As a maison, Louis Vuitton has a particularly longstanding relationship with art and design. From collaborations with some of the world’s preeminent contemporary artists including Takashi Murakami, Richard Prince, Henry Taylor, and Liu Wei, to the design of The Fondation Louis Vuitton building in Paris by renowned architect Frank Gehry, Louis Vuitton has always been committed to merging the worlds of art, fashion, and design in exciting and ever-evolving ways. Since 2012, Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades—a capsule collection of curated furniture and objects– has been inviting renowned and emerging designers from around the globe to collaborate on one-of-a-kind, artisanal products: From lighting to vases, from screens to swing chairs, all items are beautifully crafted, incorporating LV’s signature leather.
This past December, during Design Miami, Louis Vuitton presented its latest Objets Nomades collection featuring the work of the Campana Brothers, Marcel Wanders Studio, Raw Edges, Studio Louis Vuitton, and Beijing-based designer and creative director, Frank Chou. Chou’s offering—his Signature Armchair and Sofa inspired by terraced fields in China—is his debut for the initiative, as well as the first Objet Nomade specifically designed for exterior use.
The colorful floating structures are covered in Louis Vuitton’s iconic waterproof canvas and “Brio,” a colorful fabric by Paola Lenti. With its arched free-standing design, the Signature chair recalls the architectural work of both Bauhaus and Mid-Century Modern masters, while existing within its own complete universe. It’s futuristic in execution, current in design, and of the past with its curved linear lines and playful expression.
“What attracts me is the perfect balance between taste and life, history and dream, craft and modernity in Objets Nomades,” says Chou. “One of the first inspirations is that we were thinking about China’s influence on our daily life, including our society, environment, culture, history, and nature. Therefore, at that time, terraced fields in China attracted me and stuck in my mind.”
Chou grew up in Beijing, China, and founded Frank Chou Design Studio, a studio rooted in Chinese modern design expression, there in 2012.
“As a designer from China, we definitely have a different cultural background, and we seek to think about our identity further in this project,” he says. “However, the true spirit which I think we all have in common, regardless of regional culture and background, is that we have an outstanding attitude towards life.”
Chou’s “responsible design” speaks to his belief that designers “have a duty to lead, teach and fight for what is right—and a better future.” That’s why Chou and his eponymous studio have won several high-profile design prizes and continue to forge out a design ethos, completely their own. If the Signature Chair is any indication of the innovation of Chou and the spirit of Vuitton’s Objets Nomades exploration of design talent and curiosity, we can’t wait to see the next offering.
