The origins of the two designers Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien could hardly be more different. While Doshi was born in Bombay in the early seventies, Levien comes from a Scottish family.
Both graduated from London’s Royal College of Art with a master’s degree. After graduation, Doshi initially returned to her native India to work on projects with artisans. Upon her return, the two designers married and established a joint studio.
The synergy between Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien, including their diverse backgrounds, defines the duo’s signature. While Doshi’s work is strongly linked to her Indian background, Levien’s past as an industrial designer is equally noticeable in their joint designs.
The influences may sound contrary, but they interweave in the work of the two to create a mix of cultures that combines history, technology, industrial design and craftsmanship in a unique way.
Among the duo’s interesting designs is the “Paper Planes” armchair for Moroso. The idea for it was based on a new textile design in the look of folded graph paper with Swarovski crystals incorporated. The contrast between the mathematical, scientific associations of the paper and the festive, glamorous connotations of the stones fascinated Doshi Levien.
Moroso, an experimental furniture manufacturer, provides the designer duo with the perfect platform for their designs. For “Paper Planes” it designed a check pattern with thin black and white lines, which are also subtly studded with crystals.
It was only on the basis of the fabric pattern that the designers set to work on the shape of the chair. To do this, among other things, they shaped paper printed with the pattern into small planes and subsequently worked out the final design.
