The Designers

Philippe Starck

One of the most influential modern designers, with an obvious flair for self-promotion. His designs offer a unique perspective that you wouldn’t confuse for any other designer. Starck has been a prolific designer and his work ranges from juice extractors, to hotel interiors. As with all designers that push the boundaries, there have been a few design hiccups along the way, but this designer is far more than just hype and he is a genuine character to boot.

The Dream Icons collection includes designs by Philippe Starck such as the Alessi Juicy Salif.

Sylvia Stave (1908-1994)

Sylvia Stave is a designer of supreme talent and as the Design Manager of silversmiths C. G. Hallberg Guldsmeds A.B. created many iconic designs from the late 1920’s onward. The timeless quality of her work defies labels such as Art Deco or the influence of Constructivism and stands as a beacon of design excellence.

Her designs are elegant, assured and always beautifully composed. With a sublime understanding of her medium she created designs of vases and bowls that let the gleaming surface remain unbroken and undecorated.
 
Sylvia declared that her preference for spherical forms originated from a friendship with a Swedish artist and not from the Bauhaus, as some historians would have us believe. Sometimes the truth can get in way of a good hypothesis…

It may be a sign of modesty or a poor reflection on society that so little information is out in the public domain about this marvel of contemporary design.

The Dream Icons collection includes designs by Sylvia Stave such as the Alessi Cocktail Shaker.
 

Michael Graves

One of the leading theorists and architects of Postmodernism, Michael Graves also shows a keen desire to explore the arena of product design.

Although the number of designs created by Graves remains small, he has been very influential at encouraging new generations of designers to create designs that advocate a bold use of colour and pattern, with light hearted references to popular culture. 

He has a great ability to fuse the most appealing aspects of several design movements and create a design language that is instantly recognizable and incredibly appealing.

The Alessi Bird Kettle and Alessi Cafetiere MGPF8 are among Alessi's first and most successful experiments with Postmodernism. The kettle is essentially a straightforward piece of modern design that Graves instills with a distinctive personality thanks to the addition of a plastic bird mounted on the spout that sings when the water boils.

To learn more about Michael Graves click on the following link:

http://www.michaelgraves.com
 

Clare Brass

Today, it is universally accepted that designs should be created with a social and environmental conscience. It is therefore, noteworthy to learn that a prominent designer such as Clare Brass was spearheading such an approach from early on in her career.

As her early work for companies such as Alessi revealed, this is a gifted designer with an impressive ability to instil presence and flair to even the most humble household objects. With her skills very much still in demand, Clare chose to forge her own path and became more focussed on a facilitation role as Leader of Sustainability at the Design Council.

Clare is an outspoken champion of design and sustainability and is constantly exploring new ways for designers to utilise their abilities while addressing social and environmental challenges. Her upbeat way of thinking is evident when she recommends that ‘problems should be viewed as opportunities.’

In an age that is becoming increasingly obsessed with fame and celebrity it is refreshing and inspiring to see someone turn away from this lifestyle in order to help make the world a better place for generations to come.

The Dream Icons collection includes designs by Clare Brass such as  the Alessi Kalisto Moon Storage Jar

To learn more about Clare Brass click on the following link:

http://www.seedfoundation.org.uk/
 

Jacob Jensen

The prolific and versatile Danish designer Jacob Jensen is a superstar of Scandinavian industrial design. As head of Design at Bang & Oulfsen in the 1960’s and 1970’s this innovative Danish designer created a timeless design language that was as elegant as it was simple.

It is fair to say that his work set the aesthetic design standards for audio systems for a long time. These days he has his own range of products and it is clear to see their impressive design lineage.

The Dream Icons collection includes designs by Jacob Jensen such as the Jacob Jensen Alarm Clock and Jacob Jensen Weather Station

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.jacobjensen.com
 

Ron Arad

Ron Arad has been hailed as one of the foremost designers of the 20th Century, for good reason. His unique design style successfully incorporates unorthodox combinations of materials and concepts.

As a designer, Arad is keen to explore manufacturing processes and fully aware of the benefits of experimentation. His work is incredibly sculptural and no one comes close to his ability to integrate space and light within his designs. 

This engaging character reveals a passion for design that is lacking in several high profile designers that are more concerned with their celebrity than the joy of creating.  

With his furniture designs Arad is frequently skirting along the boundaries of functionality and some have even described this as 'design art' - but this could be seen as a cynical attempt  to create a new label to pin onto him. Thankfully, Arad ignores such limitations and continues on his own path and has even returned to his working as an architect.

The Dream Icons collection includes some of Ron Arads best loved designs such as the eye-catching Babyboop hors d'oeuvre bowls 

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.ronarad.co.uk
 

Ian Webster

Ian Webster has been designing British Classics for over 15 years. As the son of the highly regarded textiles designer Eric Webster he has been surrounded by design all his life and it is clearly in the genes. 

He has a passion for quality, an eye for detail and he always manages to create designs with an inherent timeless feel. Renowned for his enthusiasm, candor and ability to consider the world from a unique perspective.

This is a designer that clearly enjoys encouraging people to enrich their lives with beauty, creativity and passion - with a sublimely sculptural style and an inherent sense of fun.

The Dream Icons collection includes their very own designer loudspeakers daring, elegant, beuatifully made and challenging the mainstream.

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.designe.co.uk
 

Verner Panton (1926-1998)

Verner Panton was a master of the fluid, futuristic style of 1960s design, which introduced a playful Pop aesthetic to furniture and interiors. One of the genuine innovators in modern design, he demonstrated an ability to create designs that are sleek, sexy and a technical firsts.

His work appears to be bursting with energy and has an irresistible sense of fun and optimism. His aim was ‘to encourage people to use their fantasy and make their surroundings more exciting’ and who can argue with that…

There are so many designs that demonstrate his passion from the iconic Geometri pattern integrated into Menu's Geometry 1 egg cups and Pernille Vea bowls through to his contemporary lighting, with our favourite being the timeless Panthella  Louis Poulsen table light. 

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.verner-panton.com
 

Christopher Dresser (1834-1904)

There are many illustrious designers in this list and they are all standing on the shoulders of design giants such as Christopher Dresser.

He is considered to be among the first independent industrial designers who championed design reform in 19th century Britain. By embracing modern manufacturing processes he produced stunning work in the arenas of wallpaper, textiles, ceramics, glass, furniture and metalware.

Dresser was famed for championing industrial design as a force for furnishing ordinary people with well-made, efficient and engaging goods. His commercial success is all the more remarkable because Dresser also pioneered what we now recognise as the efficient, simple modern aesthetic. As an avid botanist he was inspired by forms in nature and could also beautifully integrate the aesthetic styles from many periods and cultures, including the arts of Japan.

With so much to offer the design world it should come as no surprise to learn that he was also in demand as an advisor to manufacturers, an author and a teacher. Christopher Dresser is a champion of modern design who revealed a wonderful vision for the future that left contemporaries such as William Morris trailing in his wake. 

The Dream Icons collection includes Christoper Dresser's Alessi 90029 Toast Rack as iconic today as it was in the Victorian kitchen.
 

Jakob Wagner 

As one of Scandinavia’s foremost designers at present, Jakob Wagner creates designs that are innovative, useful and rather beautiful. His wine set is a fine example of his work.

In order to rise to the top in a land where stylish practicality is almost universal, you have to display a distinctive edge. For Wagner, a skillful play of opposing visual expressions such as organic/geometric, symmetric/asymmetric etc has created a distinctive and highly desirable design language.

The popularity of his colourful Menu propeller trivet is testimony to his ability to create designs that are stylish and functional.

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.jakobwagner.dk
 

Alessandro Mendini 

There are few arenas of the design world that haven’t felt the impact of Alessandro Mendini. As an architect, artist, designer, theorist, journalist and design consultant - it is a wonder there are any jobs left out there for anyone else.

This modern day Design Godfather has also played a crucial role in Alessi’s evolution into the design powerhouse that it has become. The Alessi Peyrano Chocolate Box being a fine example of one of his striking designs. Mendini adds a sense of artistic flair to the functionality of a product, his Alessi Parrot Corkscrew like many of his designs stands out from the crowd and makes you wonder why this form and function had not been combined before. The results are intriguing, frequently iconic and almost always desirable.

To learn more click on the following link:

www.ateliermendini.it
 

Mario Botta

Most high-profile designers like to explore other avenues of design and frequently this only serves to highlight their limitations.This is not the case for supremely talented Swiss architect Mario Botta.

The effortless ease with which this world renowned designer can move into the area industrial design displays immense ability. Botta creates essentially modernist designs that have a wonderful cohesive quality. His general emphasis on craftsmanship and geometric order result in designs that stand the test of time. The Alessi Tua Pitcher is a timeless Botta classic, its quality and sophistication has earnt it a place in the Alessi Premier Range

To learn more click on the following link:

 Nanny Still (1926-2009)

Nanny Still was one of the spearhead generation of designers from Finland who appeared after the Second World War with such sensational debuts and went on to become eminent ambassadors of Design.

This is a designer that revelled in working in a variety of design arenas, often bringing with her inspiring and innovative ideas taken from nature.

Very few designers can match Nanny Still’s ability to bless her designs with an intrinsic aesthetic balance and sublime tactile qualities. Her playful feminine design language also brings a sense of fun and optimism that has contributed to her designs possessing a timeless quality that make you smile when you see them.
 

The Dream Icons collection includes designs by Nanny Still such as the beautiful and captivating Iittala Mango Cutlery Set.  
 

Stefano Giovannoni

An explosive creative talent whose designs frequently capture the attention of the public and win over their hearts. Giovannoni is Alessi’s ‘Golden Boy’ and his impressive portfolio ranges from product design to architecture.

He has many memorable designs to his credit for various high profile companies. It is a testament to his skills that he can glide effortlessly from creating a sleek piece of modernist design to producing an eye catching anthropomorphic piece that brings a sense of fun to a normally mundane kitchen implement.

This is a man that is confident in his abilities and he is not afraid to let people know about it. He remains one of the most prolific and interesting designers working today.

The Dream Icons collection includes a range of designs by Giovannoni such as the Alessiphone a cordless DECT phone, the classic Cico Egg Cup , and Alessi Kitchen and Bathroom Scales.  

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.stefanogiovannoni.it/
 

Ingrid Ruegemer

Ingrid Ruegemer is a multi-faceted designer whose beautiful designs possess sublime tactile qualities and must be held in the hand to be fully appreciated. Her design language is elegant and contemporary, but unashamedly multicultural. She skilfully infuses an appealing feminine softness to the underlying modernist elements of her Teutonic roots.

With an innate flair for design, attention to detail and an eye for quality, Ingrid is able to create designs that stimulate the intellectual, emotion and sensory channels. Her natural and unpretentious manner reveals a character that is as playful and charming as her designs. The Boules Tumblers show this to great effect.

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.absolute-appetite.com/
 

Alvar Aalto (1898-1976)

One of the 20th Century giants of design and a central figure in the development of international modernism. Alvar Aalto fused the naturalism of Finnish romanticism with modernist ideals and the results were culturally electrifying.

As a character Aalto had a certain flair for the dramatic and self promotion. He was fortunate to some degree to be the right man in the right place at the right time and was able to play a significant part in providing a distinctive identity to a newly independent Finland.

Aalto was also renowned for his attention to detail and ability to consider a situation from an empathetic perspective. He was a designer of immense talent and his iconic designs remain as popular and influential today as they were back in the 20th Century.

To learn more click on the following link:

http://www.alvaraalto.fi/indexe.htm
 

Historically Aino Aalto is somewhat overshadowed by her esteemed architect husband Alvar. However, she was a designer of immense talent in her own right and produced a wealth of quality designs ranging from architecture, to photography, to applied arts and industrial design.

Her impressive abilities resulted in her beating Alvar's entry to win the gold prize at the Milan Triennale in 1936 with an innovative glassware collection. This iconic glassware range is still in production today (now bearing her name) by Iittala and reveals the timeless appeal of Aino’s pioneering design principles.

Aino also apparently collaborated with her husband on the design of the celebrated Savoy Vase and her role in the design of the architecture attributed to Alvar Aalto has never been specifically verified. Whatever the truth turns out to be it is clear that behind the great man, there was a great woman.

This was a designer of great vision who was able to help forge a new era of Finnish design by incorporating some of the functionalism concepts in a very individual manner. An honest use of materials and impressive utilization of mass-production processes created harmonious designs that stand the test of time.

The only thing missing from this great designer is a picture of her smiling…