We look at burgeoning young designers who are making their foray into the international furniture scene. Here are some of them and their intriguing creations. These young designers are part of 16 new talents from the SuperSalone fair of 2021 — The Lost Graduation Show to show at this year’s SuperSalone fair. With the emphasis on using sustainable materials, these students were handpicked from 48 design schools across 22 different countries.
Oneseo — South Korea
Pattern of Industry Stool designed by Oneseo Choi. Image: Oneseo Choi.
Based in Seoul, “Oneseo” specialises in the manufacturing of furniture and objects. He delves into experimentation by exploring new materials or creating different furniture styles in order to add oomph and variety to our daily living. His Pattern of Industry collection includes two items: a stool and a bench.
Pattern of Industry bench designed by Oneseo Choi. Image: Oneseo Choi.
The artistic element of these objects is appreciating the anodised aluminium profile of this metal often used in industrial sites. The cross-sectional shape offers a veiled aesthetic. The geometric patterns are highlighted by the designer by exposing the cut profile. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, these seating solutions will prove to be eye-catching in any setting.
Chiaki Yoshihara — Japan
Seam of Skin furniture collection designed by Chiaki Yoshihara. Image: Yunosuke Ishibashi.
By taking polystyrene foam and turning it into two-toned coloured stools, a seat, and a box, all embellished with a wood grain-like texture, interior and product designer Chiaki Yoshihara’s “Seam of Skin” collection caught the eye of design heads. The tedious process of cutting thin slats of polystyrene by using a hot wire needs delicate and stable hands. The polystyrene foam itself and the colour of the paint are alternately exposed on the cut surface of the laminated material, and a wood grain texture is created. The designer hopes to bring new value to everyday objects in our spaces.
Hemmo Honkonen — Finland
Embossing furniture collection designed by Hemmo Honkonen. Image: Emilia Pennanen.
A Finnish design student Hemmo Honkonen went on an experimental research journey to discover the age-old technique of embossing wood. This unique technique has been used by old carpenters to repair indents on wooden surfaces by swelling them back up using moisture and heat. Using empirical experiments, the embossment technique was achieved through key parameters such as type of wood, gain orientation, plus the shape and height of the embossments. Thus, the fruit of Honkonen’s labour revealed three furniture embossment pieces – a wall feature, cabinet, and chair.
Jaffrey Lambert — United Kingdom
Shift chair designed by Jeffrey Lambert. Image: Simone Sandahl
Hailing from the UK, Jeffrey Lambert worked as a model maker, designer, and fabricator, developing furniture, interiors, and structures for artists, architects, and designers. He gained much experience working at Cecilie Manz studio in Copenhagen and at Industrial Facility in London. His Shift chair idea was spurned during the pandemic when people pivoted to a remote working culture or work-from-home situations. The chair is a functional, everyday work chair that’s flexible to fit into work and living environments. The Shift chair is designed as a flat-pack piece that can be purchased online and its parts are easily replaceable and can be recycled.
Michal Kleiner — Israel
Objects designed by Michal Kleiner. Image: Michael Shvedron.
Tel Aviv designer Michal Kleiner’s ideas were spawned during the pandemic, too. Her creations are about objects that brought about personal comfort during lockdown life. The project produced a series of three products: a hot water bottle, a sourdough starter container, and a kit for growing plants. All three creations require water and work together as one system.
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