Jasper Morrison studied design at Kingston Polytechnic, Surrey, eventually graduating from the Royal College of Art, London. His logical solutions to design problems have set a precedent for functional product design, Morrison holds strong views on the importance of manufacturing costs and use of materials. In his early career, Morrison searched London for small workshops willing to produce short runs of his pieces, then in 1986 he opened the Office for Design, which enabled him to take on industrial commissions. Sheridan Coakley of SCP provided some important assistance. Coakley had started out in the early 1970s trading vintage books and photographs out of Camden Passage, Islington, London, which lead on to dealing in 1930’s tubular steel furniture. Coakley eventually moved on to manufacture modern reproductions of the vintage furniture he had been selling and then, alongside producing individual designs for friends, Morrison was one of the first designers commissioned by Coakley to produce original design for manufacture. SCP would become one of the most important manufacturers of contemporary British furniture. Commission for Morrison from the Italian manufacturer Cappellini and the German firm Vitra followed. Morrison’s pared-down spare designs continue to take industrial design to its logical conclusion.

design influences on the work of Jasper Morrison
Eileen Gray – Jean Prouvé – Le Corbusier – Gerald Summers

some products
Flower Pot Table, 1984
Thinking Man’s chair, 1987
Ply Chair, 1988, for Vitra
Sofa, 1988, for SCP
Three Sofa, 1992, for Cappellini
Glo Ball light, 1997, for Flos
Plan Chest, 1998, for Cappellini
Low Pad Chair, 1999
Air Chair, 2000, Magis
Kettle, Toaster and Coffee Maker, 2004, for Rowenta