Equipment, design by Industrial Facility for Whirlpool Europe as part of the In Kitchen project.

Dianne Cutlack made her way to the Design Museum to catch the latest styles.

The challenge of modern product design is to create, with the aid of computer technology, objects that are aesthetically pleasing and reliable, but undeniably commercial. How successful are contemporary designers in achieving these goals?

Recent results can be viewed from now until September 4 2005, as London’s Design Museum plays host to The European Design Show. Celebrating the diversity and ingenuity of contemporary design, this exhibition stretches our conceptions as it stretches our imaginations from what can be done, to what could be done.

The exhibition is a showcase of innovative and inspiring designs developed in Europe over the past two years. Based upon a series of individual design projects, the collection ranges from the eminently practical to large installation pieces such as The Flood, designed by Michael Cross and Julie Mathias.

Taking inspiration from nature. Jess Shaw, Cloud. Photo: Carlo Draisci.

This work features electrical light bulbs on coils of brightly coloured wire, plunged into water-filled vessels. As well as exploring the potentially lethal combination of electricity and water, this eye-catching piece is soothing and tranquil. Just don’t try building this one at home.

The exhibition follows the development of each design project from conception to completion. The mix is eclectic, ranging from ceramics to websites, Formula One to haute couture. It includes some truly off-the-wall designs, such as a foldable milk carton, a square washing-up bowl, and a cat-shaped cat bed (a must-have item for the truly pampered moggie).

The developers explain how they work to specific briefs. In the case of Dutch designer Hella Jongerius, her remit was to create a set of painted ceramics for the Netherlands’ oldest ceramics manufacturer, Royal Tichelaar Makkum. In the course of developing her decorative motif, she revived a process used on 11th century Delftware, thus bringing a different glazing effect to each piece of pottery.

Detail from a solid stool designed by Patrick Jouin. Photo: Thomas Duval.

Jongerius’s views are often controversial. She is against “the idea of making a traditional set in which each piece is the same shape”, and believes that contemporary shoppers seek out individual pieces of dinnerware that can be mixed and matched on the table. Whether you agree or not, her work is stylish and covetable.

Another young Dutch ceramics designer, Simon Heijdens, has produced a series of dinnerware, called Broken White, which manipulates the traditional technique of craquelure glazing. From the moment each piece is used, delicate cracks appear in the glazing, cracks which spread to form patterns of flowers growing across the surface.

Alber Elbaz, chief designer of the Lanvin fashion house in Paris, weds the delicacy and ease of modern fabrics with antique themes and exquisite workmanship, as witnessed here in a series of dresses from his recent Paris collections. These include a silk wrap dress, designed without a single seam, and another which sets an elaborate necklace of antique crystalline into fragile netting - a feat worthy of a structural engineer.

As well as making new looks for the catwalk, many fashion designers use cutting edge methods to develop their latest creations. White cotton Gabardine men's shirt by Alber Elbaz for the Lanvin Summer 2005 collection.

From the beautiful and ethereal, the collection moves to the cutting edge of automotive design. The production of last season’s McLaren Mercedes Formula One car is explored in detail. Designers work to strict deadlines: not only must the car be faster and more aerodynamic than its rivals, it must also be created, built and tested in six months (whereas the design of a conventional automobile takes seven years).

In addition, the car must be developed in strict accordance to the ever-changing specifications and safety regulations of Formula One. The McLaren on display, driven by Kimi Raikkonen in 2004, combines responsiveness and tensile strength with the ability, at a top speed of 224 mph, to cross a football pitch in one second.

Economy and practicality are on show in a range of kitchen products developed by Jasper Morrison for Rowenta, and Konstantin Grcic for Krups. These handsome objects survive a rather static display style and an unfortunate proliferation of ‘Do Not Touch’ signs. The stylish coffee pots and sandwich makers beg to be handled and examined in some detail.

Juan Pablo Montoya in the Team McLaren Mercedes MP4-20, the team’s 2005 Formula One challenger. © Team McLaren Mercedes.

At the end of the exhibition, you are encouraged to cast your vote for your favourite products. While these preferences will depend on individual taste – certain objects speak to us, and others don’t – the European Design Show is sure to impart an appreciation of the thought and effort that goes into the design process.

Dianne Cutlack is a freelance writer who can be contacted at jcutlack@compuserve.com.

Dianne is participating in the 24 Hour Museum/ MGM Arts Writing Prize 2005.