One year ago, the Foof Queens (Rocky, LuAnn, and Betty) came to 5forty design for help designing a new product. The Gift Gloss dispenser is the result of that collaboration. It is perfectly suited to their creative gifting style. More can be found on their website www.foofqueens.com which goes live Wednesday, August 19. Below and after the break are pictures of the ideation process, some renderings of an early version in various color schemes (including the glorious Maroon and Orange), and some pictures of one of the first production pieces.

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The design by 5forty design and Thom White, AIA, was selected by the Downtown Norfolk Council to be one of four Public Art Bicycle Racks to be installed in the Downtown district of Norfolk, Virginia. The DNC put out an RFP for four sculptural bike racks to be placed around the city to promote alternative forms of transportation, in anticipation of the 2010 arrival of the Tide light rail system. Our proposal speaks to both the nautical heritage of the port city and the future means of navigating the city by modes of transportation other than by car. The sculpture/bike racks are scheduled to be installed Spring 2010. Check out our proposal boards below!

The granite vanity has finally been installed in the Virginia Beach house. 5forty designed and built the frame for the architects at Grade, NYC who designed the house. It is steel tube with a custom acid etched finish that looks great with the slate floor. The top of the vanity is a single piece of black granite that weighs over 800 pounds. The walnut cabinetry was done by Crowder’s Custom Cabinets in Hampton, Virginia.

This vanity design uses one of the slabs of Acacia that has recently become available. It is comprised of a steel frame supporting the acacia, a porcelain basin sink, and frosted glass sides and doors for storage below. Fabrication will begin when a buyer is found.

This kitchen table is about 60% complete. It has a steel tube frame supporting two slabs of african mahogany. Down the center of the table are sections made of sheet steel over tube frames with the center basin section being removable. The benches are steel frames with a steel top and cushions supplied by the client.