North European design has been on the rise in Asian countries for many years now. Design Stories set on a quest to find out why. We had the honor to chat with Asian creatives who shared with us their favorite pieces of European design. In this story, we meet creative directors Joy Loo and Khoo Kean Hu from the design agency WAFF.
ESTABLISHED IN 2013 by Joy Loo and Khoo Kean Hu, WAFF is a multidisciplinary design practice based in Singapore. The creative director duo strives to create holistic, functional, and consistent environments through the means of dynamic research and design. Joy and Kean selected the All Plastic Chair by Vitra as their design pick. The chair was created by the British designer Jasper Morrison whose simplistic style is strongly influenced by Scandinavian design traditions.
Hi Kean and hi Joy! Could you share with us a bit about how you were first introduced to Vitra?
“We both came to know about Vitra through the years of working in the design industry as interior and architectural designers before starting our own firm. Travelling also did play a part in helping us become familiar with the style of the brand and what it carries, especially through the various collaborations it has.”
As designers, are there any personal philosophies that steered you to purchase Vitra's All Plastic Chair?
“Our design belief is to keep our design spatially coherent and pure while letting the furniture curate the ambiance of the space. Likewise, it is also our approach to our selection of furniture.
That is why we purchased the All Plastic Chair. The whole design structure and form is kept simple and clean. With the fluid nature of plastic, the shape of the chair is molded with a subtle curvature that is comfortable for one to sit and lean on. The color is also one of the reasons why we choose it. The shade of green seems perfectly apt with the aesthetic and vibe that we wanted in our home.”
Could you provide us with some styling tips or settings would you advise on pairing the All Plastic Chair with?
“This unique hue of green is a great pair against earthy solid colored or wood grain furniture, which makes it a versatile piece to be added in any home. For us, it also helps to bring a pop of color to our current set of home furniture.
Besides styling it with plants, we would also recommend using it as a side table that can be casually stacked with books or used for displaying personal items.”
“The green All Plastic Chair helps to bring a pop of color to our current set of home furniture.”
Do you have any new European design items that you are planning to purchase next?
“We have actually shortlisted the Cork stool from Vitra on our next purchase list. It is a break from the norm and it is a material that we currently do not have in our chair collection.
We often like to experiment with mixing and matching our own furniture with different materials to better understand their characteristics. This not only benefits us as designers but it also helps to push our boundaries when we design for our clients.”
Lastly, could you describe what Nordic design means to you as Asian designers?
“It means designs that can be kept for a long time. Most of the Nordic designs are also adaptable in different environments, in particular to the different types of spaces that we create as designers. Even with a plain white canvas space, the products are able to fit perfectly.”
See also:
• All Plastic Chair >
• All products by Jasper Morrison >
• WAFF on Instagram >
Text: Melissa Tsang Images: Khoo Guo Jie and Vitra