5 Designers Of Beautiful Objects
We often don't realize the influence of the objects that surround us; whether it's a lamp, a chair, or a piece of decor, our belongings inform how we see, feel, and behave in the places we call home. A particularly refined or sustainable object can thus be profoundly transformative. In no particular order, here are some designers crafting remarkable items that emphasize aesthetic beauty.
Showing up at #1 is Materia Designs. Based in the Hudson Valley region of New York, this studio crafts furniture, lighting, and objects that amplify the inherent beauty found in raw materials such as stone, brass, steel, wood, and others. Owners Megan Sommerville and Matt Ensner, who have combined backgrounds in various artistic disciplines, strive to reduce each form in their collection to its essential structural elements.
Based in the Hudson Valley region of New York, this studio crafts furniture, lighting, and objects that amplify the inherent beauty found in raw materials such as stone, brass, steel, wood, and others.
Materia supports the local economy by training skilled production staff, and by remaining dedicated to a small group of New York-based artisans who supply the company with their goods. Customers can shop for furniture such as ottomans, beds, chairs, and tables, as well as lighting fixtures that include sconces and pendants. Among the unique objects for sale is the Cirque vessel, made of hand slip-cast porcelain.
For #2 we find Light + Ladder, which specializes in minimalist designs inspired by the beauty and stillness experienced in nature. It was created by Farrah Sit, who left the corporate design world to focus on handcrafted, organic-themed creations. Light + Ladder supports local small-batch manufacturing facilities and craftspeople in the US, and takes a conscientious approach to production by working with a zero-waste ceramics facility in Vermont.
Playing upon dynamic, natural forms that are both stylish and useful, the collection allows consumers to bring the outside world inside. Items include vases and planters, the latter of which come in floor, tabletop, and hanging versions. There are also wood and brass hooks for walls, plus accessories including a bowl, watering can, and candlestick and incense holder.
Next up at #3 is Teckell, a family-run Italian design firm combining high technology, avant-garde design, and renowned Italian craftsmanship. Founded by Gianfranco Barban and imbued with his love of nature, science, and technology, the company makes luxury objects such as pool tables and timepieces, primarily using materials including crystal, gold, marble, and old-growth wood. Each item is created by master craftsmen steeped in the artisanal traditions of woodcarving, crystal-cutting, and milling.
Among Teckell's collections are Calcio Balilla, which comprises foosball tables, and Biliardo, which encompasses pool tables with worsted wool playing surfaces in a variety of colors. Other offerings include an exercise bike and a multipurpose game board with a solid marble base. Finally, the Takto Timepieces collection features floor and wall pendulum clocks, all of which have a crystal glass structure and either DLC-coated or 24K gold-plated gears.
For #4 we come to Chiara Scarpitti. Holding a PhD in design, this transdisciplinary artist, academic lecturer, and researcher specializes in contemporary jewelry. She has been developing and producing modern design objects since 2007, and exhibiting them at myriad galleries and museums around the world. Additionally, she is the author of "Singular Multiples," which explores jewelry through lenses of sustainability, material and technological innovation, and political and social issues.
Scarpitti's hybrid objects often interrogate the intersections between nature, industry, craftsmanship, and the body.
Scarpitti's hybrid objects often interrogate the intersections between nature, industry, craftsmanship, and the body. In her Anthropocene collection, the artist mixed both handcrafted and digital techniques to reflect on mankind's impact on the planet. The Correspondances collection is inspired by images of flora and fauna from the 17th century, while the Radici project juxtaposes the uniqueness of natural forms with the mechanical reproducibility of technology.
Finally, landing at #5 is Pablo. This San Francisco company was established in 1993 by Venezuelan-born industrial designer Pablo Pardo, who has defined his career by creating contemporary, sparse, utilitarian lighting. Embracing a less-is-more ideology, the company values permanence and sustainability, crafting designs that deepen the relationships between objects, their users, and their environments.
Pablo offers a plethora of unique lighting items for floors, tables, ceilings, and walls. These come in an assortment of forms and materials, using everything from flat-panel LED technology to wool felted shades. There are also designs that employ open-framed architecture, full dimming, patterned illumination, and swiveling louvers, plus ones meant for maximum flexibility.