Vienna Design Week 2014: Vienna designers TaliaYStudio have released their first range of self-produced products with JellySeries 1, a collection of brass pendant necklaces that hold circles of yellow, cyan and magenta glass that can be used as camera filters (+ slideshow).
TaliaYStudio, founded by Talia Radford, has become known for producing interactive designs that propose lighthearted ways to use technology to promote physical and social interaction.
The JellySeries filters were originally developed as an accessory for one of these projects: KissCam, a small camera worn around the neck on a chain that had no buttons and was instead operated by kissing an OLED panel. The camera was part of a collection of holdable objects designed as "a satirical comment on the wearable tech frenzy".
"The JellySeries was originally conceived as part of the KissCam project, which we presented earlier this year in Milan," explained Talia Radford. "Lots of people wanted the brass-rimmed antique glass pendants we designed as wearable photo-filters, and so the demand motivated us to get into the business of production."
Launched during the Vienna Design Week, the initial JellySeries 1 collection consists of three pendants that hold circular panes of cyan, magenta and yellow hand-blown glass produced by LambertsGlas.
"The name JellySeries is derived from the gelatine filters used in theatres, applied in front of the lights to change their colour and dramatise the stage," explained Radford.
A small brass handle attached to the rim of each circular filter enables the wearer to hold it in front of a camera lens to add a tint to their images. A round ball at the end includes a hole to attach each filter to a necklace chain.
The collection is primarily aimed at smartphone users who want to take pictures to post on photo-sharing site Instagram, but can be used with almost any camera as they do not need to be attached.
"The beautiful irregular bubbles and lines of the antique glass are superimposed into the image, evoking the retro analog feeling appreciated by digital natives," said the studio.
The three base hues can be overlaid to create a large range of new colours, and the studio plans to release seasonal additions with a winter selection including a dark green, brown and mottled grey already in development. A weather collection, including a filter with a textured rainbow effect, and a group of four "nude" toned pieces will follow.
Bespoke versions can also be order with different glass combinations and precious metals for the frame.
Two special editions in cyan and magenta are now on sale at the Museum of Applied Arts (MAK), Vienna, as part of the museum's 150th anniversary celebrations. A special edition is also being produced by fashion boutique We Bandits at the end of October.
"It's been a really sweet journey through the field of production, from sourcing materials to packaging – [we are using] the pink anti-static packaging that our OLEDs are sent in – to getting shops to be excited about them and we're really looking forward to getting lots of people wearing and using them," said Radford.
The full JellySeries 1 range will be on sale at Eindhoven gallery Kazerne's shop and new online boutique and at the You Are Here concept store during Dutch Design Week later this month. The studio plans to make them available for more stores in Berlin, London and Paris by the end of the year.
Photos are by Markus Mühlbacher/TaliaYstudio. Clothes are by Viennese label SO LCH LD.