Formation

The project draws on several strands of American design history. Formafantasma has often acknowledged an affinity with the Shaker community, as well as with figures such as Frank Lloyd Wright and George Nakashima. Their work forms part of a broader cultural context in which making, material awareness, and everyday use are closely connected. The clarity of Shaker furniture is reflected in the collection’s simple forms and in the use of cherry wood, a material long associated with American cabinetmaking. The pairing of timber with brushed aluminum places this tradition alongside a material more commonly linked to contemporary electronics.

Developed through a dialogue with Friedman Benda, Formation also examines the role of archetypal forms in the domestic environment. Each piece begins with the most basic element of cabinetmaking: the plank. From this simple starting point, the components are assembled into objects that feel both familiar and current. The lighting pieces, for instance, incorporate rectangular LED panels whose proportions recall the screens of laptops and mobile devices. In this way, the project reflects on how everyday objects evolve as new technologies enter the home.

With its restrained aesthetic, the collection proposes a domestic environment defined less by visual statement than by attentiveness to materials, construction, and use. By bringing together historical references, archetypal forms, and contemporary technologies, Formafantasma situates its work within a longer design tradition while continuing to develop its own approach.

Textiles introduce another dimension to the collection. A tablecloth draped over the dining table, a linen shade on a floor lamp, and a chandelier incorporating fabric reference domestic practices that have rarely been central to the history of design. These elements evoke forms of making often associated with household labor such as embroidered linens, draped fabrics, and other small acts of care. Within the collection they appear as quiet details that connect furniture to the routines and atmospheres of domestic life.

Through these choices, Formation draws attention to the values embedded in everyday objects: what is emphasized, what remains in the background, and how both contribute to the experience of living with things. The integration of textiles, wood, and aluminum suggests that domestic space is shaped not only by function but also by memory, maintenance, and habitual use.