Sunny Memories

SUNNY MEMORIES: The Fusion of Solar Technology and Industrial Design
Jan. 18-Feb. 8. Suite 606. Washington Design Center.

For three weeks in January and February, the Swiss Embassy used the WDC as the Washington location of its “Sunny Memories” exhibit – a display of industrial design with prototypes of products created by design students around the world.

The products combined art and design with solar-cell technology: A glowing park bench and garden lights; a mailbox that lights up and sends you a text when it’s full; a self-powered refrigerator – even decorative office cubicles were part of the exhibit.

Our favorite, though, was a “flower” that glows to attract pesky insects – you place the flower in a pot with, say, a Venus Fly Trap (or any carnivorous plant, it was noted), and there you have it – a non-toxic pesticide!

Our opening reception on Jan. 18 brought many from the diplomatic community, along with local design students, designers, and managers from the WDC showrooms. Swiss Ambassador Manuel Sager even made an appearance.  Click here to view the photos.

The exhibit, which had already been in Lausanne, London, Paris, San Francisco, New York, and Boston, left Washington in early February and was bound for Berlin. We are privileged to have been a part of its tour.

The exhibit also gave us a chance to highlight the Swiss-made products that are available in our showrooms, and we produced a card to go along with the exhibit program noting where they could be found.

We will continue to use available space at the WDC in creative ways, from additional display space for our Sample Sale to temporary art exhibits. Stay tuned!

Photos courtesy of the Ecole Cantonale d’Art de Lausanne
	“Horn”  The Horn, a self-powered loudspeaker “that emits digital sound anywhere, anytime.”
	“You’ve Got Mail” Red solar cells in the lid of You’ve Got Mail light up when it’s full, and it sends you a text message or e-mail to tell you so.
	“Floating Chair” The Floating Chair is a prototype for solar-powered public park furniture that glows at night, creating brighter paths and a great sense of safety.
	“Solar Garden Glow” Solar Garden Glow provides a cheerful halo of lights that can be hung from trees in the garden – the ultimate party lighting.