Steel­wood Stool

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are two of the most prolific and in-demand designers working today, and they continually collaborate with the industry’s leading brands, including Alessi, Cappellini, Ligne Roset, HAY, Kvadrat, and Kartell.

Since 1999, the brothers have jointly operated a Paris-based studio, where they produce office, residential, and outdoor furniture, tabletop accessories, rugs, and much more. As they help move the design industry in new and interesting directions, the Bouroullecs look to varied inspirations from the past. They have cited American designers of the 1940’s and 1950’s and Italian designers of the 1970’s and 1980’s as influences.

The duo is obsessed with material clarity, and they often rely on material to guide the design direction of the piece they are working on. For instance, their Officina collection for Magis is defined by its amazingly delicate wrought-iron supports, while their Slow armchair for Vitra features an unexpected knit sling cover. The Bouroullecs have helped shape contemporary office design with numerous products for Vitra, including flexible Workbays and high-back Alcove seating, that add privacy and noise mitigation to modern workspaces.