-edition furniture but also does a lot more.
The staff of Orange22 is dedicated to using only earth friendly materials in their designs in an effort to conform society into realizing that it is not necessary to destroy the earth to present beauty in designs. In addition to creating awesome one of a kind masterpieces, this group has yet another goal. The need for helping mankind with such problems as cancer, AIDS, and education are but a few of the areas where worldwide artists of today are leading.
Dario Antonioni is the founder and creative director of Orange22 and the driving force behind the Botanist Blank Canvas Project. Unequaled to any other program today, his group of designers begin with a blank piece of ‘green’ furniture and leave their own artistic mark of design, making it possible for anyone to own their legend. More importantly, a portion of the proceeds are donated to an organization or charity of the artist’s choosing.
Milton Glaser, Kahi Lee, Massimo and Lella Vignelli and Clause Zellweger are a few of the icons that have contributed to Orange22 with outstanding designs on the bench that can be used as a seat, coffee table or end table. Presented in a variety of colors and environmentally friendly, these pieces can be used as a work of art or functionally in a living room, hallway or even on an outside patio.
Dario hopes that his doctrine of utilizing collaboration to create positive change will resonate beyond the design community, modern furniture, and ultimately help to affect and inspire the greater global community. Orange22 has plans for Botanist in the future, as well. Antonioni is currently working on a book called A Decade of Botanist: A Philanthropic Product, 80 designers and 80 foundations and how we’ve helped change the world.
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