The Cost of Coal Burning; A discussion with Will Steger

Polar explorer, Will Steger, will be in Duluth tomorrow to participate in a public forum discussing the cost of burning coal to our climate, natural resources and health and the opportunities for clean energy in Minnesota moving forward. He will be joined by other specialists in the field and the event is free to the public.

Deets:

Where: Lake Superior College

When: Tuesday, May 14th at 7PM

Why would I go: Because you want Minnesota to move to clean energy alternatives that promote a healthy sustainable community and because Will Steger is really really cool.

More info here

in case you were wondering...

Loll has reclaimed over 26 MILLION milk jugs! chug! chug! chug!

all in the family

Hawksboot not only provides room + shelter for us lollygaggers, but houses two other businesses, provides materials for other designers to create their own works, and supplies cool stores with our goods. 

Eastvold Furniture is where it's at for sleek mid-century design with a modern twist. We love the color play of these credenzas and always look forward to seeing Matt visit our office.

Epicurean is no stranger. If anything, it's more like our bossy big brother (only kidding!). They make some killer cutting boards including these ecoplastic cutting boards inspired by us. Imagine that.

Need some nifty hardware for your project? Look no further than MOLO Manufacturing Co. Our very own, Matt Becka (from Intectural), is the designer behind these handy knobs and pulls. Made from recycled paper composite these are not only practical, but also conversation worthy.

Have you checked out our stockist lately? Loll furniture is popping up all across the country and may be in one of your local stores! If you're in Minneapolis check out our low back Rapson Rocker at Forage Modern Workshop. They got what's going on. For reals.

Pretty sweet what can happen under one roof

behind the scenes

This spring we are debuting our collaboration with David Salmela and we thought why not throw a little film in the mix to show you how Loll and Salmela joined forces. Here are some behind the scene shots of what's to come...stay tuned!

current e v e n t s

Next time your at your favorite bar playing trivia and you get asked, "where in the world is the second-best travel hub in the world?" you can sit back, take a swig, and show all your friends up because you know this answer. DULUTH my friends has been the runner up for best adventure city according to Outside Magazine! And I quote:

This hilly, forested, 26-mile-long city on the southern tip of Lake Superior is a magnet for aerobic fiends who train year-round on the city’s 72 miles of Nordic ski trails, the epic Willard Munger paved cycling trail, 81 miles of running and hiking trails, and 30 (and growing) miles of urban mountain-bike trails. At the southern end of town are two brand-new 500-vertical-foot, IMBA-designed downhill flow trails at Spirit Mountain ski resort. Offshore there are three quadrillion gallons of Lake Superior water, shipwrecks, and salmon and trout. Book a lakeside room at Fitger’s Inn (doubles from $135). Two hours north are the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, one of the worst-kept but least-spoiled secrets in the country. It is also headquarters to the coolest furniture manufacturer, Loll Designs, where you can find many of it's employees enjoying the said trails above.

(I may have added that last sentence)

Also in the news....

The Start Tribune gave a shout-out to Loll for being one the states most stylish furniture companies. Huzzah.

And lastly...

Our very own, Greg Benson, recently took a quick trip down to Austin to judge the Brand New Awards. A competition that celebrates the best identity work a company produced around the world in 2012. It should be of no surprise that the winning work had to with beer. Shocking.

It is actually a pretty sweet design, no? 

The story behind it is pretty neat as well:

In the city of Rikuzentakata, a single pine tree stands as a testament to survival after the tsunami of 2011. This beer’s name means “One Pine Tree” and its design is a symbol of charity and hope for Japan’s brighter future. A scroll-like, handwritten label seals the top with its story written on the inside. The label is a solitary pine made of three triangles facing up, symbolizing the wish for progress in the reconstruction efforts.

That concludes this month's current events portion.

show and tell

If there was a show like MTV's Cribs but instead of showing posh homes it focused on over the top trade show booths, Epicurean's would have definitely made the cut. Loll's sister company recently showed off its kitchen must-haves at the Ambiente trade show in Germany and the International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago. Decked out with it's own coffee shop, chef's kitchen, and Loll Lounge, it was THE place to cool your heels and enjoy a nice brew from Dogwood Coffee.

Hey Duluthians.....

What are you up to this Wednesday....?

The Zinema theater will be examining local design with our CEO, Greg Benson, along with the showing of the documentary, Objectified. Come check it out!

Where: Duluth Zinema
Time: 7PM


Gary Hustwit’s trilogy of documentaries on design will serve as a springboard for discussions with local designers as we highlight their work and the philosophies behind it.

Objectified features a talk afterwards with Greg Benson, CEO of Loll Designs.

Nearly everyone spends their life surrounded by the work of industrial designers, but very few people understand the process by which your furniture, cell phone, or alarm clock came to look and feel the way they do, and how the elements of design interact with our own ideas and assumptions about value and functionality. The design of everyday objects has more than a little to do with mass psychology and the way it intersects with commerce, even if most people never give the process a moment’s thought. Filmmaker Gary Hustwit takes viewers on a journey through the elusive world of industrial design and the interaction of people with the objects they’ve brought into their lives in the documentary Objectified, which features interviews with a number of major designers who discuss how products move from the drawing board to the marketplace, and the philosophy behind the look, feel, and function of the things in your home.

BONUS: Every Wednesday is half price wine at Zeitgeist so it's truly a win win situation. I highly recommend the Vietti Barbera d’Asti Tre Vigne Piedmonte, Italy 2009.