Emmanuelle Moureaux

Designers to watch

Born in France in 1971, Emmanuelle Moureaux initially studied architecture and qualified in 1995. The following year she moved to Tokyo, where she still lives and works.

Her practice spans interior, furniture and product design, as well as architecture, undertaking both personal projects and a range of commissions for a variety of clients in retail and educational spaces, including Issey Miyake and Sugomo Shinkin Bank.

The inspiration she finds in her adopted country of Japan is evident in much of her work, in subject and concept.

Her 'Shibafu table' uses 56 slender colored acrylic sticks, embedded randomly into a piece of transparent acrylic to create a landscape reminiscent of a colorful shibafu or lawn. The sticks support a transparent acrylic panel, while refracting and reflecting light as if they were soaking under water.

The 'Puzzle Box' is inspired by 'sageju' or Japanese tiered lunch boxes. The parts in this small storage unit can be arranged freely like a three-dimensional puzzle.

Fundamental is 'Shikiri', a colorful partition series which literally means "dividing space with colors" in English. Moureaux attempts to use colours as " three-dimensional items, like layers, in order to create spaces, and not as an element applied at the end of the design process to decorate the space".

Moureaux won the Tokyo Design Tide 'Best Installation Award' in 2005, the 'Best Store of The Year' in 2007 and 2008, the Honk-Kong Perspective magazine's special feature '40 under 40' in 2007 , the 'CS Design Prize' in 2009. She is also associate Professor at the Tohoku University of Art & Design.

For more information visit Emmanuelle Moureaux

Emmanuelle Moureaux: 'Sticks' for Issey Miyake

Emmanuelle Moureaux: 'Sticks' for Issey Miyake

Emmanuelle Moureaux: Shibafu Table

Emmanuelle Moureaux: Puzzle Box