The French designer, Guillaume Delvigne, is just 34 years old but has already been designing products for over ten years. He studied at the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique and the Politecnico di Milano where he graduated in 2002, staying on in Milan for two more years to work along-side George J. Sowden. Settling back in Paris as a freelance designer, he has worked for some seriously big names in the design world, such as Delo Lindo, Marc Newson and Cédric Ragot but has always continued to produce his own designs for a variety of interesting companies from French mail order giant, La Redoute, to Oxyo and Made in Design.
The 'Chapeaux pour vases' concept and a collection of similar porcelain lights from 2004 moved on and resulted in the 'Vase Texturés' series created with Ionna Vautrin in 2006. Photo: Ilvio Gallo.
His collaboration with the highly talented Ionna Vautrin in 2006 on the project 'Vases Texturés' for Italian company, Industreal, was the culmination of many years experimenting with rapid prototyping equipment. The highly textured designs were eventually realised in porcelain thanks to the skills of Chinese porcelain companies and their artisans whose historical knowledge of porcelain was able to translate the design perfectly from the plastic prototypes.
'Vases Texturés' in porcelain by Guillaume Delvigne and Ionna Vautrin. Photo: Ilvio Gallo.
Delvigne also produces limited edition works that to date have been sold through French design galleries, Specimen and ToolsGalerie. Establishing his own studio in 2011, Delvigne held his first solo exhibition at ToolsGalerie and in the same year received the Creation of the City of Paris award - an honour only bestowed on the best French designers including. Inga Sempé.
A sketch for Guillaume Delvigne and Ionna Vautrin's 'Vases Texturés' for Italian brand Industreal released in 2006.
Delvigne's 'Deneb' vase from 2010 is made from mouth-blown glass and turned cork. Specimen Editions Paris. Photo: Gabriel de Vienne
In 2012, the renown French designer, Sam Baron, invited three young architects/designers to reinvent timeless pieces for the French brand La Redoute as part of his Sam Baron + Friends collection. 'Circus' one one of the products put forward by Delvigne.
'Circus' multi-layered coffee table for was released in 2012. Photo Samuel Lehuédé.
Delvigne's work in glass and porcelain accessories during the mid 2000's has diversified over time into a broad range of products for the home - stools, tables, lights and chairs. Most recently he has designed LED lighting for new French brand La Chance. The steel donut shaped lights still have an element of Delvigne's fascination with glass as the design can be dressed with several shapes of glass shade that change the overall look of the light completely.
Unadorned 'Hal' LED pendant lights by Guillame Delvigne for La Chance. Released in 2013.
The 'Hal' pendant lights for La Chance with smoked glass shades attached.
Other recent work includes the 'Bronco' stools for new French brand, Super-ette, launched in 2012 and the 'Henri' chair shown in prototype form at Nouvelle Vague 2 in MIlan in April 2013. These new forays in wood are highly accomplished, practical pieces that use minimal materials. The 'Henri' chair like the 'Antionette' side tables, are a collaboration with Vincent Eschaller.
The 'Bronco' stools designed by Delvigne for Super-ette were first shown in 2012. Photo: Felipe Ribon.
In the table lights 'Aérostat', a delicate wire frame supports large geometric bubble shapes in mouth blown glass . Photo: Samuel Lehuédé.
The 'Henri' chair was designed with Vincent Eschaller and first shown in 2013. Photo: Baptiste Heller
Although Delvigne's studio in Paris remains a small affair with just three designers, the output is growing in regularity and diversity. Definitely a name to watch, Delvigne is poised to make the break from small French brands to bigger global players. His 'Aérostat' light is being released by an Italian company in the near future. Whether working on small accessories or larger furniture pieces, his deft touch creates beautiful individual pieces that combine an admiration of craftsmanship with expressive contemporary form.
'Mirettes' shelves and mirrors in one. Designed by Delvigne for Oxyo 2011.
For an insight into the gentle personality of Guillaume Delvigne, take a look at this video recorded in his studio in 2013.
