COVETED MAGAZINE PAGE 55.
EVENTS //
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR:
RAMY FISCHLER
In his work, Ramy Fischler doesn’t like to repeat himself and his
designs have to make sense. After concluding his design studies
at ENSCILes Ateliers in Paris in 2004, he then went to work with
Patrick Jouin. It was there he started to explore all expressions of
design until he founded his own studio in 2011.
Fischler enjoys questioning the value of a function, he follows
various steps in his creative process to achieve the final result,
including anticipating tomorrow’s behaviour, defining the
reason and use of each project and visualising the environment
where a piece would be effective.
His work is heavily influenced by cinema. He practices design
in much the same way a director would make a film. Fiction
and collaborative work are the twin pillars of his process. The
work he does for private residences and restaurants regularly
give him the opportunity to design his own furniture designs.
Furthermore, he also creates hybrid objects that illustrate his
capacity to blur the boundaries between disciplines.
Ramy Fischler will give the spotlight to the diversity of his
studio’s activities and projects from day to day, offering visitors
a chance to grasp his visionary and holistic approach.
RISING TALENT AWARDS
Lebanon has been the chosen country for this edition’s Rising
Talent Awards. Carlo Massoud, Marc Dibeh, Carla Baz, Anastasia
Nysten, Studio Caramel and Paola Sakr were the six selected
emerging talents that definitely represent the future of the design.
“This new generation shares one common trait: optimism.
At a time when Lebanon is facing grim prospects and facing
challenges to solve its problems, these young designers produce
pieces that express happiness.” – Cherine Magrabi (founder of
Lebanese design platform House of Today)
Carlo Massoud started his solo career in 2014 by showing his Dolls
project at the Carwan Gallery. Through an artistic approach, his
work is best defined by a balance between functional design
and art, while also having a social and political statement.The
Beirut-based designer, Marc Dibeh opened his own studio back in
2009 and, since then, he has been exhibiting his work all around
the world, including in Paris, London and Miami. He gives great
importance to creating something that has a story while also
keeping that same interior or product timeless and simple.
Calling on the expertise of Lebanon’s most experienced artisans,
Carla Baz’s handcrafted furniture reveals the beauty of fine
materials, examples of such are her designs of the Hay bench and
the Borgia candelabra.
In 2015, Anastasia Nysten established her own design studio
specialised in furniture and interiors. Scandinavian comfort with
a bold aesthetic is one of her major trademarks. Through this, she
is systematically pushing formal research beyond the classics.
Using natural materials is quite important to Nysten.
Studio Caramel is comprised of Karl Chucri and Rami Boush,
who first met when they were studying interior design at the
Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in Beirut. They created their
studio in 2016 and their creations are often shaped by a specific
context without ever compromising on the furniture’s capacity
to decorate a room. Paola Sakr’s versatility for multidisciplinary
has allowed her to completely satisfy her taste for innovation
and her curiosity, which are actually the basis of her projects.
Everything she creates has a story behind it. Her approach
is consistent with the original function of product design,
establishing a “collaboration with the world”.
These emerging creators are indeed a representation of the
future of Lebanese design, a new generation that has followed
the footsteps of their ancestors by putting their international
experience to the service of local, usually little-known
manufacturing techniques. During Maison et Objet, each
designer will showcase their extraordinary work.
The world’s most beloved tradeshow is the perfect stage for
industry professionals and design enthusiasts to discover new
trends and expressions in a multitude of sectors. Each year, Maison
et Objet promises and delivers a creative and diverse space replete
with uniqueness and business opportunities, and the September
edition of 2018 will be no exception.
