creative spaces :: michael anastassiades

For the second post in my series of sneaky peaks behind the scenes into the thinking, working, and making spaces of designers, I was lucky enough to be given a rare glimpse into the studio of Michael Anastassiades.

Tube Chandelier, 2002

The Chandelier above, one of the pieces Anastassiades is most well-known for, hangs in the stairwell leading to his living area, above his studio. 

Michael Anastassiades' studio

I was impressed by how tidy everything was! And loved the open shelving full of inspiration items, books, research, material samples, models, works in progress and deer antlers..?

Deer antlers, a gift from a Dutch intern!

Bookshelf displaying inspirational postcard

Just by looking around Anastassiades’ studio, you can see the design process in action, from inspiration to sketch models…

Sketch models

And from material samples (the glass in the centre) to prototypes (surrounding it)…

Silverware

…to final products.

Studio (and design geek!) reflected in gorgeous piece of silverware

It was very exciting to see sketches of products now available for sale. Anastassiades tends to get into modelling quite quickly in the design process, so sketches such as these aren’t in abundance.

Early sketches of the Mobile Chandelier

Michael Anastassiades Mobile Chandelier 1 (Photograph courtesy of Moss Gallery)

It was also great to see models of pieces I’m very familiar with…

Sketch model for Kinetic Light, designed for Norfolk House Music Room, V&A

Michael Anastassiades' Kinetik Light at V&A (Photography courtesy of YHBHS: youhavebeenheresometime.blogspot.com)

…and finally models of products yet to come.

Sketch models of a new product range to be launched at Milan 2011

A massive thank you to Michael Anastassaides for allowing me access to his beautiful studio, to Matthew Dabbs for showing me around and to Richard Maddox for making the introduction. A very inspirational space indeed.

You might also be interested in:

• creative spaces :: bernard leach

Further reading for the especially geeky:

• http://www.michaelanastassiades.com/index_cms.html
• http://matandme.net/michael-anastassiades/
• http://www.londondesignfestival.com/events/michael-anastassiades-kinetic-light
• http://www.designboom.com/weblog/cat/8/view/7751/michael-anastassiades-kinetic-lights.html
• http://youhavebeenheresometime.blogspot.com/2010_09_01_archive.html