Grasset François

Had I not been a designer (or architect), I would have been a carpenter, because I love wood and carefully crafting it. But being a designer is even more fulfilling. I stumbled upon the profession by chance during my studies to become an architect, and it was a revelation. Being the source of the design, playing with form, materials, listening to the needs of the users and suppliers is a daily source of joy.

Design Grasset is a recently founded product design studio. It specializes in furniture design and industrial product design.

I believe that design is a sophistication of conception, which means that the creation is no longer improvised or developed according to a one-dimensional preoccupation, as was the case in the industrial era, where the overarching concern was technicity. Indeed, it becomes a process of reconciling every aspect of what defines an object – its technical, aesthetic, usage and ergonomics aspects, as well as the financial, social and, of course, environmental considerations.

I love industrial design. I really enjoyed the process of designing a cargo bike and pencil sharpeners, shoes, and other objects, but my driving passion remains furniture design, in particular armchairs. Seats are the most anthropomorphic object there is – the closest to our bodies, the one that holds them, that takes care of them. It is a print, almost a double of our beings! The seat is like another little person with its own personality and character. Creation becomes a form of birthing, with its difficulties and ecstasy.

As far as I am concerned, furniture design is essentially communication design: the function of seating has already long been fulfilled by existing seats. So why design a new chair? What drives my creations is the need to communicate an emotion, an insight, a seating solution. I especially enjoy when the object becomes a puzzle, a mind game. The object is only interesting when the formal solution communicates elegance, originality, or humour to the mind.

The object must not depart from its nature, which is to serve. Objects are a tool (with the exception of pieces of art). The first virtue of an object is to fulfil its existential function. A chair must be comfortable. What makes a design good, is combining elegance with environmental sustainability, aesthetics, technical and financial constraints, etc.

Of course, the designer has a responsibility to society and must fulfil its aspirations and keep up with its changes. But the newest challenge we are facing is the environment. We must absolutely streamline (if not reduce) our societies’ production. Industrial design can rise to the challenge of making our development respectful of the environment. Indeed, industrial design meets the needs of synthesis, economy and production efficacy.

The tools I use during the design process are a pencil and paper. When an idea comes to me, I very quickly jot it down to capture it and test it. I approve it or I erase it. I make two or three sketches per idea, from different angles. Then, I begin 3D modelling (using Blender 3D, which is open-source software), to create a realistic rendering and plans to show the customer. My sources of inspiration are eclectic. I can draw inspiration from forms in nature, or from cars, sports or fashion… I try to gather inspiration from varied sources. I read magazines (Intramuros, AD, etc.), and blogs (Dezen, Lemanoosh, larevuedudesign etc.).