Curious Boym: Design Works

Book excerpt: This whimsical book presents the whimsical designs of Constantin Boym and his partner Laurene Leon Boym in all their good humor and raw fun. Like Curious George, Boym finds the extraordinary in the ordinary and makes the mundane into something magical. Though best known for his "monuments to disasters" series (tiny metal souvenirs of buildings like Three Mile Island and the Watergate), Boym has been designing a broad range of products, furniture, and installations for the last 20 years. All of it-from sofas made out of parts from Sears catalogs to dishes modeled after frozen food trays-reveals his delight in design. Curious Boym explores all the varied mediums that Boym explores. His products for an all-star cast of clients-including Alessi, Droog, Swatch, and Vitra-have won popular and critical acclaim. His Strap Furniture, constructed of wood and strapping tape, was a hit at the 2000 National Design Triennial at the Cooper-Hewitt. And his installation designs include everything from washing machines to chain-link fences. Here Boym creates a playful, interactive book filled with pop-ups, pull-outs, and other delightful surprises. Peter Hall, editor of Tibor Kalman, offers an insight into Boym's unique world, one that will inspire as much as it entertains.