Celebrating International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March, we honour the talent of five fabulous female designers, whose magnificent work is available at Viaduct.
NANI MARQUINA
Immersed in a world of creativity from her early childhood, (her father, Rafael Marquina, was one of the pioneers of Spanish design) Nani fostered a deep conviction to follow in the family tradition of design. She founded nanimarquina in 1987, driven by the desire to create innovative rugs. Thanks to her visionary attitude, Nani Marquina collaborates with prestigious international designers including Jamie Hayon, Barber Osgerby and Mathias Hahn to create unique collections, and was the first textile designer to work on the concept of designer rugs.
INGA SEMPÉ
Photo credit: Marion Leflour for Wastberg
Inga Sempé was born in Paris and graduated at Les Ateliers – ENSCI in 1993. She worked with Marc Newson in Paris after her graduation, then collaborated for a couple of years with Andrée Putman. Sempé opened her own studio in 2000 and focuses on furniture design, lighting, objects and fabrics.
She has worked with manufacturers such as Luceplan, Cappellini, Edra, Ligne Roset, Moustache and Gärsnäs. She lives and works in Paris, has exhibited extensively across the world and has a number of international design awards to her name.
W103 Sempé pendant light by Wastberg at Viaduct
NANNA DITZEL (1923-2005)
This visionary Dane and multi-disciplinary designer was at the forefront of design innovation. Nanna studied at the Arts & Crafts School and was responsible for designing a range of products from furniture to textiles, jewellery and household objects. Her legacy is being managed by her daughters: Dennie, Lulu and Vita, with many of her designs currently in production with an illustrious list of manufacturers that include Fredericia Furniture, Yamakawa, Mater and Kvadrat Textiles.
Once such design is the Trinidad chair for Fredericia Furniture. The cutout work on the curved shell back is achieved using precise, computer-controlled CNC cutting, a breakthrough technique at the time of the chair’s production in 1993. Not just a decorative feature, the Trinidad’s cutout back provides ventilation to the body and also allows for excellent acoustics in rooms where sound resonance should be reduced.
Trinidad stacking chair, Fredericia at Viaduct.
SOFIE REFER
Sofie Refer, co-founder Nuura, is an internationally awarded Danish lighting designer whose ethos is rooted in respect for nature and the beauty of simplicity; two of the most valuable qualities in her designs.
The award winning Miira collection is a simple and timeless design. The neatly mouth-blown glass and stylish processed metal give the design balance and depth, while the Optic Clear glass with the unique embossed pattern gives a playful light and a unique atmosphere to the room the lamp is placed in.
The Miira collection is designed with a dramtic chandelier at its centre and expands into a complete series of lighting. The lamps complement each other with individual pendants, drop clusters, table lamps and wall sconces, in clear or opal glass, with each one creating a unique Nordic feel.
Miira pendant, Nuura at Viaduct
CECILIE MANZ
Cecilie Manz lives and works in Copenhagen, Denmark. After graduation from The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and additional studies at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki, she founded her own studio in Copenhagen in 1998.
Cecilie’s designs are characterised by subtlety and a lightness of touch, and she has a commitment to ‘form over function’.
Over the years her contribution to the Nordic design renaissance has been significant. She has worked with Lightyears, Fritz Hansen, Nikari, Fredericia, and Muuto. Her designs can be found in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Design Museum Denmark.
Separat screen for Nikari at Viaduct
All of these designs and many more are available at Viaduct (viaduct.co.uk).