Michael Anastassiades
CYPRUS (1967)
Michael Anastassiades’ work, with its focus on proportion and material honesty, celebrates the physical presence and enduring quality of an object. “What makes an object survive time?” he wonders. “Can it become more beautiful as it ages?”
Exploring the juxtaposition between that which is utilitarian in its function but also enigmatic in its presence, Michael centers his design process on bringing a timeless, quintessential quality to everything he creates. He’s also very interested in provoking dialogue and interaction. “Honesty is what I’m after,” he says. “At the end of the day, that’s what makes it desirable.”
Formally trained as a civil engineer at Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine in London, Michael went on to study industrial design at the Royal College of Art. He founded his London-based studio in 1994, followed by his eponymous brand in 2007. In the years since, the company has produced a celebrated and unique collection of lighting, furniture and accessories that demonstrate the studio’s “continuous search for eclecticism, individuality and the timeless qualities in design.”
Anastassiades’ work is featured in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Victoria and Albert Museum and Crafts Council in London, as well as the FRAC Centre in Orleans, France. His pieces can also be found in hotels and restaurants worldwide, including the SoHo House New York and the Grand Hôtel Stockholm.
Exploring the juxtaposition between that which is utilitarian in its function but also enigmatic in its presence, Michael centers his design process on bringing a timeless, quintessential quality to everything he creates. He’s also very interested in provoking dialogue and interaction. “Honesty is what I’m after,” he says. “At the end of the day, that’s what makes it desirable.”
Formally trained as a civil engineer at Imperial College of Science Technology and Medicine in London, Michael went on to study industrial design at the Royal College of Art. He founded his London-based studio in 1994, followed by his eponymous brand in 2007. In the years since, the company has produced a celebrated and unique collection of lighting, furniture and accessories that demonstrate the studio’s “continuous search for eclecticism, individuality and the timeless qualities in design.”
Anastassiades’ work is featured in the permanent collections of MoMA and the Victoria and Albert Museum and Crafts Council in London, as well as the FRAC Centre in Orleans, France. His pieces can also be found in hotels and restaurants worldwide, including the SoHo House New York and the Grand Hôtel Stockholm.