One Object. One Lifetime: Designer Profiles
Designer profiles.
Timorous Beasties
Timorous Beasties, a design led manufacturing company based in Glasgow, was established in 1990 by Alistair McAuley and Paul Simmons. Noted for its surreal and provocative textiles and wallpapers, their early work has been described as "William Morris on acid", and could be seen as a wayward take on the often "twee" world of textiles.
Inspiration: "The granite stone represents positivity and thoughtfulness. Our Tree of Life pattern will grow around the stone outside the usual bounds of symmetry. The yellow here signifies life and growth and with the black of the granite is representative of caution in nature. The text is a light-hearted response to design culture contrasting with the product's sombre nature. The stone is anonymous and individual, not necessarily to be seen as a grave stone but up to the individual to find a use."
Jordi Canudas
Barcelona-born Jordi Canudas studied at Elisava design school before moving to London in 1994. In 2005, after a ten-year stint in different design studios he took an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art. Jordi's work evolves around the idea of action. An action that guides the project to create, change or even destroy the object. His projects challenge existing object typologies and stand between product and installation pieces.
Inspiration: "I have created a machine that will leave a trace of the Gala on an object during the event. The inspiration comes from the Gala. For me, the experiences and memories surrounding a possession are what make it treasured; memories of special moments give a special value to an object."
Oscar Diaz
Oscar Diaz is a Spanish product designer who mixes influences from craft and technology. He studied industrial design in France before graduating with an MA in Design Products from the Royal College of Art in 2006. His approach is often multifaceted, investigative and playful, transforming the ordinary by challenging conventions.
Inspiration: "The Veuve Cliquot identity colour is separated into the red, green, and blue colour values which form the additive RGB colour model. With those values, three different hand-blown vases are made in coloured glass. When the vases are nested the colours mix and as light passes through the Veuve Clicquot yellow reappears. Mixing RGB colours with an ancient craft technique creates a unique object combining tradition and modernity."
Tom Dixon
Established in 2002 by Tom Dixon and David Begg, Tom Dixon is a British design and manufacturing company of lighting and furniture with a commitment to innovation and reviving the furniture industry. Tom Dixon products can be seen at major design exhibitions including the Milan Fair, ICFF and 100% Design and have been acquired by the world's most famous museums and permanent collections world wide.
Inspiration: "A climbing frame, a bird's nest or a ball of string, I'm not sure where the origins of this chair came from but probably a mixture of all the above. This is a big chair-a chair for curling up in, but also a throne for authoritative decisions. Visually not too bulky, it is mainly empty space, like a line drawing but three dimensional. The object is defined all the better for being in a bright, high visibility safety yellow."
Martino Gamper
Martino Gamper was born in Italy and studied sculpture and product-design in Vienna, before moving to London in 1998 to complete an MA at the Royal College of Art. Gamper develops and produces a wide range of objects from limited edition to semi-industrial products and site specific installation. His work has been exhibited internationally including at the V&A and the Design Museum.
Inspiration: "The chandelier characterises the idea of a speech bubble, in this case an abstracted form symbolising a "figure of speech." I employed the traditional stained glass technique of church and cathedral windows in a modern way by introducing new shapes and colours to create a contemporary twist on the chandelier. The Veuve Clicquot signature yellow-orange colour was an inspiration to the design because the three dimensional light object emphasises the colour through contrast, light and form."
Mater
Mater is the home accessories brand making CSR timeless and alluring to consumers all over the world. Founded in 2006, Mater is a Copenhagen-based company with a strong vision to create timeless and beautiful design based on an ethical business strategy. Mater combines exclusive high end home accessories with working methods that support people, local craft traditions and the environment.
Inspiration: "Designing the champagne cooler Fancy Marble for Veuve Clicquot offered the opportunity for a designer to connect with local artisans to exchange ideas. This piece bridges between the alluring, the exclusive and craftsmanship. Marble was the natural material to use to create a champagne cooler because of its natural cooling properties. The yellow in the design creates a beautiful contrast that highlights the iconic shape and makes the piece softer and more elegant by mixing colour and materials."
Moritz Waldemeyer
Moritz Waldemeyer is an artist, designer and engineer, combining these disciplines to bring art and design installations to life creating unique effects in product design. Waldemeyer often works with internationally acclaimed artists, designers and architects including Zaha Hadid, Ron Arad and Hussein Chalayan, for corporate clients but also increasingly as a solo artist. Waldemeyer has used LED's to create beautifully crafted electronic designs including awe inspiring chandeliers.
Inspiration: "I made the bicycle jewellery because my bicycle is one of my most treasured possessions. Recently there is a new trend for stylish designer bikes. The bicycle in the images is my own interpretation for elegant and fashionable urban transport with a unique mix of high tech and classic design elements. The jewellery will personalise your bicycle, make it stand out as you cycle home and add a smile to the evening of onlooking strangers."