The French designer, Guillaume Delvigne, is just 34 years old but has already been designing products for over ten years. He studied at the Ecole de Design Nantes Atlantique and the Politecnico di Milano where he graduated in 2002, staying on in Milan for two more years to work along-side George J. Sowden. Settling back in Paris as a freelance designer, he has worked for some seriously big names in the design world, such as Delo Lindo, Marc Newson and Cédric Ragot but has always continued to produce his own designs for a variety of interesting companies from French mail order giant, La Redoute, to Oxyo and Made in Design.
His collaboration with the highly talented Ionna Vautrin in 2006 on the project 'Vases Texturés' for Italian company, Industreal, was the culmination of many years experimenting with rapid prototyping equipment. The highly textured designs were eventually realised in porcelain thanks to the skills of Chinese porcelain companies and their artisans whose historical knowledge of porcelain was able to translate the design perfectly from the plastic prototypes.
Delvigne also produces limited edition works that to date have been sold through French design galleries, Specimen and ToolsGalerie. Establishing his own studio in 2011, Delvigne held his first solo exhibition at ToolsGalerie and in the same year received the Creation of the City of Paris award - an honour only bestowed on the best French designers including. Inga Sempé.
In 2012, the renown French designer, Sam Baron, invited three young architects/designers to reinvent timeless pieces for the French brand La Redoute as part of his Sam Baron + Friends collection. 'Circus' one one of the products put forward by Delvigne.
Delvigne's work in glass and porcelain accessories during the mid 2000's has diversified over time into a broad range of products for the home - stools, tables, lights and chairs. Most recently he has designed LED lighting for new French brand La Chance. The steel donut shaped lights still have an element of Delvigne's fascination with glass as the design can be dressed with several shapes of glass shade that change the overall look of the light completely.
Other recent work includes the 'Bronco' stools for new French brand, Super-ette, launched in 2012 and the 'Henri' chair shown in prototype form at Nouvelle Vague 2 in MIlan in April 2013. These new forays in wood are highly accomplished, practical pieces that use minimal materials. The 'Henri' chair like the 'Antionette' side tables, are a collaboration with Vincent Eschaller.
Although Delvigne's studio in Paris remains a small affair with just three designers, the output is growing in regularity and diversity. Definitely a name to watch, Delvigne is poised to make the break from small French brands to bigger global players. His 'Aérostat' light is being released by an Italian company in the near future. Whether working on small accessories or larger furniture pieces, his deft touch creates beautiful individual pieces that combine an admiration of craftsmanship with expressive contemporary form.
For an insight into the gentle personality of Guillaume Delvigne, take a look at this video recorded in his studio in 2013.