ALAIN GILLES STUDIO /BONALDO

ALAIN GILLES THE STUDIO

SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Design as a second life. After studying Political Sciences and Marketing Management, Alain Gilles went on to work in the international financial world for 5 years. But one has to live his own life. So, thanks to the moral support of his wife, he went back to studying Industrial design in France.

He opened his own studio in late 2007 in order to pursue his own dreams and develop his personal approach to product design, furniture design, art direction and scenography. He has since started to collaborate with several international editors such as Qui est Paul ?, Galerie Gosserez Paris, Magnitude, O’Sun, La Chance, Evolution, Buzzispace, Casamania and Bonaldo.

Several of his products have been awarded international prices, such as the Henry Van De Velde Label, the Design for Asia Golden Award, The “Red Dot Best of the Best” for the Welded table and the Good Design award for the Big Table.

In 2012, he was named “Designer of the Year”  by the prestigious Interieur Kortrijk Fair.

Born:  1970 in Brussels (BELGIUM)

AWARDS  &  PRICES

• Wallpaper Design Award 2017 (Best New Angles category) for the New BuzziBlinds designed for Buzzispace. 
• Les découverte M&O January 2017 for the kitchen tool collection designed for Evolution.
• HIP Awards Winner, 2016  (NEOCON, Chicago, USA)  in the 'Accessories' product category for the New BuzziBlinds designed for Buzzispace.
• Henry Van De Velde Label, 2015 (BE)  for the Structure sofa designed for Bonaldo.
• IMM Innovation Award 2014 (Cologne, DE) for the Multifonctional BuzziPicnic table designed for Buzzispace (BE).
• Good Design award, 2014  (USA), awarded by the "Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Archiecture and Design" for the Tracks Table designjed for Bonaldo.
• Good Design award, 2014  (USA), awarded by the "Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Archiecture and Design" for the multifonctional BuzziPicnic table collection designjed for Buzzispace.
• BOY Winner, 2014  (USA), organized by Interior Design Magazine, in the "Furniture Contract/System" category.
• Contract Magazine Editor's choice Award, 2014 (USA)  in the 'Collaborative Furniture' section for the BuzziPicnic Table designed for Buzzispace.
• HIP Awards Winner, 2014  (NEOCON, Chicago, USA)  in the 'Collaboration / Large' product category for the BuzziPicnic table designed for Buzzispace.
• HIP Awards Honoree, 2014" (USA)  in the 'Flexible Office Solution' category for the BuzziVille designed for Buzzispace in collaboration with the Buzzispace Design Team.
• ADEX Silver Award for Design Exelence, 2014 (USA) for the BuzziHive designed for Buzzipsace.
• Green Dot Award, 2013, Los Angeles, (USA)  for the Nomad solar portable lamp designed for O'Sun.
• Red Dod design Award - Best of the Best, 2013 (DE)  for the Welded table designed for Bonaldo.
• Henry Van De Velde Public Award, 2012 (BE)  for the Nomad solar portable lamp designed for O'Sun.
• Designer of the Year, 2012 (BE) awarded by the biennale Interieur Kortrijk, the Design Museum of Gent, the Grand-Hornu Image Museum, design September, Knack Weekend magazine & Le Vif Weekend magazine.
• Design for Asia - Golden Award, 2012, (HK)  awarded by the Hong Kong Design Center for the Nomad solar portable lamp designed for O’Sun.
• Henry Van De Velde Label, 2012 (BE)  for the Nomad solar portable lamp designed for O'Sun.
• Henry Van De Velde Label,  2011 (BE)  for the BuzziBooth designed for Buzzispace.
• Good Design Award, 2009, (Chicago - USA)  for the Big Table designed for Bonaldo.
• Fost Plus - Reinventing Packaging Award, 2009 (BE)  for the recycled Translation range designed for Qui est Paul ?.
• Henry Van De Velde Label, 2008 (BE)  for the Tectonic tables designed for Bonaldo.

The “Mass” table collection is a discussion between the visual presence and the actual mass of a product and its different components. It plays on a well-known archetype: the dining table, the stability of which is ensured by a large solid base.

In the case of the Mass table, the base has become a lightweight see-through element while, by comparison, the wooden table top has become a plain visual mass. In this way, the weight and visual weight of the elements have been inversed in comparison to the archetype. This is further emphasised by the visual gap created between the base and the table top thanks to a connecting element.

The architecture of the base is very similar to a “crinoline”, the underskirt invented and used by women in high society in around 1830. But this architecture is also very modern and resembles the “wireframe” structure of a 3D CAD model used by architects and designers. These wireframes are what we designers see when sculpting a design in 3D on the computer. So, in a way, the base is a subtle mix of tradition and modernity.

The production of the metal base relies on the precision of the computer controlled tools (the CNC machines) to correctly bend and cut each tubular part composing the whole and the expertise and ability of the welder who perfectly assembles and finishes them.

As for the wooden table top, although it is more solid than in general, it looks like it is floating and resting on one single point right above the connecting element between the table top and the base.

The end result is a graphic table which has a strong personality but doesn’t take up too much room visually. It is also a table which generates a visual tension and movement as one moves away from or around the table.


www.alangilles.com