Guest Contribution by An Michiels

“Modern Times” is the first collaboration of Swedish designers Johannes Tjernberg and Rasmus Malbert. The project was named after the “Modern Times” film by Charlie Chaplin from 1936, in which Chaplin's character struggles with the pace within the factory. It consists of three objects: “Ash” - a paraffin lamp, “Instant” - a series of table clocks, and “Pulse” - a docking station for mp3-players, which is the main piece.

The heat and fire in the factory are represented by “Ash”, the constantly present, time is represented by “Instant” and the heart and the rhythm of the factory are represented by “Pulse”. Tjernberg and Malbert regard the music player as the centerpiece of their product presentation. As the traditional street-organ player was the master of the public square, “Pulse” masters the room and encourages friends to gather around it.

Pulse's glossy black structure is partially covered in tiles and the classical crank made of polished brass, was added to it to control the volume. The architectural body of the piece floats on a mirror laminate and hides two speakers and an amplifier on the inside. The entire piece is supported by a single leg which is sculpted with notions of playful music from a street organ.

Johannes Tjernberg started working as a freelance interior designer with his own design consulting firm in 2005. He has been working on a variety of projects ranging from furniture design, café design, exhibition stand design, fashion shows and scenography to graphic design and illustration. In 2009, he graduated with a Master of fine arts in design from the Gothenburg University. Rasmus Malbert, is a 2010 graduate from the School of Crafts and Design, HDK in Gothenburg, Sweden. For the past four years, Rasmus has been running “studio rm”, his portfolio covers furniture, industrial design, interior architecture and craft work. “ My wood and craft background always color my work and I believe in the emotional aspects of a strong concept in design. If we fall in love with an object, it is likely we keep a long lasting relationship”