The Dog in the Room
- Ashpreet Khurll
- Nov 12, 2022
- 3 min read
I got inspiration for this piece almost immediately after writing the last one. It is a mix of conversation- a lot about design but also a little about life.
I decided that this week would be a feature of a new gallery and one of its artists I recently discovered on my visit to the PAD Design Fair in London in October. It was one of the earlier exhibits that I came across on the day and I wanted to know more about the designers and pieces almost immediately. It was flamboyant, aesthetically controversial and, of course, completely memorable.
After returning home, I did a little digging into Sarah Myerscough Gallery and the work her company was showcasing. The company described itself as representing 'highly-skilled artist-designer-makers, specialising in material-led processes with a focus on natural material'. It was so intriguing to me that these pieces were somehow produced through an ethical lens; the harsh dark materiality and strong structures were on first glance not leading to this assumption.
In particular - purely because I thought it was cute (makes sense, right?) - the shaggy bench captured my attention. The zoomorphic design appearing to mimic a dog's fur looked immediately fun, playful- random to much degree- but conversational. So many things went through my mind; 'What type of person has this in their house? What type of house has this piece? What is it made from? What is its purpose? Is it function or is it just form?
It doesn't take long to do a google search to fall across its creator - Fernando Laposse. Fernando Laposse is a London Based Mexican designer specialising in product design. Just a sweep through his website and I realised how clever and innovative his work really is; a lot of his projects carry the ethos of sustainable design. He works on this principle in a holistic approach, supporting the environment and the workers involved in the production of the native materials. This particular bench- The Dogs- that caught my attention is made with sisal, a raw fiber from the leaves of the agave plant, native to Southern Mexico. Having recently specified this material- sisal carpet- on a WELL certified project, it was interesting to know the other capabilities of this material and understand its origins deeper.
Laposse's involvement in the harvesting of the plant to the final production where they would then knot the material is commendable. It shows a dedicated focus into global concern for future sustainability and demonstrates that working with such materiality in a range of ways is possible. It even suggests the idea that perhaps when we look for sustainable materials and finishes for products, it's not always about inventing something completely new and relying on technology solutions, but we can look to simpler origins.
I am still not sure the type of person who would have this in their home, but after gaining a new understanding, I hope that the purchasers of this product will also appreciate the story behind the piece. Its production and the way in which Laposse is innovating and encouraging design through a blend of traditional and organic means is significant. There is a cyclical process of giving back to the local people and the planet simultaneously.
When we look for furniture or clothes or products, the aesthetics become the initial- and sometimes only- point of appeal (remember, it was cute, right?). We tend to purchase based on this alone, and whilst in the world of design it remains integral, it is important to not forgot the journey pieces take to evolve into what they stand on display as. The Dogs is definitely a marmite piece in many ways, not everyone will like it or even understand it. However, what it stands for from an innovation perspective has to be appreciated.
It led me to think more about the work we as designers we do, because now we hold a large responsibility for the contribution to our planet's environmental crisis. I am often guilty for caring too much about the response and people's opinions on design decisions, but the truth is, no one will ever always like anything you do. If the story makes sense, we should create spaces and select pieces that tell that narrative and sustainable design is currently a leading motivation. It isn't a fad, it is a necessity It also isn't easy, so when we see work that has this principle at the core of its palette, it is important to be okay with the mixed responses we may receive. Design can only be as engaging as the conversations it starts.
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