Designers come to the table

Tableware? A formidable playground for designers and artists of all stripes, who are free to let their creativity run wild. Whether it's a question of imagining decors or questioning uses, tableware houses turn to these creative experts, relying on their sharp eyes and fertile imaginations... Wouldn't they have the capacity in-house? Of course, but calling on an outside viewpoint gives us the opportunity to look at things differently, to question what already exists, to take a step to the side. It's also, more simply, the opportunity to benefit from the creativity and talent of an artist, whether painter or draughtsman, photographer or visual artist...

From small brands to major names in the sector, and even mass retailers, everyone is now claiming "their" collab... Some with a long-term approach and an impressive catalog of collaborations, others with "capsule" collections and other limited editions.

The interest is not just one-way. Designers, too, see advantages in these proposals: for them, it's a chance to experiment with a new material, to test the limits of both their own and those of the brands that place their trust in them. In a word, to experiment. The result is always creativity, and sometimes daring. And for our tables, everyday or festive, the promise to astonish and to tell ourselves that pleasure is as much in the plate... as the plate itself!

• Serax pushes the limits

Paola Navone, Vincent Van Duysen, Frédérick Gautier, Béla Silva, Ann Demeulemeester... There's no end to the number of collaborations with the Belgian manufacturer, which gives designers carte blanche to imagine shapes and patterns in the material of their choice. Working with well-known and lesser-known designers is a fundamental Serax trait," explains Axel Van Den Bossche, co-founder and CEO of Serax. Because we like diversity, we don't lock ourselves into a particular style. We're open to suggestions, to all types of creators: designer, architect, fashion designer, chef, illustrator... What interests us? That these artists bring their own universe to the table, and push us to go ever further in our collection design techniques."

• Bernardaud, the house of artists

In 1995, Bernardaud opened its tea room and asked designer and interior architect Olivier Gagnère to imagine Bernardaud "Galerie Royale", a service that is now one of the company's best-sellers. This was followed by "Ithaque" and the "Irazú" cup, now adorned with new decorations. This collaboration is just one example of the creative galaxy of the company, which was founded in 1863. Artists from all horizons are regularly invited to create decorative objects and tableware: Jeff Koons, Sophie Calle, JR, 5.5 designers, Joy de L'Hermite, Zemer Peled, Subodh Gupta... A veritable institution in the world of tableware, Bernardaud also has an institute and its own corporate foundation, which promote creativity and the intelligence of the hand.

• Gien plays the eclectic game

The Gien earthenware factory, founded in 1821, made a name for itself by supplying the tables of Europe's aristocratic families in the 19th century. Some fifty designs adorn its earthenware, created by the company itself, but also by artists from a variety of backgrounds and arts: photographer Georges Carillo and his black-and-white animal visuals for "Chambord", designer Agathe Charlot and her "Bagatelle" floral service... After her carte blanche for the factory's 200th anniversary, alongside other artists, the fashion designer and her "Bagatelle" floral service are now on display.fashion designer Yaz Bukey imagined the "La Favorite" service, based on an Ottoman story about the love affair between a turtle and a tulip in the gardens of the sultan's palace...

• Revol claims creativity

Since 1768, the family-run company has been involved in tableware. Working with designers such as Noé Duchaufour-Lawrance, Lucas Frank, and more recently Ferréol Babin, has become second nature. I'm passionate about creation and design, and I think we're good at implementing the strategy we like," says Revol CEO Olivier Passot. For a manufacturer like ours, with over 250 years' experience and a wealth of expertise, calling on designers is a way of experimenting, questioning uses, developing textures and finishes... We like to work with people who have an interest in materials, who question manufacturing methods, who challenge what we've learned... This is what allows us to assert that creativity is at the heart of our DNA."

• Alessi, the dream factory

In 2021, the Italian manufacturer celebrated its centenary in style, offering its fans "Values Collection", a 12-act series of reissues and limited editions showcasing the brand's values. Beyond this event, design is deeply rooted in the brand's DNA, and has been since day one. Alessi is a wellspring of creativity, innovation and assertive impertinence. This is undoubtedly what enables the brand to attract the greatest names: Alessandro Mendini, Jean Nouvel, Philippe Starck, Marcel Wanders, Patricia Urquiola, to name but a few...

• Degrenne signs a master stroke

A bit of an underdog on this subject, but what a performance! Degrenne doesn't accumulate collaborations, but it does have a prestigious one with Philippe Starck. The story began with "L'Économe" cutlery and utensils, and continued with "Les Acolytes". The idea? "In Tokyo, I got into the habit of buying the bowls I use every day. This simplicity allowed me to reduce the volume of useless objects. "Les Acolytes" takes up this principle: stackable containers that can be used from the oven to the table, in which you can eat, and which then go into the fridge with a lid that can be a plate," sums up the designer. Degrenne also called on architect and designer Sylvain Dubuisson, who recently came up with the "SD One" collection, following an initial collaboration twenty years ago.