Rousseau Design

Who:
Established in 2003 by artist and designer Ben Rousseau (pictured), Rousseau Design specializes in the design and manufacture of products for architects, designers, galleries, marketing agencies, brands and private clients.

Why:
Having initially specialised in lighting-based products and furniture, the practice’s broad portfolio now includes a wide range of bespoke products and installations including a home DJ booth and a teethwhitening kiosk for a shopping centre in Milton Keynes. The practice employs 10 people, including designers, technicians and engineers with an impressive range of expertise, such as automobile engineering, ¬ lm special effects and event production.

Where:
rousseau.co.uk
Working with the concept team at clothing retailer New Look Rousseau Design created four oversized seating units in the shape of high-heeled shoes and two huge handbag chairs for the flagship store in Dublin. The practice also created a bespoke chandelier, made of high-heeled shoes and covered in reflective metallic gems encased in clear acrylic capsules with a mirror ball inside.

Originally created for a club in Azerbaijan, Flock Bubble chair is now available to buy in the UK. Designed to be suspended from the ceiling and suitable for bars and nightclubs as well as private homes, the illuminated colour-changing chair has a sophisticated flock pattern, which is illuminated with 7m of DMX-controlled LED lighting.

Working with architect Ian Douglas-Jones last year to design a room at the Ice Hotel in Sweden, Rousseau Design celebrated the film Tron Legacy. The designers used some eight tones of ice and nearly 200m of electroluminescent wire to create the temporary installation (the hotel is allowed to melt during the summer and built anew each winter).


This article was first published in fx Magazine.








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