The "Du trait à l'objet" (From line to object) exhibition, hosted in the RBC showroom in Paris, showcases the nine-year collaboration between French designer Patrick Jouin iD and Italian publisher Pedrali. Inspiration, idea, design - the entire creative process leading up to the product is presented.
Before the design, there's the personality of the object, the character, the aura you want to give it. When we design a piece, we draw a silent character who changes the mood and atmosphere of a space. By drawing, we give a soul to a functional object, and this personality will then have an impact on the room it inhabits. A chair: cheeky, funny, serious, chic...
Just as important as the first sketch is the creative process, the stages that follow the first sketch, from design to the creation of mock-ups and prototypes, the modifications and tests that make up development through to industrialization and production. This sketch launches the discussion between the editor and the designer, and these various stages feed the project right through to the final object.
This is where the designer's proposal and the publisher's know-how come together to offer a meaningful piece that will leave a lasting impression on individuals and accompany them in their daily lives. The technologies at Pedrali's disposal, in terms of metal, wood or plastic, combined with the use of numerically controlled machines, enable us to push materials to their limits. These technical possibilities are the starting point for every project, and tell the story of what's possible.
Here, the drawing bears witness to a will, a proposal, whether it be a benevolent choice of materials, their consumption, their durability or the very use of this creation. The aim is to create a piece with personality, whose curves, cuts, materials and very aesthetic appeal embody the intention of the designer and editor, and then the will of the individual who chooses it as a witness to his or her daily life, the piece that adds character to a space.
