This past weekend saw the second edition of the much-anticipated Design Shanghai. This year’s forum boasted an impressive list of speakers, including headliners such as Patricia Urquiola, Stefan Diez and Matthew Hilton, as well as André Fu, who came to Design Shanghai shortly after being crowned Designer of the Year at Maison & Objet Asia in Singapore earlier that week.
It wasn’t only the acclaimed names that drew the crowds, but also native Chinese design studios who showcased surprising design concepts alongside global, top-tier brands. Here are three Chinese design brands that caught our eye at the fair:
ACERA
The wares on offer at Acera, a company founded by potter Yu Chuming three decades ago, embrace traditional ceramic-making practices that date back to the Tang dynasty and apply them to new, contemporary forms. The Back to Back collection sees the brand combine unfinished wood with ceramics to striking effect.
EY PRODUCTS
Founded by a young design duo in 2010, EY Products focuses on creating striking and contemporary gifts and homewares inspired by classic Chinese designs. We particularly love the desk tools made from resin and handpainted trays (seen here) as well as the contemporary objets crafted from wood with etchings that capture abstracted classical landscapes.
MZGF STUDIO
MZGF Studio, founded by designer Zhao Lei in 2010 in Hangzhou, is all about wood furnishings. Its designs are streamlined and zen, abandoning all additional ornamentation in favour of putting the spotlight on the integrity of the material.
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