The French brothers Ronan (b. 1971) and Erwan Bouroullec (b. 1976) are among the most famous names in contemporary design. The duo founded their shared studio in Paris in 1999, and their wide-ranging body of work extends from furniture and lighting to textiles, ceramics and spatial design.
The Bouroullecs’ design is characterised by a pared-back design language, a subtle use of materials and an interest in the relationships between space, objects and people. They have collaborated with brands such as Vitra, HAY, Flos and Magis.
Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – reformers of French design
Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are French designer brothers working in Paris, whose collaboration has shaped the field of international design since the late 1990s. Ronan studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, while Erwan studied at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Métiers in Cergy-Pontoise.
The brothers began working together in 1998. The following year, they founded their shared studio in Paris, which operates in close interaction with both industry and the cultural field.
Spatiality as a starting point
The Bouroullecs’ design brings together clean lines, a subtle handling of materials and an interest in how objects structure the interaction between people. The brothers’ work is not limited to individual products; it is marked by a strong spatial way of thinking.
The Bouroullecs are known especially for their long collaboration with the Swiss Vitra, for whose collection they have designed numerous office and home furnishings. They have also collaborated with HAY, Flos, Magis and Kartell, among others.
Success around the world
The Bouroullecs’ work has been widely seen in international exhibitions, and it belongs to the collections of the MoMA in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Art Institute of Chicago, among others. Their work has been honoured with several international awards, such as the London Design Medal in 2014 and the Compasso d’Oro in 2022.
In 2023, the brothers moved to working independently, but their shared body of work still forms one of the most significant in contemporary design.
Who: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
- French designer brothers Ronan (b. 1971) and Erwan (b. 1976), originally from Quimper in Brittany.
- Founded their shared studio in Paris in 1999.
- Design products, furniture, spatial solutions and architecture, and undertake art projects.
- Among the most famous names in contemporary European design.
- Notable products: Palissade outdoor furniture (HAY), the Steelwood and Oficina chairs (Magis), the Slow Chair and Belleville chairs (Vitra), Kaari shelves (Artek).
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