Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
The French designers are known for their creative and sculptural approach to design. The two brothers have worked together for several decades, gaining international recognition from their design studio located in Paris. Ronan promptly started his own design work after completing his studies at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Cergy-Pontoise. Erwan supported him throughout finishing his studies. After their collaboration in the late 1990s their work really began to take off. Their designs often combine simplicity, elegance, functionality whilst also exploring materials and different forms. One of the consistent themes present in their work is modularity. Allowing for their work to be customised and rearranged gives an opportunity for personal expression, making the pieces more individual and unique.Their partnerships with high end manufacturers such as Vitra, HAY, Alessi, Artek, Ligne Rosset and Kvadrat has helped them accomplish production on a global level making them renowned designers.
Sadly they are now pursuing separate careers, but we are able to enjoy their many beautiful designs that they created whilst working together.
HAY - Accessible Modern Scandi Design
Work with HAY
For Danish design brand HAY, the dynamic design duo have designed many popular collections. One of their most commercially successful ranges is “Palissade”. A stunning collection of outdoor furniture that we know is going to be a future classic design due to its timeless form and accessible price point. Palissade Cord Collection, Balcony Collection, CPH Collection, Can Collection, Passerelle Collection, Élémentaire Chair and Pier System are other popular pieces.
Vitra - German swiss precision
Work with Vitra
The brothers have worked with Vitra since 2000 and have contributed numerous designs to both the office and home collections. In addition to furniture they have created some lovely accessories and art prints.
An interview with Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec about the design process used in the development of the Alcove and Alcove Plus sofa systems for Vitra.
Flos - Italian lighting brand
Work with Flos
In their work for Flos, they have used their design genius to create lights that alter how you use them and allow you to adapt them as your needs change. The Aim range is their most popular range for Flos and as the names states, they allow the user to literally aim the light where it is needed. Newer pieces such as the Orizzontale and Belt as much art pieces as they are lights and so are attractive both when illuminated as well as turned off. They bring new materials into play, such as belting leather, in an innovative way.
Contemporary Finnish Design
Work with Artek
When working for luxury Italian furniture brand Knoll, to design a new sofa, they were given free rein in the design process, which Jay Osgerby relished as he had never been able to find the right sofa for him. As a child he was always told off by his parents for sitting on the arms or the back of their family sofa. The Barber Osgerby Sofa was therefore designed with the ability to be able to sit on both arms and the back of the sofa without damaging it. This makes it a very sociable piece and ideal for placing in the centre of the room.
Their dislike of corner sofas also meant that no corner module was ever produced. This sofa is still the most comfortable sofa that we sell, using several different densities of memory foam to optimise comfort and the magic bounce back once you get up from the sofa. A lot of time and expense was spent on designing the cast feet, whose elegant simplicity are a signature mark of both Barber Osgerby and Knoll.
They also designed the industrial looking Piton side table and stool and the super comfortable Pilot lounge chair. A typical piece for them in that it looks very simple, but is incredibly comfortable and well designed and so has proved to be timeless.
