Behind the design: Philippe Malouin

Did you have a specific inspiration for Chop?

A small part of my work as a designer takes part in the art world where I do a lot of experimentation. I work with Salon 94 Design in NYC and The Breeder in Athens. Both galleries allow me to experiment on new works, and often, some of these works can be applied to mass production. In the case of Chop, the exercise was about working with one single steel profile and create a chair out of it.

How important was the color choice for the collection?

Colors are really important, and I can be indecisive when it comes to color. It’s important for a project to have the correct color when they are launched in order to appear contemporary, but I don’t think that design should follow the trends. So it’s about finding the right balance.

How do you imagine people using and living with Chop?

I imagine people using the chair without thinking too much, using it instinctively. The chair is built tough, it’s not delicate. It will never rust as it’s made of stainless steel. I expect people to have fun with it.

What is your usual starting point for designing a new piece or collection?

Every single project is different. Sometimes a company asks us for a specific thing, and we happen to have the specific thing already designed, just sitting on a shelf. Some other projects start from doing months of research and countless sketches. And quite a few others are influenced by the work that I do in the gallery world: a simple discovery by physically making things often influences the course of the design process.

Discover Chop

Chop

• +2

Table Round, Beige

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Square, Black Green

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Round, Ultramarine Blue

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Square, Grey White

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Round, Black Green

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Square, Beige

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Round, Grey White

$1,109

Chop

• +2

Table Square, Ultramarine Blue

$1,109

Chop

• +1

Chair, Beige

$699

Chop

• +1

Chair, Black Green

$699

Chop

• +1

Chair, Ultramarine Blue

$699

Chop

• +1

Chair, Grey White

$699

Chop

• +1

Chair (Set of 2), Beige

$1,349$1,398

Chop

• +1

Chair (Set of 2), Black Green

$1,349$1,398

Chop

• +1

Chair (Set of 2), Ultramarine Blue

$1,349$1,398

Chop

• +1

Chair (Set of 2), Grey White

$1,349$1,398

Chop

• +2

Table Square, Laminate / Stainless

$1,509

Chop

• +2

Table Round, Laminate / Stainless

$1,509

Chop

• +1

Chair, Stainless

$779

Chop

• +1

Chair (Set of 2), Stainless

$1,509$1,558