Jasper Morrison

Jasper Morrison is one of today’s most influential industrial designers. Born in London, he is renowned for his aesthetically elegant, quietly humorous style and has designed everything from a tray-table to a tram system. In the early 2000s Morrison set up a studio in Paris and proceeded to divide his working life between there and London.

The Jasper Morrison range was launched at 100% Design in 2006. This short dialogue with Robin Levien accompanied the launch:

Robin Levien I am really interested in the concept of ‘Super Normal’ that you have developed with your friend Naoto Fukasawa. Can you explain what ‘Super Normal’ is?
Jasper Morrison Super Normal is the antidote to the over-design of so many of today’s consumer goods. Super Normal tries to put things right by concentrating on the essential purpose of a product, ensuring that it works in the everyday environment rather than in glossy magazine editorial.
RL Was it your intention for your design for Ideal Standard to be Super Normal? If so have you achieved it?
JM By strange coincidence the brief you gave me was for a Super Normal bathroom set. I remember you told me you didn’t want a ‘designer’ bathroom, but something more normal. That’s exactly the approach I have been taking with projects recently.
I’m satisfied that we answered the brief and the design certainly meets the conditions of a super normal project.
RL Where there any particular references you made when you were thinking out your design? Can you remember what
they were?
JM As always a vague memory of all the bathroom products I’ve been acquainted with (if I can put it that way), a basin on the platform at Mestre station in Italy, and a marble sink in a Paris restaurant.
RL What have you learnt on this your first complete bathroom design project?
JM Bathrooms are small and the ways of the plumbing world confounding!