25. Julie Richoz

Swiss-french designer Julie Richoz studied at ECAL (where she now also teaches) and set up her design studio in Paris in 2015, following a time assisting designer Pierre Charpin. Whether furniture or design objects, her pieces are characterised by brightness and lightness – Sato praises ‘her unique sense for colour and outstanding details’. In 2019, Richoz won the Swiss Design Award for her commitment ‘to exploring ancient, including extra-european, crafts and integrating them into contemporary object design.’

Recent projects include Shed (pictured), part of the ‘Knit!’ exhibition – Kvadrat’s initiative involving 28 emerging global designers who were invited to create furniture and objects using the Kvadrat ‘Febrik’ textile range. Following research into the history of nomadic structures, she created a work of mini-architecture with the ‘Plecto’ fabric collection, exploring the way textiles can create space and structure.

Throughout her work, Richoz’s strong interest in craft emerges with projects such as the terracotta ‘Giro’ tableware for Trame, or the ‘Noise’ and ‘Stereo’ rugs, both handmade in Morocco by local artisans. She has recently unveiled solid ash bowls for Italian brand Mattiazzi. ‘What interests me is the savoir-faire, the precision in the way materials are employed, and that things are done with passion,’ she says. julierichoz.com