George Sowden is a British industrial designer and product developer based in Milan, Italy. He studied architecture in the UK but ventured into product design when he moved to Italy in the 70s and eventually became one of the founders of the postmodern design collective Memphis Group, which had a significant influence on the design aesthetics of the ‘80s.
Memphis introduced radical new concepts for furniture, ceramics, and textiles that challenged the Modernist austerity at that time through their use of unique shapes and proportions, bright colors, and unconventional materials. Eclectic and elegant, Sowden’s designs were focused on objects for the home and everyday life that challenged the standard notions of objects and function. After Memphis broke up in 1988, Sowden continued producing works at his own firm Sowden Design and has since worked with companies such as: Alessi, Pyrex, Swatch, and Tefal.
One of my favourite works from him is his collection with HAY. HAY is a Danish brand which aims to bring Danish furniture design of the fifties and sixties back to the modern day and into contemporary culture.
I was initially drawn to his works because of his understanding of colour and geometric shapes and ability to use these elements to create highly tactile pieces that possess a sense of elegance. From the whimsical and chaotic to the more sleek and minimalist, his products are not limited to scale, function or form. More importantly, they reflect his constant desire and commitment to improve the functions of everyday life through design and use of objects. But what I admire most about George Sowden as a designer is his staying power. With a career spanning almost five decades, he has managed to remain relevant and evolve despite the challenges. As a design student, he serves as a reminder to me to continue to push the boundaries and grow with each project that I embark on.
References
George J. Sowden | Biography | People | Collection of Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. (2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://collection.cooperhewitt.org/people/18047289/bio.
George Sowden – Designer – HAY. HAY. (2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://hay.dk/en/footer/about/designers/details?name=GeorgeSowden.
George Sowden. George Sowden. (2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://www.georgesowden.com/.
George Sowden talks to Mette Hay about his designs for HAY. HAY. (2020). Retrieved 17 September 2020, from https://hay.dk/en/news/hay-in-the-world-2018/behind-the-brewing-with-george-sowden-and-mette-hay.