Every time we go into a MAISON&OBJET fair we know we’re going to be provided the opportunity to meet and see first hand the work of seven up-and-coming names in the world of design. For the first MAISON&OBJET AMERICAS we will be able to discover the works of : Lukas Peet from Canada, Leo Capote from Brazil, Cristian Mohaded from Argentina, Casey Lurie from the eastern half of the U.S., Max Gunawan from the western half of the U.S., David Pompa from Mexico and Ramon Laserna from Colombia. Lets get to know a little bit more about them going into this event that will grace beautiful Miami Beach for the first time, you can catch it from the 12th up until the 15th of May.
Leo Capote – Brazil
For nearly sixteen years, Leo Capote has been searching for alternative uses for objects that are made for other purposes. Industrialized objects perform specifi c functions and are designed based on ergonomic principles — they adhere to technological and formal requirements, and are made of various materials, different fi nishes, and produced by a variety of manufacturing processes. These objects become raw material for him. They lose their original function and are transformed to serve another system and perform different functions. This is his way of thinking about objects. A former employee of the Campana brothers, Leo today stands as one of the most promising designers in his country.
Cristian Mohaded – Argentina
Christian Mohaded is an Industrial Designer born in the Argentinian country side and graduated from the National University of Córdoba. Shortly after this he moved to Buenos Aires and formed the Mohaded Studio and Design Workshop.
Today Cristian Mohaded is a prolific product and interior designer and art director, and is conceived as a benchmark for Argentinian Design. He is devoted to developing and designing products for national and international companies and has projects to his name for private clients and premium brands such as Roche Bobois, Gallery Serge Bensimon, Habitat and La Redoute. Nationally, he designed for Voila BA, El Espartano, Arquimadera, La Feliz, Imdi Lighting, Malba, Masisa, Inconcrete, Fog Concept, Y111 and Solantu, among others.
Luka Peet – Canada
Lukas Peet left his native Canada in 2005 to attend the prestigious industrial design program at the Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands. After graduating at the top of his class in 2009, Lukas returned to Canada and founded Lukas/Peet Design, which is active in the fields of product design, interior design, graphic design and public space. His work has been published and exhibited internationally, including his first solo exhibition recently at the Design Exchange in Toronto. Lukas received the inaugural RBC Emerging Designer Award in 2014. He lives and works in Vancouver. Manufactured by Umbra Shift, AND light, Roll & hill…
Max Gunawan – USA West Coast
Max Gunawan spent 10 years as an architect before launching Lumio, named one of the “Top 10 Most Innovative Crowdfunded Companies” by Entrepreneur magazine in 2013. His work employs minimal and clean- line design, creating modern lighting systems with the simple goal of giving people the freedom to experience beautiful lighting wherever they are. The studio is focused on multi-functional, everyday objects that are simple, intuitive and beautiful. The Lumio brand creates modern lighting systems with the simple goal of giving people the freedom to experience beautiful lighting wherever they are. Max has been covered by numerous publications from the Wall Street Journal to the SF Chronicle. Currently based in San Francisco, Max is looking forward to launching two brand new products at MAISON&OBJET AMERICASin May.
David Pompa – Mexico
Born to an Austrian mother and a Mexican father, David Pompa was raised in both countries, and maintains interdiscipliary design studios in each. He received his Master of Arts and Design degree from Kingston University in London in 2008, where he continued to work, but his strong bond to Mexican culture brought him back to open his first store in Mexico City in 2013. The idea to work with traditional materials began with a trip to Oaxaca in 2009, where David saw artisans working with “Barro Negro” for the fi rst time. His commitment to the rich heritage and remarkable craftsmanship of Mexican artisans has required a rethinking of traditional processes, challenging the boundaries of culture, product and materials. Combining innovation with a passion for exceptional quality drives the collection. To rethink and reinvent Mexican artistry is the ever present and underlying inspiration for all of his designs, fi nding an unexpected magic in traditional materials when combined with modern techniques and fresh ideas.