Boutique Design - June 2016 - 84

The French broThers have evolved into two of the

most high-profile industrial designers in the world since
they joined forces in the late 1990s. They've been widely
described as the most promising designers to have
emerged from their native country since Philippe Starck,
but that celebrity status poses new challenges. "The
problem is that we're becoming specialists and I don't
like specialist work," says Ronan (right). There's no object
he doesn't want to design, and says he values the fresh
perspective "being naïve and not knowing about a
subject" can offer.
To Erwan, the duo's reputation has expanded their
leverage. Defending ideas and making blue sky concepts
a reality is easier than it was early on. "Being well known
gives you more power in a way, but you have to be super
careful with this power," he explains. "Sometimes it's
amazing, and sometimes it can get disgusting."
To them, the process is not about taking a different
approach to contract and residential products or determining what's on-trend, but rather connecting with
the object they're creating on an elemental level. "A
good designer is like a good actor: he's always himself,
but also different depending on the type of movie,"
says Ronan. "Our aesthetic changes, of course, but
depending on the subject."
WHAT'S WRONG WITH TODAY'S DESIGN CONCEPTS?
RONAN: Design is more and more linked to this notion

of fashion, which for me is the most terrible thing.
The question of design is how to create a long-lasting
object-how to produce an object that, because of its
strength and how it is designed, can have a long life,
and consequently reduce the quantity of things that
are produced just to have them. The goal is to want to
have this piece with you-you don't want to put it in the
garbage or give it to your neighbor because you're happy
with it and you like it.

SIBLING SUPERSTARS
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec share lessons
learned during their 15-year rise to stardom.
InTerVIeW bY chrIsTInA Green

84

boutiquedesign.com jUNE 2016

are not telling the truth about what they are. Something
that's super important to the design practice now is
to make sure you're doing your best to help people
understand what they have in front of them. It doesn't
mean people will comprehend everything, because some
parts of the process are too complicated. But at least
give an object the shape that the material wants to have,
so the user can figure out what the material is. Try to
make the elements visible so that people understand the
stability and construction. That is the design language
we need to speak. 
For more from BD's interview with the Bouroullec brothers,
visit boutiquedesign.com.

COUR TE S Y OF S TU DIO BOUROULLEC

ERWAN: I feel like all around us we see products that



http://www.boutiquedesign.com http://www.boutiquedesign.com

Boutique Design - June 2016

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Boutique Design - June 2016

Boutique Design
Contents
From the Editor
In This Issue
The Buzz
Heroes and Mavericks
Game Changers, Part 1: No Speed Limits
Game Changers, Part 2: Soft Focus
Game Changers, Part 3: Six Stars
The Curation Quotient
Products: Lighting
Products: Floorcoverings
Exit Interview
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Boutique Design
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Cover2
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 1
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 2
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 3
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Contents
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 5
Boutique Design - June 2016 - From the Editor
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 7
Boutique Design - June 2016 - In This Issue
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 9
Boutique Design - June 2016 - The Buzz
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 11
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 12
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 13
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 14
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 15
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 16
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 17
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 18
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 19
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 20
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 21
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Heroes and Mavericks
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 23
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 24
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 25
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 26
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 27
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 28
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 29
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Game Changers, Part 1: No Speed Limits
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 31
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 32
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 33
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Game Changers, Part 2: Soft Focus
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 35
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 36
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 37
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Game Changers, Part 3: Six Stars
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 39
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 40
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 41
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 42
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 43
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 44
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 45
Boutique Design - June 2016 - The Curation Quotient
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 47
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 48
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 49
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 50
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 51
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 52
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 53
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 54
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 55
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 56
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 57
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Products: Lighting
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 59
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 60
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 61
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 62
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 63
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 64
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 65
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 66
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 67
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 68
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 69
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 70
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 71
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Products: Floorcoverings
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 73
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 74
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 75
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 76
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 77
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 78
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 79
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 80
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 81
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 82
Boutique Design - June 2016 - 83
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Exit Interview
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Cover3
Boutique Design - June 2016 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/boutiquedesign/201903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/boutiquedesign/20190102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20180708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201806
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201805
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201804
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201803
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20180102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201706
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201705
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201704
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201703
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20170102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20160708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201606
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201605
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201604
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201603
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20160102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20150708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201505
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201504
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201503
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20150102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20140708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201406
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201405
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201404
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201403
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20140102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201306
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201305
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_201303
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20130102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20121112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20120910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20120708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20120506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20120304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20120102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20111112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20110910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20110708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20110506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20110304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20110102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20101112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20100910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/emerald/boutiquedesign_20100708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20100506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20100304
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20100102
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20091112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20090910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20090708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20090506
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_200903
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/BMG/boutiquedesign_20090102
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com