"UnifiedDiningTable" news and stories

Perhaps the coolest result of an influx of design nerds storming New York City last weekend for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair is this new demo interview with the man (no, genius) behind the Unified Dining Table. Anyone who has ever lived in a cramped space -- or, heck, eaten alone -- may fall in love with this simple, clean-looking little number with pop-off dining accessories, which we wrote about a couple months ago but whose glory shines best in video form.

Note the plucking off of candelabra and bowls, the lifting of the tray straight out of the table, and the fact that you can just pop this sucker on the floor in front of the tube. Check out its "cousin," too, which involves a champagne bucket flippy-top. Are we the only ones beside ourselves, or would you ever buy this thing?

[Via Core 77]

There's design creativity that makes sense and needs to be mass marketed, designs that are almost there but need some tweaking, and then designs that are just plain silly.

MocoLocco has shared about the above design, Min Hoo Park's Unified Dining Table from IMM Cologne 2009. As you can see, the plates, glasses, and even vase and candleholder are a part of the lacquered table. You dine by candlelight, apparently drinking your wine and other beverages through straws, and then flip it over for a regular table top when you're done.

As it is there, it's quite silly, but maybe this designer is onto something. Get a click-in cup, so you can drink, and turn the inside into a dishwasher! Eat at your placesetting, flip it over to enjoy your table, and when it's time to eat again, your place setting is all clean.

Of course, you can't have a bunch of guests over unless you get them your own tables, but at least some loners could revel in the design.

[via Serious Eats]