Last week, Serena Borghero, Steelcase director of 360 & Media Communications in Europe, attended Clerkenwell Design Week in London and hosted designer Manel Molina. In her blog post, she shares some of the highlights from Manel’s talk with architects and designers at the event.
When I ask myself what keeps me most engaged at work, I would definitely say it is meeting with inspiring people: a bright conversation around a cup of coffee, a visionary talk that opens my mind, an exchange of ideas with people that have a different point of view. Luckily for me, I had one of those experiences at Clerkenwell Design Week.
Being in London during Clerkenwell Design Week is an experience that gives you “the vibe.” London is a city that is constantly transforming itself in the most magical and exciting ways. But the most wonderful part was the chance to welcome and host Manel Molina from LAM for the day.
Designer Manel Molina with a Montara650 stool at Clerkenwell Design Week 2016.
Manel is one of the most fascinating and visionary designers I’ve had the chance to meet at Coalesse over the years. In collaboration with the Coalesse Design Group, he designed the new Montara650 seating collection which we previewed in London and which will be available to order in North America in just a few short weeks. This collection is a manifesto of his design philosophy: “a silent design in a world that shouts.”
While other designers make powerful and strong personality statements with their beautiful objects and explorations, Molina focuses on the user as a human being and designs solutions that allow for an easy, intuitive and emotional connection. Shapes that are rounded and not aggressive, that are reminiscent of the human body, encourage a connection with the product. Like a human body dressing up for different occasion, product versatility allows the customer to select colors, textiles, heights and other options, creating a more personal object.
Flying back from London after Clerkenwell Design Week, I can only say that I feel lucky to belong to an organization that inspires me and give me the chance to be at the heart of “the vibe.” In a few weeks, I will be heading to NeoCon in Chicago: what can I expect next? Stay tuned to find out!
