Philippe Malouin: Designer Extraordinaire

In the hotly contended and competitive world of design, Philippe Malouin is a name to watch.

Designer Extraordinaire

With just two small suitcases in his possession, Canadian-born Philippe Malouin moved to London eight years ago. Today, this designer extraordinaire enjoys an enviable and well-earned level of design prestige. Malouin studied for a bachelor’s degree in Design at the highly regarded Design Academy Eindhoven. Following a stint with British designer Tom Dixon, Malouin established his eponymous design studio in 2009. He also leads POST-OFFICE, a London-based architectural and interior design practice that was set up in the same year.

Design Approach

Philippe Malouin approaches design with a view that something should be made to last and serve a practical purpose. In his furniture pieces and objects, Malouin’s understanding of form and the application of material is manifest: his varied works exhibit a clearly expressed geometric dimension that enhances their aesthetic appeal and individuality.

Philippe Malouin: The creative process. Photograph by Sebastian Böttcher via OTHR.

Materials in Philippe Malouin's studio. Photograph by Sebastian Böttcher via Freunde von Freunden. — Materials in Philippe Malouin’s East London design studio. Photograph by Sebastian Böttcher via Freunde von Freunden.

Design is a part of Philippe Malouin’s psyche, stemming from a childhood fascination with building things. Nowadays this translates into furniture design, interior design, installations and experimenting with different materials. In an interview with Freunde von Freunden, Malouin explains: ” A lot of people say you should choose one thing and do it well. But these days, as the world of design is changing, I think it’s best to be good at many different things” (Rowland, 2016). Malouin’s philosophy on the importance of diversity in design is influenced by Charles and Ray Eames. These two prolific designers remain champions of a multifaceted approach to design, their incredible body of work incorporating architecture, art, film, furniture design, graphic design, photography and writing.

Design That Lasts

Like many creative minds, Philippe Malouin finds inspiration in everyday life, the ordinary and the familiar. Something as random as a piece of cast concrete on the pavement might kick off the creative process in his head. Malouin isn’t interested in trends; the voguish nature of many blogs and magazines are not a typical source of inspiration. To his mind, design that is based on the latest craze is transient and will not last. Instead, Malouin will ensure that he genuinely wants something before committing to acquiring it. That same principle applies in his studio where he is selective about what will be made; the studio will usually produce about five products in any one year.

Philippe Malouin in his Hackney design studio. Photograph by Sebastian Böttcher via OTHR. — Philippe Malouin working on the Ace Stool in his Hackney design studio. Photograph by Sebastian Böttcher via OTHR.

We want to take our time designing and decide why we are actually doing things and not rush the process. When something is designed quite slowly over time, that shows up in its appearance and how it’s handled and how it feels, so people ultimately treat it differently

Philippe Malouin’s designs are conceptually brilliant, balancing an aesthetic disposition with functionality and longevity. In a world of consumer excess and irrational buying behaviour, Malouin believes entirely in the permanence of design.