Essey

From their headquarters in Denmark, Essey creates designs that are based on the natural order of things. In other words, their function is representative of their form, revealing what they're supposed to be used for through their outer appearance. This design philosophy is what Essey founder, John Brauer, has termed Symbolic Functionalism, and it is at the core of every home accessory and furniture piece that Essey designs. Brauer has observed that the design world is not always in harmony with the world of nature, and he has made it his goal to correct this imbalance. That's why the great majority of Essey of Denmark collections reveal their functions at the outset. The plastic Bin Bin Waste Paper Basket and Pen Pen holder point to their connection with paper with a crumpled paper effect. The Illusion tables are draped table clothes reinterpreted in sturdy plastic. These products go to show that, as important as the Symbolic Functionalism philosophy is to Brauer, it's not executed by yelling. Rather, subtle, clever artistry gently suggests an Essey product's purpose, making it as much a pleasure to look at as it is to use.