studio job
Founded by Design Academy Eindhoven graduates Job Smeets and Nynke Tynagel, Belgian/Dutch design company Studio Job crafts stylized home furnishings. While Smeets brings an expressionistic, sculptural approach to the practice, Tynagel imparts a sharp graphic-design sense. Since joining forces in 2000, the pair — whose pieces were once accused of being ostentatious and self-indulgent — have since become celebrated design innovators. Smeets and Tynagel take a uniquely symbolic approach to design; they select archetypal objects such as a candlestick or a bowl and play with scale and materials to create absurdist, semifunctional pieces. Challenging mass production and functionalism, the couple also reaffirms the role of pure artistry with limited editions and sensual materials. The new Paper Furniture line is a collection of elegant tables and chandeliers made entirely of bone-white papier mâché. This collection is an ode to classical style. Having attracted attention at design fairs around the world, Studio Job now works with high-end producers such as Makkum and Moooi.