JASPER MORRISON, 2024
Book
A Book of Things was first published in 2015, the second volume by British minimalism master Jasper Morrison, following Everything but the Walls.
Thanks to the perfect combination of images and Morrison’s concise descriptive texts explaining the origins of each project, the book follows the most significant moments in the British designer’s career. Page after page, Morrison’s design philosophy and aesthetic ideals become increasingly clear, revealing his views on the role of design and the visual language that best reflects his approach.
As you leaf through the book, you encounter Morrison’s most important projects, like Thinking Man Chair from 1986 that launched his career, and continuing with major designs produced by leading companies he has long collaborated with, such as Cappellini, Vitra, Muji, and Flos. But the book also includes interior design projects and lesser-known yet equally important objects.
From the very beginning of his career, Morrison positioned himself in opposition to flashy, impractical design (in direct contrast to his postmodern peers of the 1990s). Morrison has consistently advocated for useful, clean, and functional products, a kind of design that, thanks to its very qualities, tends to disappear, while creating a particular atmosphere.
In its new expanded edition, A Book of Things includes Morrison’s most recent works, among them a bicycle and the interior of a bakery in Mallorca.
Jasper Morrison
Jasper Morrison is one of the most renowned and influential designers of our time. Born in England in 1958, he studied in London and Berlin, and got in the spotlight with Thinking Man’s Chair in 1986, produced by Cappellini. His contributions to contemporary design have made him famous for his consistency, the clarity of his vision, and a minimalist approach aimed at creating a very specific atmosphere in relation to surrounding objects and spaces.
Morrison has designed extensively for companies such as Vitra, Flos, Cappellini, and Magis, among many others. Some of his bestsellers include Glo-Ball for Flos, the cork stools from the Cork Family series for Vitra, and the Air Chair for Magis. Morrison is also the author of numerous articles and books, including the highly acclaimed Super Normal, co-written with Naoto Fukasawa.
Why the book is interesting
As American curator Alice Rawsthorn writes in The New York Times, “Mr. Morrison has also been free to develop his thinking in his writing and curatorial projects. The design qualities he prizes are evident in the recurring words in the texts in “Thingness” and in his new book: “comfort,” “character,” “functional,” “efficient,” “economical,” “practical” and “no-nonsense.” Anything over-complicated, uncomfortable or egocentric irks him, especially when such traits compromise efficiency. He is equally irritated when new objects are designed to replace old ones without good reason, in part because he often finds inspiration in forgotten or neglected objects.”
This book is a compelling read for anyone seeking to truly understand the work of one of the most important designers of our time, offering insight into everyday objects, often the most understated yet intriguing, through the words of the author himself.
Keep Reading
DETAILS
Lars Müller Publishers
Paperback, 360 pages
978-3037787700
