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SAM HECHT & KIM COLIN
London-based studio Industrial Facility was co-founded in 2002 by designers
Sam Hecht (born in 1969) and Kim Colin (born in 1961). Their approach reflects both
a thoughtful consideration of form and a unique understanding of contemporary life,
creating beauty out of utility in the products, furniture and exhibitions they design.
Hecht, from London, trained as an industrial designer, while Colin, from Los Angeles,
trained as an architect; together they have helped clients to produce projects that
display an understanding of cultural relevance and commercial success.
Hecht and Colin’s desire is to work for industry in a way that improves the things we
live with. Not setting out to produce something different but rather something better,
they aim to design things that will last, be effective and give satisfaction often beyond
what is called for by the product and the client. Industrial Facility is considered as one
of the most progressive studios in product, furniture and exhibition design. With a
roster of pioneering clients, including Muji, Herman Miller, Emeco, TAKT, Epson
and Wästberg, they are regarded for both their philosophical and pragmatic approach.
Their work is included in permanent collections worldwide including Victoria & Albert
Museum, MoMA, SFMoMA, Cooper Hewitt, The Art Institute of Chicago, Centre
Pompidou, and The Design Museum, London.
KONSTANTIN GRCIC
Konstantin Grcic (born in 1965) was trained as a cabinet maker at The John Makepeace
School for Craftsmen in Wood before studying Design at the Royal College of Art in
London. Since setting up his own practice in 1991 he has developed furniture, products
and lighting for leading design companies. Today, Konstantin Grcic Design is based
in Berlin and is active in several fields ranging from industrial design projects, design
editions, exhibition design and collaborations in architecture and fashion.
Among his producers are Artek, ClassiCon, Flos, Flötotto, Kettal, Laufen, Magis,
Mattiazzi, Muji, Mutina, Nespresso, Plank, Serafino Zani and Vitra. From the fashion
and lifestyle sector, Audi, Hugo Boss, Issey Miyake, Prada, Rado and smart/Daimler
are some of his clients.
Grcic has worked with various intuitional clients such as the Venice Architecture
Biennial, the Musée des Art Décoratifs (Paris), the Istituto Svizzero (Rome), the Fonds
national d’art contemporain (FNAC), the Serpentine Gallery (London), the St. Etienne
Design Biennial, the Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein) and the MUDAM
(Luxemburg).
Many of his products have won international design awards, such as the Compasso
d’Oro and the German Design Award in Gold.
The world’s most important design museums (including MoMA, New York/Centre
Pompidou, Paris/Die Neue Sammlung, Munich) have included his designs in their
permanent collections.
In 2009, Grcic has been appointed as Honorary Royal Designer for Industry by the
Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA /
UK). Since 2020, Grcic holds a professorship at the Hamburg University of Fine Arts
(Hochschule für Bildende Künste) and has been appointed member of the Academy
of Arts (Akademie der Künste), Berlin in 2021.
JASPER MORRISON
Known for his ‘Super Normal’ approach to design, Jasper Morrison looks to find the
exceptional in the world of the ordinary. He is a firm believer that design should have
an almost invisible presence in the end product and that an atmosphere of naturalness
in things is more important than a designer’s signature.
Born in London in 1959, Jasper studied design at Kingston Polytechnic, the Royal
College of Art and Berlin’s HdK. In 1986 he opened his Office for Design in London,
from where he continues to design furniture, lighting, tableware and everyday
products.
