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Laikingland is a creative label, based in both the UK and The Netherlands, who design and manufacture beautifully crafted kinetic objects that engage, and evoke a sense of play and nostalgia.

The company was founded in 2008 and is built upon a life long friendship between artist, Martin Smith and engineer, Nick Regan. Since it’s inception Laikingland has specialised in producing highly crafted limited editions, working closely with invited artists and designers to realise their kinetic ideas.

Alongside their products, Laikingland also regularly carry out projects to create one-off, special edition and exclusive kinetic objects and displays.

 

About

Martin Smith is the Art Director of Laikingland.  He lives and works in West Yorkshire, UK.  He has over 20 years experience as a practicing Artist, with work ranging from small kinetic devices to large-scale gallery commissions and architectural interventions.

In his role as Art Director, Martin has overall responsibility for the design selection process, he curates the product range and collaborates at the concept stage with each artist and designer.  Through his vast experience of surprising and intriguing mechanisms, he influences both the movement of the kinetic objects and the direction of the Laikingland brand.

Nick Regan is the Engineering Director of Laikingland.  He was born and raised in West Yorkshire, UK, but now lives and works in Utrecht, the Netherlands.  He has over 20 years product development and engineering management experience in the global automotive industry.  He has worked with many of the world’s leading automotive companies in the UK, Europe, USA and Asia.

In his role as Engineering Director, Nick is responsible to lead the product development process from concept to limited edition manufacturing.  Tasks include liaison with artists and product designers, provide engineering direction for product mechanisms, component design and development, supplier sourcing decisions and design for assembly with input from assembly craftsmen.


"Laik" actually means to play, Laikingland is built around the notion of encouraging playfulness.  Complimentary to this, our work represents our interest in narrative, humour and craftsmanship.  Our hope is that creating designs around these themes will encourage everyday playfulness in the lives of our customers.


Martin Smith Studio Maarten Baas
Automated Winding Engine 2013
The Heart Machine 2011
The Party Popper Machine 2010
The Applause Machine 2009
Just About Now
Year: 2012
Studio Tord Boontje Atelier Ted Noten
Cacophony Bell
Year: 2012

Image courtesy of Phil Sayer
Lady Killer Vol.1
Year: 2011
Joost van Bleiswijk & Kiki van Eijk
Nik Ramage
Light a Moment
Year: 2012
Image courtesy of Lisa Klappe
Fingers 2009
Fingers Mk II 2012
Fingers Mk III 2013
Atelier NL Lonny Van Ryswyck & Nadine Sterk Freshwest Simon Macro & Marcus Beck
Story Time
Year: 2011
Miniature Lazy Chair
Year: 2010
John Lumbus Ivan Black Studio
Storm in a Tea Cup
Year: 2010
Magnet Mobiles
Year: 2009
All our work is produced in small batches or limited editions and is hand assembled in England and the Netherlands by our team of highly skilled craftsmen, engineers, artisans and jewellers.

Exhibitions
2016 Maarten Baas Makes Time, Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
2016 A Curious Turn, The Crafts Council, Habitat Store, London, UK.
2013 In A.W.E at the MB&F MAD Gallery, Geneva, Switzerland.
2013 2.0 Exhibition by Rossana Orlandi at the Museo Bagatti Valsecchi, Milan, Italy.
2012 Chamber of Wonder, Gallery S O, Brick Lane, London, UK.
2012 InterPlay: Mechanical Objects, Southwest School of Art, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
2012 Ornamentum Gallery, Design Basil / Design Miami, Switzerland.
2012 'With Movement', Laikingland, Ventura Lambrate, Salone de Mobile, Milano, Italy.
2011 FUNction, Laikingland, Ventura Lambrate, Salone de Mobile, Milano, Italy.
2010 Handcrafted in Britain, The Conran Shop, Michelin House, Chelsea, London, UK.
2010 Laikingland Showcase,The KK Outlet , Hoxton Square, London, UK.
2010 Applause Machine window, Colette, Paris, France.
2010 The CultureLabel Pop-up Store, LDA Pavillion, World Expo, Shanghai, China.
2010 Creative Collaborations, Laikingland, Ventura Lambrate, Salone de Mobile, Milano, Italy.
2010 Kinetica Art Fair, P3, London, UK.
2009 Laikingland, 100% Design, Earls Court, London, UK.
2009 Kinetica Art Fair, P3, London, UK.