Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby founded their East London studio in 1996, after studying architecture together at the Royal College of Art. For more than two decades their work has challenged the boundaries of design in this country and abroad, while their commitment to lecturing, workshops and studio practice supports the development of new generations of designers.
Barber and Osgerby’s approach is characterised by its emphasis on experimentation and innovation and an exploratory attitude to materiality and colour. From these areas of focus emerge solutions that reflect the close relationship of their work with industrial processes and new technologies, but also its affinities with fine art, illustrated most clearly in large-scale installations such as Double Space (2014) - a series of revolving mirrors suspended from the ceiling of the Raphael Gallery in the V&A - and Forecast (2016) - a wind-powered work installed at Somerset House, as part of the first London Design Biennale.
1
The strength of Barber and Osgerby’s creative partnership has led to collaborations with some of the world’s most progressive companies and a diversity of output that encompasses architecture, interiors, sculpture, product and exhibition design, from the iconic Loop Table (1996) for Isokon and Soft Work (2018) for Vitra, to the 2012 Olympic Torch and a £2 coin commissioned to commemorate the 150th anniversary of London Underground. In 2017 Phaidon published a new monograph - Barber Osgerby, Projects - covering the designers first twenty years of practice.
Amongst many professional accolades, Barber and Osgerby received the Jerwood prize in 2004 and in 2007 were awarded the status of Royal Designers for Industry. In 2013 they were appointed to the Order of the British Empire, for services to the design industry and in 2015 they were awarded the London Design Medal. Examples of their work are held in the permanent collections of the V&A and the Design Museum in London, the New York Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Olympic Museum in Switzerland, the Vitra Design Museum in Germany and The Design Museum, Munich, Germany.
2
In 2001 Barber and Osgerby founded Universal Design Studio to function in parallel with their primary studio. Focused on the fields of architecture, interiors and exhibition design, Universal Design Studio is now recognised as one of the world’s most innovative creative design consultancies. In 2012 the family of Barber Osgerby studios was extended again, with the launch of the strategy-based industrial design consultancy, Map Project Office.
3
- 1. Jay Osgerby and Edward Barber in their London studio / © Jessica Klingelfuss
- 2. South-facing elevation of De La Warr Pavilion featuring the De La Warr Pavilion chair designed by Barber Osgerby, Bexhill-on-Sea, England, 2007 / © David Brook
- 3. Detail of the Barber Osgerby studio / © Barber Osgerby studio
Press
OnOffice Magazine Autumn 2024 features Still Life for Blēo.
09.09.2024
OnOffice Magazine
Azure magazine interviewed Jay about Bellhop Glass, designed for Flos.
01.05.2024
Azure
Monocle interviewed Edward about Largo tables for Marsotto following the collection winning a Monocle Design Award in 2023.
22.04.2024
Monocle
Jay speaks to Surface Magazine about the new Mikado chair for Vitra.
15.04.2024
Surface Magazine
News & Events
06.09.24
Jay presents the Vitra, Mikado chair in Oslo.
22.07.24
Jay visits Lisbon and Porto present the Mikado chair for Vitra.
12.06.24
Edward travels to 3daysofdesign in Copenhagen to host 'Plan Bar' for Fredericia in celebration of the Plan Armchair launch.
05.06.24
Jay visits Montoya, Barcelona to talk about Mikado with Vitra and speaks to students at Elisava Design School.
03.06.24
Jay presents the Vitra, Mikado chair in Antwerp.
22.05.24
Edward joins panel with Becky Sunshine at Luca to discuss the new Mikado chair for Vitra.
17.04.24
Jay joins Monocle discussion 'How do we design for timelessness' at Salone del Mobile 2024. Pinacoteca di Brera at 10:30am.
23.03.24
Edward in-conversation at Japan Creative exhibition stage, Roppongi Midtown, Tokyo
22.03.24
Edward hosts preview of Mikado at Vitra Co Ltd, Tokyo
21.03.24
20.03.24
Jay hosts preview of Mikado at Stoll Forum, Cologne & Frick, Frankfurt
19.03.24
Jay hosts preview of Mikado at Minimum, Berlin & Punct, Hamburg
19.03.24
Jay joins the 2024 Dezeen Awards judging panel
Awards
2024
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Surrealist Furniture - Winner: Tortello
2024
EDIDA – ELLE Deco International Design Awards, Seating - Winner: Tortello
2024
Design Guild Mark, Lighting - Winner: Hotaru Mini
2023
Createurs Design Awards, Best Design Collection - Winner: Signals
2023
Monocle Design Awards, Finest Table - Winner: Largo
2023
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Clean Living - Winner: AXOR One basin mixer in ice
2023
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Reissue - Winner: Special Edition Tobi-Ishi
2022
Design Guild Mark, Furniture - Winner: Smalto Table Low
2022
Design Guild Mark, Lighting - Winner: Hotaru
2022
Design Guild Mark, Jonathan Hindle Prize - Winner: Hotaru
2021
The 2021 Esquire Home Design Awards, Furniture - Winner: Smalto table
2021
iF Design Awards, Product - Bathroom - Gold Award Winner: Axor One Select Basin Mixers
2021
Monocle Design Awards, Most Sustainable Design - Winner: Tip Ton RE
2021
Design Guild Mark, Furniture - Winner: Smalto Table
2021
Living Etc Style Awards, Accessories, Tableware Collection - Design Icon - Winner: Olio
2021
iF Design Awards, Product - Bathroom - Winner: Axor One - Showers
2021
iF Design Awards, Product - Bathroom - Winner: Axor One - Basin Mixers
2020
Design Week Awards, Furniture - Winner: On & On seating family
2020
Core77 Design Awards, Furniture & Lighting - Winner: On & On seating family
2020
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Dinner Guests - Winner: Smalto table
2019
LIT Awards, Portable Lamps - Winner: Bellhop lamp
2019
Archiproducts Awards, Finishes - Winner: Primavera tile
2019
Design Week Awards, Furniture Design - Winner: Soft Work system
2019
Core77 Design Awards, Furniture & Lighting - Winner: Bellhop lamp
2019
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Reflective Space - Winner: Lane
2019
ELLE Decoration British Design Awards, Outdoor - Winner: Brea
2017
German Design Awards, Excellent Product Design, Office Furniture - Winner: Pacific chair
2017
Iconic Awards - Winner: Tibbo furniture family
2017
Core77 Design Awards, Furniture & Lighting - Winner: Pacific chair
2017
German Design Awards, Excellent Product Design - Bath - Special Mention: AXOR One - Thermostats for concealed installation
2016
Red Dot Awards, Product Design - Winner: Axor One
2016
iF Design Award, Interior Architecture - Winner: Double Space installation
2016
iF Design Award, Product - Winner: Axor One
2016
ELLE Decoration International Design Awards, Bathroom - Winner: Axor One
2016
Homes & Gardens Design Awards, Furniture - Winner: Collector Cabinet
2016
Homes & Gardens Design Awards, Bathroom Design - Winner: Axor One
2015
Design Week Awards, Best Furniture Design - Winner: Mariposa sofa
2015
Design Week Awards, Hall of Fame - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2015
Panerai Official London Design Medal - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2014
ADI Compasso d'Oro Award - Winner: Tobi-Ishi table
2014
ELLE Decoration International Design Awards, Designers of the Year - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2014
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Folk - Winner: Bell lamp
2014
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Room Mates - Winner: Mews tile
2013
Maison et Objet, Designers of the Year - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2013
German Design Awards - Winner: Tip Ton chair
2013
D&AD Awards, Yellow Pencil - Winner: 2012 Olympic Torch
2013
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Dining Table - Winner: Tobi-Ishi table
2013
Design Guild Mark - Winner: Tip Ton chair
2013
Order of the British Empire (OBE): Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby
2013
Design Guild Mark - Winner: Knoll Sofa collection
2013
Institution of Engineering Designers, Chairman's Award - Winner: 2012 Olympic Torch
2012
Design Museum, Designs of the Year - Winner: 2012 Olympic Torch
2012
Design Museum, Product Design of the Year - Winner: 2012 Olympic Torch
2012
The World Technology Awards, Design - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2012
D&AD Awards, Yellow Pencil - Winner: Tip Ton chair
2012
Icon Magazine Awards, Design Studio of the Year - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2012
ELLE Decoration British Design Awards - Winner: 2012 Olympic Torch
2012
Conde Nast Traveller Innovation & Design Awards - Winner: 2012 Olympic Torch
2012
Design Week Awards, Furniture - Winner: Tip Ton chair
2011
The Chicago Athenaeum, Good Design Award - Winner: Tip Ton chair
2011
FX Design Awards, Product of the Year - Winner: Tip Ton chair
2009
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Floor Lamp - Winner: Tab lamp
2008
Wallpaper* Design Awards, Best Domestic Product - Winner: Bottle table
2007
Royal Designers for Industry: Barber Osgerby
2007
ELLE Decoration Magazine, Designer of the Year - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2006
Design Basel/ Miami, Designers of the Future - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2006
Red Dot Awards, Best Product - Winner: Zero-In table
2006
Homes & Gardens Design Awards - Winner: Zero-In table
2005
Blueprint Magazine Awards, Furniture Designer of the Year - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2004
The Jerwood Applied Arts Prize for Design - Winner: Barber Osgerby
2004
Design Week Awards, Best Furniture Design - Winner: Portsmouth Cathedral choir stalls
2003
FX Design Awards, Product of the Year - Winner: Stella McCartney tile
2003
ID Magazine Design Awards - Winner: Stella McCartney tile
2001
Victoria and Albert Museum Design Awards - Winner: Home table
1998
ICFF Editors Award, Best New Designer - Winner: Barber Osgerby