MOOOI : existential black design

| 26 November 2009 | Objects

Design. What do we consider to be design? My answer would be a combination of: contemplative aesthetics, functionality and the incorporation of original materials. This is MOOOI.

Since April 2001, Moooi has inspired many and challenged the rules of traditional design. The company was founded by Marcel Wanders and Casper Vissers, who both decided the interior design world, was ready for ‘Moooi’. The intricate couple; Wanders, a self-taught obscure designer and the more extrovert design enthusiast, Visser, completely found each other. Their ‘affair’ resulted in one of the most innovative design projects, we have seen in years.

The collections, which change every year are balanced in such a way, that they seek to include both the functional and the aesthetic. MOOOI's designs circle around: harmony, friendship, beauty and creativity. Henceforth, MOOOI aspires to include all these principles in their designs, for us to use, love and observe. In my opinion, one of the strengths of the label is their cooperation with international artists, architects and designers. Over the years, the likes of Jurgen Bey, Bertjan Pot, Jasper Morrisson, Ross Lovegrove, Studio Job and Piet Boon, have hand drawn and delivered products under the MOOOI umbrella. The cooperation with other designers has preserved the company from the syndrome of introversion and allowed it to continuously break with traditions and the already 'familiar'.

The essence of MOOOI, is best described, by referring to the words of the founders:

‘‘We all have the need to feel special, to feel unique and important and to know that our life makes a difference. We also feel the need to be connected, to belong to something that is larger than ourselves, to recognise ourselves in others, we want to be part of the team and we want to show this to others’’

Below you can find a selection of pieces we particularly appreciated. They were presented at last years´ Salone di Mobile. Personally, I will be looking forward to see what happens next for MOOOI, when they present their new 2010 design portfolio in due time.

For more information and Sales locations, visit their rather quirky website.