Mullu Coffee Table
DESIGNER OF THE DAY

Designer of the Day: Ian Felton

Ian Felton’s furniture radiates both history and spirit—he creates objects that not only draw from yesterday’s narratives, but are invigorated with whimsical contemporary sensibilities. The up-and-coming product designer, who recently launched his career at Fernando Mastrangelo’s third annual In Good Company exhibition and a larger showcase at Galerie Michael Bargo, summons the majesty of pre-Colombian animism and tinges it with symbolic architectural details that lend each distinct creation a powerful, yet soothing presence.

Ian Felton’s furniture radiates both history and spirit—he creates objects that not only draw from yesterday’s narratives, but are invigorated with whimsical contemporary sensibilities. The up-and-coming product designer, who recently launched his career at Fernando Mastrangelo’s third annual In Good Company exhibition and a larger showcase at Galerie Michael Bargo, summons the majesty of pre-Colombian animism and tinges it with symbolic architectural details that lend each distinct creation a powerful, yet soothing presence.

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

Age: 27

Occupation: Designer.

Instagram: @ian__felton

Hometown: Washington, DC.

Studio location: Williamsburg, Brooklyn.

Describe what you make: I try to create functional art objects imbued with a sense of animism often inspired by ancient cultures. My most recent collection, called KOSA, takes inspiration from pre-Colombian cultures, looking at the details in architecture, ceramics, and symbology. These nascent societies were experts at whimsical storytelling and I try to capture that in an abstract way.

Kosa Chair

The most important thing you’ve designed to date: The Mullu Coffee Table I debuted at In Good Company this year. It was a huge challenge making it as I envisioned, and I feel it most clearly embodies my concept so far. 

Describe the problem your work solves: The problem that most vexes me in the design and art world is disconnect. I’m attempting to make objects with a history, a sense of spirit—non-figurative and abstract but still somehow inextricably linked to our history or emotions.

Describe the project you are working on now: Working on an apartment interior design/full renovation project in Madrid with my wife and a very secret and material development. 

A new or forthcoming project we should know about: I’ll be launching my full collection at Galerie Michael Bargo on Thursday, Sept. 19.

Mullu Coffee Table

What you absolutely must have in your studio: Above all, music. 

What you do when you’re not working: Lately? Still working! There was a time not too long ago that I’d be rock climbing or putzing around in Lower Manhattan and friends’ studios. 

Sources of creative envy: Dead: Osvaldo Borsani, Paolo Buffa, Jean Royere, Andre Borderie. Alive: Vincenzo de Cotiis, Max Lamb, Rick Owens, Guy Bareff.

The distraction you want to eliminate: Instagram…

Mullu Coffee Table

Concrete or marble? Lava rock.

High-rise or townhouse? Townhouse in Southern Europe please.

Remember or forget? Definitely always remember what I forgot…

Aliens or ghosts? Aliens for sure. They’re out there.

Dark or light? Chiaroscuro.

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