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The Essence of the 21st Century

Beatrice de Lafontaine – When Objects Work

Business/ Media/ Entrepreneur

Originally working as a ‘finisher’ for a selection of high-profile architectural projects, Beatrice de Lafontaine would, in her past life, add the finishing interior touches to brand new buildings. It was through this process that Lafontaine began to realise the limitations of the objects she would place in the spaces she was assigned. Eventually growing dissatisfied with their impracticality, Lafontaine responded by doing what any self-respecting creative would do, and set up her own company. When Objects Work is an entrepreneurial scheme, designed to produce specially commissioned objects in direct response to the actual requirements of working designers and architects. Her collaboration with British architect John Pawson, threw up a couple of Lafontaine’s most famous pieces – low-stacking cooking pots and a bowl that can roll in any direction and stay put thanks to the ingenious aid of some sand inside the rim. It is down to her innate interest in necessity over frippery that Lafontaine can now be held responsible for the production of some of the most beautiful and practical objects around today. Necessity, as they say, is the mother of invention.

www.whenobjectswork.com

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Judges

Hussein Chalayan

Artist and designer Hussein Chalayan has been exploring radical new ideas for nearly two decades; he will be looking out for those who are pushing boundaries just as he has cross-fertilised fashion and technology to dramatic effect. After nearly 15 years in the business, the British Turkish/Cypriot designer has exhibited everywhere from Paris's Musée de la Mode to Selfridge's store windows.

www.husseinchalayan.com

Jennifer Woo

As president of the Hong Kong-based department stores Lane Crawford, Jennifer Woo has redefined luxury retailing. Still in her twenties, Woo has transformed the 154-year-old store from frumpy to fabulous in the space of 18 short months at the helm.

www.lanecrawford.com

Nick Jones

Nick Jones is the founder and CEO of the Soho House Group, an international brand now synonymous with the highest levels of service and style. Starting with a small chain of London restaurants in the Eighties, Jones now boasts an impressive members club portfolio including Babington house in Somerset, Soho House New York and Shoreditch House in London's East end.

www.sohohouse.com

Pearson Lloyd

Lloyd and Pearson of Pearson Lloyd are one of the world's best respected industrial design team. Known for their award-winning Virgin Atlantic airplane interiors, they have been brought on board by Lufthansa to repeat the trick. One of the few members of the prestigious Royal Designers for Industry, Pearson Lloyd have worked across the board in the fields of furniture, transport design and the public realm.

www.pearsonlloyd.co.uk

Tony Chambers

Tony Chambers joined Wallpaper* as Creative Director in 2003 before being appointed to Editor in Chief in 2007. He has overseen a re-design which included attracting some of the world's most talented photographers and illustrators, as well as taking the magazine onto new platforms including exhibitions, websites and the hugely successful series of pocket City Guides published in conjunction with Phaidon press. Prior to Wallpaper*, he had been Art Director at British GQ Magazine for six years.

Suzanne Trocmé

Suzanne Trocmé's features have graced the pages of Wallpaper* magazine since issue 5, first as a contributor from Paris and America and then based at HQ in London as Architecture and Design Editor for five years before becoming Special Projects Editor. Now as Editor-at-Large, she has had time to pursue a flourishing career as a furniture designer, most notably for Bernhardt Design.