Designer John Tree sends ideas on a journey

The work of British designer John Tree can be found in the collections of HAY, Muuto, and Nine – and now also in Finnish brand Vaarnii’s product range. For Tree, design is about problem-solving, where ideas ultimately find their own path. Read John Tree’s exclusive interview on Design Stories!

Text: Anna-Kaisa Huusko

JOHN TREE’S FURNITURE and lighting designs embody characteristics often associated with Nordic design: simplicity, functionality, and a touch of warmth. Perhaps this is why so many Scandinavian brands have embraced his work.

Tree has created designs such as the solid wood Earnest table for Muuto, two versatile lighting series for HAY, and the Skinny chair for Nine. Most recently, he has partnered with Finnish brand Vaarnii to design the 018 Hoop Table Lamp.

“I appreciate Nordic design companies for their open-minded approach to new product ideas and their often young, energetic teams. In addition to working with Danish brands, I’m currently involved in projects with Swedish and Norwegian companies, and most recently, with a Finnish brand. The table lamp I designed for Vaarnii was launched in January 2025,” John Tree shares with Design Stories.

Tree often draws inspiration from old, anonymous furniture and lighting designs that have been refined through everyday use. He reimagines these pieces with a sophisticated, contemporary touch.

One example is the popular Apex lamp designed for Danish brand HAY.

“The idea for Apex came from wanting to add adaptability to the traditional clip-on lamp. I designed a simple, gable-shaped shade reminiscent of a house roof, which can be adjusted to different positions, directing light in various ways. We chose bold color tones for the shades to make Apex an interesting graphic element in a room, even when the light is off,” Tree explains.

Another recent project is the Skinny chair for the brand Nine, which reinterprets the classic café chair.

“Cafés often use wooden chairs with curved backrests attached to the frame using visible screws. I wanted to design a modern version of the café chair with a more refined approach to that detail. In Skinny, the backrest supports extend seamlessly into the curve, eliminating the need for screws. I aimed to capture the lightness of a café chair while ensuring ergonomic comfort, as dining chairs are often repurposed as home office chairs,” he says.

TREE FOUNDED HIS own design studio in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2024 that he began working there full-time. By then, he had already built a long and distinguished career as a product designer. He started in the 1990s as an industrial designer at companies like Sony, where he worked on high-tech devices in the company’s London and San Francisco offices.

Through a collaborative project with Sony, Tree met British designer Jasper Morrison, and in the early 2000s, he joined Morrison’s studio. Over the next two decades, he designed a wide range of products, from tableware to furniture.

The idea of starting his own design studio began to take shape through inquiries from his network.

“Designer friends of mine were launching their own furniture brands, and they started asking me if I could design something for them. Initially, I designed furniture as more of a hobby because, quite simply, it was fun. I was familiar with furniture design since I spent much of my childhood in my father’s carpentry workshop, watching him work.

After a few projects, more inquiries began to come in. For a long time, I divided my time between Morrison’s studio and my own projects, until I eventually transitioned fully to running my own studio. Today, I have clients not only from the Nordics but also from the UK, New Zealand, and the United States,” Tree explains.

IN HIS DESIGN WORK, John Tree focuses primarily on furniture and lighting. His extensive experience in industrial design inevitably influences the way he approaches product development.

“I want to understand the manufacturing process, so I always think about how to ensure smooth and efficient production. My work centers on industrially mass-produced items, often referred to as ‘democratic design.’ In my view, it’s far more challenging to design a functional, durable, and affordable table than an expensive, one-of-a-kind piece,” he explains.

For Tree, design is fundamentally about problem-solving. He begins each new project by sketching and experimenting – with a relaxed mindset.

According to John Tree, an idea that reaches production embarks on a journey where it continues to evolve and transform.

“I quickly move on to creating small-scale or three-dimensional models. I think it’s important to live with them for a while because it takes time to truly understand a rough idea. Sometimes, just walking past a model can reveal things that could be improved,” Tree explains.

Throughout the design process, ideas are exchanged and refined repeatedly. However, the nature of the work changes significantly once an idea is approved for production.

“That’s when the idea embarks on a new journey, during which it becomes clear what can actually be realized. Every product evolves during this process, but I believe these production-driven changes always make the final result better and more interesting. I aim to collaborate closely with the production teams and visit the factory whenever possible,” he says.

TREE FINDS IT hard to separate himself from design, even in his free time – except when he’s on his bike.

“I really enjoy cycling! Our house project also keeps me busy: my wife, who’s a photographer, and I built our own home right in the middle of an old industrial area in Walthamstow, London. The house serves as both our studio and our home.

I’m fortunate in that I get to do what I love for a living. Even in my free time, I often find myself sketching. I also enjoy traveling, which, of course, ties back to my work. Traveling often gives me the chance to notice things that inspire solutions to the design challenges I’ve been pondering,” he concludes.

See also:

• More designs by John Tree >

Images: HAY, Nine and Muuto

Published on 28 Nov, 2024