The best designers create pieces of furniture that functional beautifully and appeal aesthetically. But often, the furniture these designers product is split into one of two categories: functional and design-led furniture.
As we’ve stressed, furniture that functions has to be well designed. But furniture that’s called design-led generally means pieces where form takes precedence over function. Individual designers’ names are often attached to the piece and it’s the way the furniture looks that determines the public’s response.
Most homeowners aspire to own furniture that is both stylish and useful but increasingly there is demand for so-called 'designer' furniture. Often this is designed by 'big names' in the industry – the Philippe Starcks and Ron Arads of this world – and produced by one of many leading international furniture manufacturers.
Exclusive design
The Aqua table, designed by architect Zaha Hadid for British furniture company Established & Sons was launched in 2005. In 2006 a limited edition of the product was made in red to be sold for charity.
There is also increasing demand for bespoke furniture, which is tailor made for a project or person and therefore exclusive, but a bigger trend over the last two years has seen furniture designers move into artists’ territory – producing one-offs or limited editions to be sold in galleries at art prices. Pieces like this allow designers to use materials they might not ordinarily be able to use if a piece is being mass produced, due to cost constraints.
Peter Marigold's SUM selves and Ron Arad's The United States Bookshelf
Peter Marigold is one such British furniture designer to have moved over into the art world – his work is sold through Gallery Libby Sellers in London while Ron Arad is currently selling a series of limited-edition pieces for the Timothy Taylor Gallery.
Design firm BarberOsgerby has created limited edition pieces for Established & Sons. Watch a film of Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby talking about their work
Read a transcript of this film
Design-led leads to furniture that functions
British designer Jasper Morrison is regarded as a pioneer of "New Simplicity" and he advocates a more humble and serious approach to design. Egon Bräuning, formerly Head of Development at manufacture Vitra, sympathises with Morrison’s view. “What counts is that it functions,” he said. And at Vitra, Bräuning established a process that begins not with drawings or models built by designers, but with a functioning technical model: “In the beginning is the concept, functions are defined, and only then can the search for the right designer commence.”
SuperNormal was an exhibition project Morisson collated with Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa to show the future for good design. Morrison says: ‘Design seems like a teenager to me: loud, in-your-face, attention-seeking, kind of quirky, immature. Manufacturers are throwing ill-considered designs on the market like crazy. We hope that showing Super Normal will speed up the maturation process, reveal the substance and encourage people to respect good design. I think an understanding of the essence of design is well on its way. In Paris, for example, I’ve been watching as cafés lose their designer looks in favour of something more atmospheric and natural. I mean, who really enjoys sitting in a design café?’