Michael Anastassiades originally launched his eponymous lighting brand in 2007 at Maison&Objet so it’s fitting that 2020 will see him return as Designer of the Year.
In his work, the Cypriot designer uses simple shapes and volumes – a sphere, a line, a circle – to create a rich language where uncertainty and imbalance are embraced. The illusionary simplicity of his designs is a labour of love, and not something easily achieved. In his view, designers are there to create relationships and interactions between people and objects.
After training as a civil engineer and taking a master’s degree in industrial design at the Royal College of Art, the Cypriot designer founded his studio in London in 1994 and his own brand in 2007.
Although best known for his lighting, he has designed with the same rigour and clarity in all
fields: furniture for the likes of B&B Italia, Herman Miller, Cassina; drinking glasses for Lobmeyr; speakers for Bang & Olufsen; a public project in Mint Street, London; a drinking fountain for the Victoria & Albert Museum.
Michael Anastassiades believes that to design a light, one first has to embrace darkness: he sees no need to turn night into day. Lights for him are a source of warmth, and what fascinates him most is the glow. When designing a light, he takes into consideration that a lamp is off 80% of the time, so he takes the time to figure out the relevance of the object when switched off. In his vision, a lamp is never an isolated object because it has to interact with its environment.
He was drawn to lighting early on, for its poetic qualities. Starting his own brand gave him
the chance to test the boundaries and design without compromises.
At Maison&Objet in January 2020, Anastassiades wants to offer an experience. For the very first time, all 16 of his Mobile Chandeliers, will be showcased together: in the dark space, the lights, propelled by motors, will move as if planets.
The next Maison&Objet will be held in Paris from 17-21 January 2020. For more information visit maison-objet.com/en/paris
