Today sees the opening of the annual exhibition for inspirational commercial interior products, Design Prima – covering furniture, lighting, textiles, and more – at the Business Design Centre, London. Exhibitors include Vitra, Thonet, Swedese and Hitch Mylius.  The show sees the launch of a new coffee table (pictured below) by architectural and design firm Claesson Koivisto Rune in collaboration with leading furniture company OFFECCT: consisting of three coffee tables in different sizes and shapes they appear to hover above the floor. The architectural inspiration behind the design is that the table is a mini-building without walls, as if it is under construction. It also cleverly provided storage space for magazines and remote controls that can easily clutter a home or office. 

Each table features one strong colour and two muted colours: the designers drew inspiration from their trips to South America and Spain to lecture and teach, combining the muted Scandinavian palette of blue, beige and brown with bright pink, green and orange from the folk art tradition. The designers commented they were influenced by the time we live in, with a white room serving as a stage into which colours can be injected like vitamins to bring energy and brightness.

Another important launch is Level (pictured above) by British designer Simon Pengelly for Johanson Design. Incorporating the three major functions of a bar stool; seat surface, footrest and height adjustment he has created a design of single flowing form which encourages intuitive interaction with the user and results in a classic and clever design.

Design Prima continues until the 4 June.