THE MOVEMENT
With speed so highly valued, it might seem surprising that many brands, alongside smaller designer-makers, are embracing the label of slow design. It’s an idea that’s been around for over two decades, under this moniker at least, taking its lead from other ‘slow’ movements. From food to fashion, it’s an antidote to ‘fast’ culture.
Rather than compete (after all, what small business could hope to offer the speed that Amazon does?), slow design puts more sustainable practices front and centre, while also giving designers and makers the chance to engage with people on furnishing a home more reflectively. ‘We put our energy into retraining our customers on how to buy things,’ says Michaele. Understanding the processes used to make furniture or decor, how it’s sourced and transported, and even the nuances of its craftsmanship, generates a new-found appreciation for delivery lead times.
Waiting for something is, after all, never a joy. ‘How do you get people to understand that in that waiting time, there’s all of these things happening, and all of it is worth it?’ Michaele adds. Fortunately, they find, there are people who are happy to wait for something exceptional.
And, it’s not just bespoke makers who are pioneering the slow design movement. Many smaller design brands are taking a new approach to selling online. Take the likes of Mattina Moderna, whose one-off ceramic lamps are made in France, as an example. Instead of keeping a fully-stocked website at all times, designs are released in sporadic drops, meaning that if you want to own one of their colourful designs, you might just have to wait until the next drop when they’re available.
These sellers aren’t offering pre-orders, just a date their new release is going on sale – and even then, you might only get a few days’ notice. This form of slow design comes with an unexpected anticipation and a sense of excitement, a contrast to many of our other purchasing habits. And it reinforces the story that these products are being designed and made by real people.