Michael Young | ScandinavianDesign.com

Michael Young is a British industrial designer, born in Sunderland in 1966 and based in Hong Kong since 2006. Often described as a sophisticated minimalist, he has a long relationship with Scandinavian manufacturers, above all Swedese, for which he and Katrín Ólína Pétursdóttir designed the Tree coat hanger.

Background

Young graduated from Kingston University in 1992 and founded Michael Young Studio the following year. Early work was picked up by the Conran Shop and the Centre Pompidou, and for close to a decade he worked between the United Kingdom and Iceland, where he collaborated with the Icelandic designer Katrín Ólína Pétursdóttir. In 2006 he moved the studio to Hong Kong, attracted by the region’s manufacturing and technology.

Design approach

Young questions everyday typologies and habits, and his work combines a pared-down form language with a strong interest in industrial production. He describes his practice as design as industrial art, where close work with manufacturers is part of the idea rather than a final step. His later work blends Western and Asian references.

Designs for Swedese

Tree, a birch coat hanger shaped like a stylised tree, was first shown at 100% Design in London in 2001 and has been made by Swedese since 2003. It has become one of the company’s icons. Young also designed the Lemonade lounge chair, launched at the Stockholm Furniture Fair in 2002, and the Avalon easy chair and swivel chair in 2010.

Designs for Offecct

His first collaboration with Offecct was the Young sofa and easy chair in 2019, an upholstered series for compact urban spaces that he described as an attempt at something Swedish and simple.

Recognition

In 2002 Young was guest of honour at the Biennale Interieur in Kortrijk, a role previously held by Philippe Starck, Dieter Rams and Jasper Morrison. His work is shown in museums internationally.