knockoutdesign: awateef basket lampshades

‘awateef’ baskets and vases photos by shiraz grinbaum

for their new project ‘awateef’ (which translates to ‘feelings’ in english), polish-israeli design collective knockoutdesign (magda juszczak, dorota kabala, maya ober and marta florkowska-dwojak) have been working closely with sindyanna hagalil, a jewish-arab non-profit organization in galilee, northern israel to produce a series of lampshades and baskets. sindyanna opened a weaving center in kfar manda – a village in galilee with one of the highest percentages of unemployment in israel – to revive the traditional craft of rattan weaving and to provide working opportunities to the local women.

the main goal of this collaborative project is to help the craftswomen create a wide range of products that could compete on the international market and would also appeal to ‘high end’ customers, yet retaining the charm of the handcraft techniques by which they are made. the young designers combined their knowledge of modern technologies with the traditional weaving methods, using aluminum rings as an internal structure not only to define the shape of each piece, but also to hasten and simplify the weaving process. these colorful elements emphasize a contrast to the natural look of the rattan and give the lampshades, baskets and vases a key design element.

‘awateef’ series of lampshades, baskets and vases

anodized aluminum elements and rings support the individual objects’ shape

top view of the baskets

vase

basket

craftswomen in kfar manda, galilee