Rain Café Table

Designer: Studio Tord Boontje

Tord Boontje does not believe that modernism means minimalism. In fact, this designer from the Netherlands is not afraid to celebrate the materials he uses in designs. Sometimes this means creating layers and layers of materials. Boontje is also inspired by nature and emotion. For Boontje, nature seems to evoke feelings of wonder. Boontje's Globe Pendant illustrates this idea of thinking about nature as a wild specimen. Something that even glass cannot control. His designs are meant to stimulate the observer's imagination. It's quite hard to not create a narrative or backstory to some of his pieces.

Boontje does not believe that contemporary designs should abandon tradition. Though Boontje, employs some of the latest technology when fabricating his designs, the materials he uses or designs hold some traditional context. Perhaps, this interest in tradition comes from his background. Born in Enchede, Netherlands in 1968, Boontje studied industrial design at the Design Academy in Eindohoven and went on to earn a Masters from the Royal College of Art in London. Currently, Boonje has set up Studio Tord Boontje in Bourg-Argental, France and teaches at the Royal College of Art. When looking at some of his products, one can almost imagine him wondering through the backwoods of France–making discoveries and feeding his imagination. Boontje was nominated for the Designer Of The Year Award at the Design Museum 2003. Tord was nominated Designer of the Year by Elle Decoration UK and his renowned Garland Light (for Artecnica) won the awards for best light and readers choice for Future Classic.