Bora Collection and Pluto Table by Ben Barber.
Pluto Table at Casa Perfect.
DESIGNER OF THE DAY

Designer of the Day: Ben Barber

A need-to-know name within Vancouver’s burgeoning design sphere, Ben Barber has masterminded a singular, highly focused aesthetic language that is equal parts youthful, adventurous, and irreverent. He thrives on the unexpected by exploring the emotional resonance of color and shape—an ongoing process that has given rise to an exciting foray into lighting that will debut at ICFF.

A need-to-know name within Vancouver’s burgeoning design sphere, Ben Barber has masterminded a singular, highly focused aesthetic language that is equal parts youthful, adventurous, and irreverent. He thrives on the unexpected by exploring the emotional resonance of color and shape—an ongoing process that has given rise to an exciting foray into lighting that will debut at ICFF.

Here, we ask designers to take a selfie and give us an inside look at their life.

Age: 30

Occupation: Designer.

Instagram: @benbarberstudio

Hometown: Vancouver, Canada.

Studio location: Vancouver, Canada.

Describe what you make: Design and manufacture contemporary furniture and lighting fixtures. All my products are based off of collections which can be customized to various finishing options and dimensions, and expanded beyond into commission-based work.

Sanora Side Table by Ben Barber.

The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The Pluto Table. It was the first piece I designed that truly speaks to the ethos of what I want my work to be about. It’s playful, yet refined to the bare minimum. It’s a wonderful reference point to when I found my voice in design and acts as a source of direction for what I want my work to be.

Describe the problem your work solves: By using form and materials, my work gives weight to a space and thus gives you a sense of your own physicality.

Describe the project you are working on now: I have a few! I recently completed a one-of-a-kind chair for The Future Perfect, which is currently showing at their New York City gallery until June 1. I’m launching our first lighting collection at ICFF, expanding our retailer network into Europe, and constantly refining the manufacturing processes within the studio to be as efficient as possible.

Bora Collection and Pluto Table by Ben Barber.
Bora Collection by Ben Barber.

A new or forthcoming project we should know about: Our first lighting collection, called Bora, will launch later this month at ICFF during NYCxDesign. It’s a blend of familiar manufacturing processes paired with explorations into glass blowing and subtle details. The initial launch will showcase a system of pendants: the Bora.6, Bora.2, and Bora.1. Each number relates to the number of luminaires. We’re expanding to sconces and floor lamps in the near future. ICFF opens on May 19, so come say hi at booth 829!

What you absolutely must have in your studio: Gotta have snacks, and by snacks I mean a reliable supply of cookies.

What you do when you’re not working: If you know me, I have way too many hobbies. Cycling in the summer, snowboarding in the winter, or fly fishing in the fall. You may also find me enjoying a glass or two of vino…

Sources of creative envy: Robert Smithson, Oscar Torlasco, Alex Da Corte, Donald Judd, Piet Mondrian, Kwangho Lee, Alma Allen, Stanley Kubrick, Jean-Luc Godard, Gilles Deleuze.

The distraction you want to eliminate: Negative people.

Pluto Table at Casa Perfect.
Spun Chair by Ben Barber.

Concrete or marble? Concrete.

High-rise or townhouse? High-rise.

Remember or forget? Remember.

Aliens or ghosts? Aliens all the way.

Dark or light? You can’t have one without the other.

All Stories