Products and their Communication
Giopato & Coombes offers product concept and development services through 3 dimensional research. This research inspired by all walks of life - or more importantly far from the design world - utilises simple modules, either conceptual or actual, to formulate a rational product with a fundamental idea. Our main drive is to enhance function through elegance, for both producer and end user. The aim is for an end user to easily associate with, and in some way be attracted by the object, alongside a simple construction extending current manufacturing materials and techniques.
Towards the end of a products development the discussion and often collaboration enters the next phase of the product's introduction to market, from its packaging to catalogues, website or a trade fair stand. Utilising our methods of product development, alongside technical experience gained during previous collaborations we offer services ranging from art direction to corporate identity.
Biography
Cristiana Giopato (Italian) and Christopher Coombes (English), met at University in London. Both following Industrial Design degrees, Cristiana graduated from the Politecnico di Milano in 2002 and Christopher at Brunel University in 2001. After graduating Cristiana worked for 3 years with Patricia Urquiola on furniture projects for companies such as Moroso, B&B and Driade. And Christopher worked for George Sowden and then Sebastian Bergne, working on products for companies such as Moulinex, Tefal, Epson and Muji.
A selection of their projects include the direction of the exhibition In Dust We Trust with Tomas Ortiz Ferrer and Guillaume Delvigne presented in 2004 which led to the formation of Industreal. In 2005 saw the release of Jonker, a coffee table for Fiam Italia. In 2006 they were selected by Urquiola for the exhibition Promosedia and the collection Beside was presented at Abitare Il Tempo. Throughout this period they have been selected to participate in exhibitions and publications all over the world.
Marco Romanelli wrote this about their work in an article in Abitare:
"They represent a new attitude which unites the young generations and which I believe goes murch further than fashion and style in order to offer a sincere and deep need springing from their souls. I mean that these young people, who grew up in the time of "purer and more severe minimalism", feel the need to rebel, to decorate surfaces, to soften forms, to find a relationship with nature. Their gracefully organic style finds fresh possibilities..."
