The craftsmanship of the soft map is stunning, but I have to give the Hellos a teeny tiny half star more because of the functionality and because I falsely believe that I can adapt the design and create them myself with scraps of wood from pallets and such. I can't. But it's nice to think about.

The glorious craftsmanship of the soft maps wins my vote, as well as the wonderful aesthetic of being tangibly connected to a neighborhood. While the shelving is nice, it is missing these craftsmanlike touches or any deep originality.

I love soft maps!

Yeah, 'cos nothing says original like a quilted map:

http://ianhundleystudio.com/

http://www.leahevanstextiles.com/

http://quiltsbyvalerie.com/archgallery1A.html

http://worldquilter.wordpress.com/2008/01/28/196/

I've definitely never seen shelves that resemble anything like this. I'd say it's damn original.

And nothing says craftsmanship like a computer programed quilting machine...especially not hand crafted and hand finished solid wood furniture.

Go Soft-maps!!!

anon_gram - I think you may have mistaken something about softmaps - they are all painstakingly handcrafted. She has only recently begun production of specific maps to lower the cost and make a non-heirloom quality product that is, in her words, baby vomit-proof (and machine washable).

I would also add that while I am sure others have made map-patterned quilts, I find her design aesthetic to be really different and exciting. Maybe you disagree.

So, let me see if I've got this right... the Soft-Maps are all painstakingly handcrafted, except for the ones that aren't? Brilliant.

Soft maps are amazing! The craftmanship is so impressive. Despite what anon_gram says, Emily Fischer does mostly original handstitched quilts of maps which, as anyone who has every sewn or quilted at all knows, is extremely difficult and time consuming. I've seen these quilts in person and they are absolutely breathtaking. The love and care that goes into each one is astounding, and by owning one of these, you'll own a one-of-a-kind art piece.

The machine-stitched ones (also amazing) are Emily's way of branching out to people who can't afford the hand-stitched heirloom, or need something more durable. So lay off, anon_gram.

While i'm not crazy about either design, im much more in tune with the hello shelving than the soft map.
I do like the versitility of the hello's, it's got all the right things going for it. Pricey, yes, but using enviro-friendly materials is a big plus. Probably one of my biggest fears/concerns/questions is if someone were to set something particularly heavy on one if used as a table, is it going to stand up over time or break at the joint.

The soft maps are beautiful pieces of ART. Quilts, especially hand quilted, can be both beautiful and functional. But quite tedious and IMO, a quilt is something that's passed from generation to generation. I have several dozen quilts that were made by my grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother, that most I wouldnt dare dream of using. To me the functionality of the map quilt just isn't there. Beautiful, however.
Hello shelves gets the vote.

The Soft Maps in the photos above, and anything you've seen Emily do up until now, including on her website, are handcrafted. Just this week (I believe) she made the machine-sewn ones available at Brooklyn Flea, to be more cost-effective.

These ones here are handmade. She also makes machine-stitched quilts because she is a versatile craftsperson and wants her beautiful work to be available to more people.

Go Soft Maps!

I gotta say, I love the functionality of the H-Blocks.

They would bring a very welcomed touch of style and order to my artist/writer lifestyle.

My apartment's 1/3rd of an old huge flat, and maybe has one wall that's flat and large enough for a proper bookshelf. The rest are half-walls and curves. Consequently, I've got milkcrates, cardboard boxes and old kitchen dish shelves holding books, dvds, and collectibles. With no nice shelving, it's eclectic, but it looks like crap. It's not a money thing, there's just only one wall where my big, traditional book shelf fits.

Although the Soft-Maps are a great concept, I admit I personally am covered in the quilt (and art) departments.

*What I need is a cool way for me to store all the stuff in my funky shaped apartment!

I think these designs are incredible, displaying the creativity and dedication to craftmanship of each artist. The intricacy and detail in both the individual concept and creation of each soft-map, as well as the genius of the versatility and polished aesthetics of the H-blocks really speak to the talent involved in this showcase. They are just two completely different genres at the root of the items' purpose - decorative versus functional. So, what up anon_gram. Where's the aggression coming from. Are you the significant other or something? Nothing says I stick to my guns like a username that involves some part of the word anonymous.

Let us celebrate the artistry of hand crafting. Go soft maps!

i just like the name of the hello blocks.

: )

OK, I just viewed the soft-maps video and it was all about the computer programmed, machine quilted version. So what exactly are we voting on? I don't agree with the hating going on over that, but I would only vote for the hand-quilted product over the handmade bookshelves. It still is like comparing apples and oranges in that the uses of the 2 products are completely different. So voting at all is pretty crazy to me.

I love the hello blocks! What a genius that Kenn Archibald is!

My name is Adeanon, but since most people mispronounce it (that's Adja-non) I've gone by Anon for the past 20 years. I have no affiliation with either of these designers. I joined the AT community to vote for one of my friends, who subsequently didn't make it to the finals, but I have become quite addicted to the whole competition.

There's certainly no aggression here, sorry if that's how my sarcasm came across. Just correcting the pervious poster's notion that quilted maps are original, not to mention that we're supposed to vote on the better design based on these posts. If I'm not supposed to take the machine quilted maps into consideration, why spend so much of the post (the new text, and well as the entire video) promoting them?

On the basis of design alone, the Hello Blocks win hands down. The handcrafted quilts are more art/decoration, not so much design. What makes them "design" is the computer controlled machine quilting. That turns the art object into a design object, but in doing so takes away a considerable amount of what makes the hand-quilted maps so precious and special. Ultimately devaluing the entire object.

Go Soft-Maps!

Love the hello blocks - clean design - constantly renewable shape....genius.

I find the soft maps hauntingly beautiful. And don't worry about Anon. His bitterness is his own punishment.

Hello Blocks definately! Such craftsmanship. Beautiful versatile design. Love them!

Soft Maps offers a very unique and distinct concept, despite of what anon_gram says. Miss Fischer is definitely an innovator and I am crossing my fingers and toes that she wins :)

Now why I do like the concept of the soft maps, I dont feel as though they were executed very well and it lacks practicality for the price... that was until she starts using a computerized program and then you lack the craftmanship. I love the concept of the hello blocks, they are practical, they are well executed, and you dont have to compromise the craftmanship to mass distribute these. And not to mention that have a ton of possiblities and character. Theres only so much you can do with a quilt.

I love Soft Maps! Such a brilliant idea and executed with such care and precision. I want one!!!!

Wow, what a heated post. My vote goes to the Hello Blocks. By far the best design in the finals. Good Luck.

Ditto, garybobary.

These quilts are absolutely gorgeous and are pieces of art! I would love to own one!!! Go softmaps!!!

Those quilts are downright beautiful! I wish I could afford the handsewn ones. The computer mapped ones are more in line with my budget, though. Really lovely and unique!

Those quilts are boring and very non-original... At least he actually makes the shelves, he doesn't have a computer do it... if I want a computer made blanket I'll go to the mall.. The street vendors in new york at least make their own stuff.... come on now..

I'm a sucker for interesting bedding since I change it out so often.

Mapping dreams

What Bob said!

Hello Blocks Get my vote!

~LB

I like the soft map quilts. I tend to think of design as something hard and sturdy so it's nice to see an innovative urban design that one could cuddle up with.

Softmaps!

I'm so glad I watched the video. The hello blocks are amazing.

Soft maps for sure. Something about the sense of being wrapped up in and kept warm by your nabe that I really like.

Also for the people that can't/don't read - "Soft-Maps are still offered as one-of-a-kind handmade quilts which are designed on commission..."

HELLO BLOCKS!!! Fabulous design, Kenn! Best of luck!!!

hello blocks all the way. they are original and seem highly functionable. they are by far the BEST in the semi-finals. I hope you take the win Kenn, your shelves exhibit sheer brilliance!

I like Hello's design so much

If you were to give someone a gift which would be more personal; a few neat shelving units or a comforting quilt of their hometown? It is a little bit of a loaded question really. Personally I would go with Soft Maps. It just seems like more of a personal gift. Something that you would not only get for yourself but would buy for others. Hello's design is interesting but it just seems like something that you would get and then tell others about not buy for others. Both designs are really creative but my vote went to Soft Maps.

GOOO SOFT MAPS!!!!

yes to soft maps. I want everyone to wrap themselves in maps!!! mmmmuah

do we really need ANOTHER shelving system? the anon_gram poster seems peeved by the soft map lack of originality, but um... doesn't DWR, west elm, the container store, and bed bath & beyond all carry something that does the same thing as the Hellos?

"there is nothing new under the sun." picasso

also - i guess this doesn't really matter, but - this guy looks like he's not in dire need of $20K! the money will the soft maps get into the market and make a work of art more affordable for everyone. everyone wins!

...one more thing - if you think Archibald Studios doesn't use a computer, router, etc. to do his work you know nothing about woodworking past 1991.

the soft maps are beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!

Ironically, I often coax myself to sleep by trying to remember every single step of the 12 city blocks of the walk to my elementary school--the houses, the shops, people I would routinely see, trees, etc. I'm asleep in minutes. Imagine if I was blanketed in a map of the route. How cool would that be! I love these Soft Maps!

Soft-Maps all the way. Hello blocks are nice, but they can be built by any middle school tech ed student.

yowzers, people... the digitally-fabricated Soft-Maps are the product of 4 months of development and are not cheap facsimiles of the handmade Soft-Maps. The people I partnered with are serious local craftswomen who do exquisite work; the machine does very little without their attention and skill. All the finishing is done by hand- from the binding edge to hand-embroidered embellishments by yours truly.

Like Kenn, I had to make some important decisions in how I produce things while staying true to the idea at the root of the design; I greatly admire Kenn's commitment to using sustainably-harvested materials. Several months ago, I had to choose between 1) relying on the inexpensive labor of women in a developing country 2) finding a smarter, more efficient means of production that wouldn't sacrifice quality. Without question, most of the handmade/sewn items we buy (from clothing to bedding) are produced by 15-year old girls in Pakistan and Bangladesh that should be in school. My moral compass prevents me from working this way, just as Kenn's prevents him from using cheap wood clear-cut from forests in China. The machine is just a responsible way of making something affordable to you, the consumer.

@ amcclaran - There's a difference between using a computer to draft, and using a computer to actually do the work for you. In the photo of his studio, none of the equipment is CNC (or computer numerical controlled). Everything pictured is the same type of equipment used in woodworking for the past 75 years. Even if he is using a router to cut mortises or dovetails, it's still guided by his hands, not a computer. What do you expect him to use to cut the wood? His teeth?

When soft maps use a computer controlled sewing machine, all you have to do is put the fabric layers in the machine, and out comes a fully stitched quilt. Big difference.

Also, as for need, furniture manufacturing is the hardest hit industrial sector in the current recession. According to the current issue of Time Magazine furniture manufacturing has a 22.5% unemployment rate. $20K in advertising could mean not having to lay off an employee, or close a business for good. It would seem that Archibald Designs is a full time business which has a lot more financial demands than a side-project quilter (according to her web site, Emily is a professional architect). Last time I checked, architects salaries were a lot higher than woodworkers.

xx

Go Soft Maps!

soft maps!

Soft maps! Three cheers!

Go Hello!

soft maps!

soft yes!

soft maps

Go soft maps!

Don't like the fact that the shelves need to have an additional small piece of wood added to attach each of the pieces when forming a unit of any height. My vote is for soft maps for its ability to be customized, vomited on and machine washed.

Emily is also trying to make Soft Maps into a business for women in third world countries. Something they can be compensated fairly for and build businesses on. That's the deciding factor for me.

yay soft maps!!

and just a friendly reminder to some of the negative posts, 99.9% of the soft maps have been hand made by Emily herself. The more cost effective method is brand spanking new due to previous comments that the handmade ones were too expensive. It seems with the public you can never appease all....

"Emily is also trying to make Soft Maps into a business for women in third world countries."

According to whom?

She said in her post she's partnered with "serious local craftswomen" not third-world entrepreneurs. No mention of reaching out to the third-world anywhere in her showcase page.

Soft-maps for a hard city!

Wow this is a close contest!!!

I appreciate the functionality of the hello blocks, and I appreciate that it's made of sustainable materials. But it just looks like it would be at home in an IKEA catalog.

Soft-Maps gets my vote.

for those of you dissing Emily's Soft Maps... anon_gram, a little compassion towards the Soft Maps could go a long way... and maybe you should review the comment policy on this website.

You don't know what she's gone through and the tireless effort that she's put into those quilts. I've watched and admired her relentless pursuit - I've consoled her on those late nights when she thought she couldn't make it - and yes - btw, she's still struggling to make it.

Yes, the shelves are nice - but Soft Maps give you comfort and provide a connectivity and an emotive connection to your neighborhood. You can literally wrap yourself up with your immediate context if you so choose. Emily's handmade quilts are special and unique and when you touch and see them they are stunning.

My vote is and will always be for Soft Maps!

I think the soft maps look stupid.

Sorry, but I don't feel the need to get some "emotional connection" with my neighborhood through a too-expensive blanket--which doesn't come in my neighborhood's pattern, anyway.

I suppose soft maps are great if you have money to spare and live in New York.

I swear this thread of comments is making me want to throw up on one of those quilts. Which really remind me of diapers anyway.

I didn't hate them before, but I hate them now.

ANd even before I hated the nappys, I had a high preference for the Hello Block shelving. Expecially considering that this is a design contest.

Go Kenn and his Hell Block Shelves!
Go someplace else obnoxious-soft-map-lovers!

I'm not sure how many people actually checked out the soft map before voting (I almost didn't because the thumbnail photo used in the survey was not flattering), but now that I've looked at the post about soft maps & the designer's vision / gallery tour, I am quite impressed! What a great idea.

I am a bit confused - if the Hello Blocks had 304 votes and and Soft Maps had 290, why are the Soft Maps in the finals? Is the final vote count from the survey loading incorrectly on my computer?

Mine has the same final count. Strange.

Thanks for the concern, guys. As it's been relayed to me via Maxwell, during the last couple of hours of last Thursday's voting period someone from outside the competition was able to effectively shut down the voting system and register 113 bogus votes for my entry, as well as block other voters from registering. The AT crew spent the next day combing over the entries, contacting the people who were blocked from voting, and re-tallied the votes. The totals on the Showcase page reflect the official, adjusted totals.

Though I have to admit I'm a little disappointed, I'd rather not have made it to the finals than to have gotten there through dishonest means.

At least I'm still in the running for the judges pick, so keep your fingers crossed.

Thanks,
Kenn

Wow, this competition really seems to have a lot of inadequacies... If it's any consolation, I love the Hello blocks and voted for them all the way. Sad to see them get knocked out of the competition but who knows what the judges will decide! I wish you the best of luck, Kenn.