Authenticity, joy and playfulness are hallmarks of the Vitra Accessories Collection, the growing portfolio of design objects, accessories and textiles produced by the Swiss furniture company. The collection is based on classic patterns and objects conceived by designers such as Alexander Girard, George Nelson and Charles and Ray Eames. In addition to these classics, it also includes pieces by contemporary designers like Jasper Morrison and the Bouroullec brothers.

For the Spring/Summer Collection 2018, Vitra will expand its accessories portfolio with design objects by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Jasper Morrison and Alexander Girard.

Nuage (céramique), Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec, 2018.  The shape of the Nuage vases made its first appearance in the oeuvre of Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec in 2002. Reminiscent of a cloud, it was originally produced as a plastic shelf module that can be grouped into clusters or large-scale configurations. Eight tubular cavities pierce the flat surfaces of the modular element while also defining the form’s outer contours. Over the years, the Bouroullec brothers have varied this shape and repeatedly incorporated it into their graphic work. The Nuage vases in ceramic are elaborately handcrafted, resulting in scarcely discernible differences that make each charming vase a unique object. The undulating surfaces produce an attractive interplay of light and shadow, and individual vases can be assembled into entire ‘cloud formations’.

Trays, Jasper Morrison, 2018.  At first glance, the Trays appear to be simple, flat dishes made of plastic. They were, however, developed by Jasper Morrison as a set of three, in carefully harmonised colours and sizes, in accordance with his ‘super normal’ design philosophy. They can be readily combined, and are also perfect companions for Morrison’s Rotary Tray and High Tray. The understated Trays tidy up any space while also adding a decorative accent.

High Tray, Jasper Morrison, 2018.  High Tray is Jasper Morrison’s further development of an idea that began with Rotary Tray: giving the classic display bowl a contemporary twist. High Tray is a flat plastic dish on a 12 cm high base, in a design and colouring suited to diverse utilisation in a range of settings. It retreats behind the objects it stores, such as fruit, vegetables, sweets or cosmetics, and keeps spaces tidy with an added decorative touch.

Tablecloths, Alexander Girard, 2018. Along with his colleagues Charles and Ray Eames and George Nelson, Alexander Girard was one of the leading figures in American design during the postwar era. While the textile design was the primary focus of Girard’s oeuvre, he was also admired for his work in the graphic arts as well as furniture, exhibition and interior design. Girard brought a sensuous playfulness to twentieth-century design that had been absent from the austere aesthetic of classic modernism. The printed tablecloths were created by Alexander Girard in 1961 for the Textiles & Objects shop (T&O) in New York City.

Metall Wall Relief, Alexander Girard, 2018.  Alexander Girard devoted the same level of attention to every visible surface in an interior. Ceilings, walls and floors were treated with great care and coordinated with the moveable objects in the room. The Metal Wall Reliefs are decorative examples of wall decorations created for The Compound restaurant and his own house in Santa Fe. Selected in cooperation with the Girard family, the motifs are made of robust metal materials.

Embroidered Pillow, Alexander Girard, 2018.  Girard attracted special attention with his interior design of the legendary Miller House, for which he personally selected each individual object. The centrepiece of the house was a so-called ‘conversation pit’, a sunken seating area in the living room, with built-in sofas covered in fabrics by Girard and decorated with embroidered pillows made specifically for this setting. Pleasantly firm and elaborately stitched, the Embroidered Pillows feature attractive motifs that have been chosen by Vitra in cooperation with the Girard family from the vast store of textiles and images created by the designer.