Working in a pair, London-based designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien are in a position to distil their distinctive design sensibilities right into a unified language that merges their worlds. This harmonious duality is what attracted Giulio Cappellini, who has recognized the designers for over a decade. ‘I’ve all the time admired the magnificence and class of Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien’s design,’ he says.
‘I used to be with Nipa on a design jury in Belgium and we considered creating an armchair with enveloping shapes: this grew to become “Capo”, a seat that absolutely displays Jonathan’s design rigour and Nipa’s subtle consideration to element,’ he provides.
Right here, as a part of Giulio Cappellini’s visitor editorship of Wallpaper* October 2023 (additionally together with interviews with Barber Osgerby and Patricia Urquiola on Cappellini, and Cappellini’s imaginative and prescient for the interiors of tomorrow), the designers inform us about their collaboration with the design visionary, and the way it has helped type their studio’s path.
Doshi Levien and Cappellini: interview
Jonathan Levien and Nipa Doshi with the ‘Capo’ chair
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Doshi Levien)
Wallpaper*: How did you meet Giulio Cappellini?
Doshi Levien: We [Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien] met Giulio round 2009-2010, after we had been each jury members for a design award. For somebody who is likely one of the most necessary figures in design, we had been struck by the humility with which Giulio invited us to create a bit for Cappellini. You’ll be able to think about, as upcoming designers, how thrilled we had been on the prospect of collaborating with him.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Doshi Levien)
W*: What did you most take pleasure in about working with him?
DL: We love Giulio’s belief in creativity and the design course of. Our first presentation to him was a full-size cardboard mock-up of the ‘Capo’ chair. We bear in mind him sitting on the mock-up and deciding to provide the chair. He is ready to visualise a design simply by taking a look at a easy sketch or mannequin. It’s very satisfying to work with somebody who could be very open to new concepts and never mounted on a singular method to what’s good design.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Doshi Levien)
W*: How has your collaboration with Cappellini helped form your profession?
DL: Giulio Cappellini, together with Patrizia Moroso, had been the primary two actually influential commissioners of design to collaborate with us. We couldn’t have requested for higher champions originally of our design profession to provide us the chance to create experimental and iconic items.
W*: What’s your imaginative and prescient for future landscapes in personal and public interiors?
DL: We think about that, sooner or later, each private and non-private interiors will turn out to be extra radical, iconic and experimental.
doshilevien.com
A model of this text seems within the October 2023 concern of Wallpaper*, accessible in print, on the Wallpaper* app on Apple iOS, and to subscribers of Apple Information +. Subscribe to Wallpaper* at this time
Supply: Wallpaper
