Jamie Hayon’s COLORFUL imagination

Chameleon might be the name most appropriate for Jamie Hayon. This Spaniard has designed everything from restaurant spaces to leather shoes… and just about anything you can imagine in-between. Hayon’s first job was with Fabrica, the Benetton funded design and communications academy based in Italy. Arriving at the young age of 24, Hayon was soon promoted to head the design department… which he did for several years prior to opening up his own studio. Since then, Hayon has won multiple accolades and added offices in Japan and Spain where he continues to stretch the imagination.

Hayon beautifully describes his work, “The sculptures in my work are joyful and positive and inspired by playfulness.” Perhaps it was growing up in Madrid, among the influences of Salvador Dali. Or maybe it was having constant access to Picasso’s “Guernica” at Madrid’s Reina Sofia Museum?

Unique to Hayon is that unlike many others who dream whimsically, he actually has the ability to turn his dreams into reality. His style remains his style… never shifting with the trends of present day.

Last year, Hayon steered himself in a completely different direction with the Stone Age Folk Collection. Assembling sections of quartz material, Caesarstone was molded into stoney faces to form wall hangings, tabletops, and cabinet fronts. This collection was displayed at Toronto’s Interior Design Show. Each unique piece features light and dark tones, some are comprised of brown and beige hues also. The beautiful, flat faces are made up of many smaller pieces of engineered quartz, fitting together as though they’re inlaid.

Hayon’s illustrative style is further showcased in his collaboration with the rug company, Nanimarquina, for their 30th anniversary. Both entities Spanish, the Hayon x Nani Collection features original sketches and illustrations of a wide assortment of unusual creatures, including human figures with animal heads and abstract patterned shapes.

Each unique rug was created using a hand-tufting technique in order to allow the original designs to be closely replicated. The carpets are comprised of roughly 50,000 knots per square meter.

Hayon’s 15-year career has brought about many surprises, along with numerous smiles. It’s the smiles that make Hayon happiest. An explanation by Hayon sums up his designs perfectly, “…Obviously theres a really magical part, which is also the research on the imagination and all the, fantasy behind the work.”