After taking a year out in 2017, HAY returned to the prestigious Milan Design Week this
year with an exhibition showcasing their new collections amid the allure of Clerici
Palace. The Danish design house have become a pioneer of modern living with their
minimal aesthetic, driven by an ethos that quality design should also be accessible.
Housed in Milan’s neoclassical, Palazzo Clerici – dating from the 17th century, Italian
Baroque architecture provided the backdrop to this vast exhibition, covering over
1500m2. The opulent interior décor of one of Milan’s most historic palaces elevated
the modernity of the industrial design on show.
Constantly seeking fresh perspectives, HAY have famously collaborated with some of
the best contemporary designers and brands. This year was no exception as
launches included a range of aesthetic speakers for audio giant Sonos, a satisfyingly
simple oak frame chair from Shane Schneck and colourful bottles for hot and cold
drinks from Memphis Milano original, George Sowden, among the new designs.
Hay for Sonos – Speakers
Bernard Chair- Shane Schneck for HAY
Jessica Hans for Hay
Philadelphia based ceramicist, Jessica Hans’ dreamy new range of ceramic vessels
was the star of the show. With a distinctly experimental and handmade flavour, the
collection is a far cry from Hay’s typically manufactured aesthetic. Instead they
embraced the ceramicist’s wildly organic approach, that sings of craft and the
artisan.
Using materials in their natural state, imperfections and irregularities are
celebrated in this new collection, which includes deliciously tactile stoneware vases
and cups. The designs encapsulate Hans’ abstract decoration techniques and
sporadic use of colour and shape, resulting in a unique product range with slight
differences from each one to the next – something notoriously difficult to achieve
within the traditional confines of industrial design.
Jessica Hans for HAY
By Jennifer Ring
Images: HAY
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