This picture was taken in a Muji store in London. It was a small display of a set of spaceships sold in a bag for kids. I took the picture without thinking much about it, but when I look at it now it seems beautiful and charming. Beautiful for the combination of materials, colours and shapes. The natural wood combined with white black and grey paint is undeniably effective, unexpectedly rich and somehow reminds me of Jean Arp. And charming for the absurdly simplified forms which nevertheless provide a remarkably atmospheric impression of a space scene, easily capturing our imagination in the way all good toys do. A masterpiece of improbable merchandising!
British designer Jasper Morrison (*1959) is regarded as a pioneer of "New Simplicity", advocating a more humble and serious approach to design. The fundamental principles presented in his 2006 exhibition “Super Normal”, created in collaboration with Japanese designer Naoto Fukasawa, attracted a great deal of attention.
