Celebrating Design Couples
Those that share their design passion as a business and in their life together as a couple truly amaze me. Coming from someone who was never able to date another designer for more than a short time, I imagine that these couples must have super powers in understanding. Thinking back to my experiences of stupid fights over which mid-century product was the “MOST” iconic, and other topics that only two designers would bicker over, just drove me insane. That is grossly oversimplifying, of course. I guarantee you will be impressed by these creatives that pair their strengths by day and continue to build lives together outside of the studio. Hats off to you, design couples!
Are you or someone you know a design couple in business together and want to be featured here? Reach out!
Ayse Birsel & Bibi Seck
Birsel+Seck
After running a studio together for over a decade, Ayse Birsel and Bibi Seck were married in 2004. Their New York based business has evolved from its original focus on products and systems, mostly notably their work for Herman Miller. They now offer books, coaching, and workshops on how to take their successful process and apply that to designing your personal or work life with a focus on well-being.
Angie Myung & Ted Vadakan
POKETO
Back in 2003, graphic design student, Angie, and her filmmaker husband, Ted, began holding art shows to sell wallets in San Francisco. Upon their success, Angie and Ted started Poketo (“Poh-Keh-Toe”) and moved their business to Los Angeles. Every day since, Poketo has been manifesting their philosophy “Art for your Everyday” through design-driven lifestyle goods. As partners in life and work, Angie and Ted have continued to promote a creative lifestyle with corporate talks and big brand collaborations like Nike, Target and Coachella. The couple recently launched a book called Creative Spaces which celebrates how people live and work creatively, and inspires other creatives to invest in their own spaces that embody passions of life.
Lella VIGNELLI and Massimo Vignelli
vIGNELLI CENTER RIT
Lella and Massimo Vignelli were an Italian designer couple who made their way to the U.S. early in their careers. After participating in different initiatives and working for multiple companies, they started their studio in 1971, based in NYC. Vignelli Associates was an interdisciplinary design studio, where the creative work navigated through distinct disciplines such as graphic, brand, industrial, interior, and fashion design. Their work and legacy are part of our daily lives - from the brochures at the National Parks (1977), to the Heller dinner and bakeware (1971, 1970), and the subway map in New York City (1970). Following the ethos “Design is One”, the Vignelli couple did work for many important clients such as American Airlines, Casigliani, Knoll, Heller, Xerox, USP, Steelcase, and more. Their legacy is part of many permanent collections, including the Museum of Modern Art, Cooper-Hewitt, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Muses des Arts Decoratifs in Montreal, and Die Neue Sammlung in Munich.
Phnam Bagley and Mardis Bagley
Nonfiction
When you merge their expertise in industries like space architecture, wearables, packaging, and lifestyle products you get a truly unique design studio. In their own words, Phnam and Mardis Bagley describe their work as “[merging] science, technology, business, art, and design to create solutions that put our clients at the forefront of their industries, from healthcare to aerospace to consumer electronics and more.” Married in 2007, this couple worked for many leading design studios before founding their own in 2016. In addition to inspiring their clients, they also enlighten students with their work at California College of the Arts.
Emma Aiston and Daniel To
DANIEL EMMA
Australian industrial designers Daniel To and Emma Aiston founded DANIEL EMMA in 2008. The pair met while studying at UniSA (University of South Australia). After graduation they worked in London for a range of design studios and eventually exhibited at London Design Week. Their studio started by producing small, self-proclaimed ‘crafty’ objects, such as paperweights and stationery organizers, but expanded to include a larger range of work including furniture and installations. In their own words; ‘We look to create the unexpected from simple objects using simple forms, drawing influence and insight from the diverse culture that Australia presents us with. Our designs aim to be ‘just nice.”
Wonhee Arndt and John Arndt
Studio Gorm
Founded in 2007 and located in Eugene, Oregon, Studio Gorm products are inspired by hand craft but realized with experimental construction. They push the boundaries of manufacturing to achieve amazing objects. Wonhee and John Arndt say that their work is “informed by their speculative academic research which explores culture, history and technology and how objects and ideas evolve to fit the needs of modern life.” Beyond their studio life, they are both professors in the Product Design Department at the University of Oregon.
Hale Selek and Erdem Selek
Selek Design
Since their founding in 2016, Selek Design has been “designing everyday objects that are inspired by ordinary, intuitive behaviors in the daily lives.” After pursing undergraduate and graduate design degrees together, the couple gained industry experience in Turkey, Germany, and France, as well as taught design at several leading institutions. Now located in Oregon, they run their private practice developing award-winning household objectives, and continue their academic work in the design department at the University of Oregon.
Grace VAN MEUER and Michael van Meurer
Studio van M
We love that Studio van M says they are “making the world a prettier place through intentional and thought-provoking design for ambitious brands.” This multidisciplinary duo has a gorgeous portfolio of amazing packaging, branding, web, and other graphics related design. The couple also used the renovation of their Florida home as a test bed for influencer marketing through the styled account Collected Eclectic.
Amber EARL and Chris Earl
Earl Home
Looking for original home furniture and decor pieces designed and built in Los Angeles? Chris Earl creates every piece for the Earl Home collection. Wife Amber Earl “does everything else;” an understatement for what is takes to have a successful business! We love this statement from their social media post a few years back: “As a multi racial couple, we have had to have honest conversations about race in regards to what is productive and what is detrimental. Together, and as a business, we strive to stand up for what we believe is right, loving, and ethical. We are committed to pursuing integrity, inclusivity, and generosity. Everything starts with you and I, let’s work together to make things better.”
Aino Aalto and Alvar Aalto
Artek
Aino and Alvar Aalto met when Aino took a position at Alvar’s first business endeavor, an architectural firm. This ultimately led the pair to forge a creative bond that would shoot ripples throughout the world in the form of beautifully designed homegoods, products, and buildings. Aino and Alvar, along with two associates, started the firm Artek in 1935; their goal was to synthesize art and technology to bring ambitious products to the masses.
Anna Castelli Ferrieri and Giulio Castelli
Kartell
Kartell has been a leading symbol of progressive Italian design for over 70 years. Anna studied architecture at the Milan Polytechnic Institute, one of only three women in her class, before going on to found her own independent practice in Milan in 1946. Giulio trained as a chemical engineer under Nobel Prize winning scientist Giulio Natta, where he spent time studying the unique properties of plastic. In 1949 Giulio founded his own company called Kartell, initially as a manufacturer of plastic automobile accessories. Giulio and Anna married in 1960, and each continued to pursue their individual paths. Anna made her first furniture designs for Kartell around the same time, designed in a style that merged Italian elegance and tradition with affordable, durable materials.
Ray Eames and Charles Eames
Eames Office
The headline on their website reads: “The Eameses are among the most important American designers of the 20th century, best known for their groundbreaking contributions to architecture, furniture design, industrial design and manufacturing, and the photographic arts.” Even 80 years after their office was founded, their names are engrained into every American design student foundations of good design. Charles and Ray Eames married on June 20, 1941, and they shortly after moved to California to begin their collaborative design careers. Read more about their legacy here.
nIPA DOSHI AND JONATHAN LEVIEN
Doshi Levien
Doshi Levien is a London based design studio founded in 2000 by Nipa Doshi (b. 1971) and Jonathan Levien (b. 1972). Doshi grew up in India and studied at the National Institute of Design, while Jonathan, who is from Scotland, trained in fine cabinet making followed by industrial design. They met while studying at the Royal College of Art. They have established a strong reputation for creating design that is both technically advanced and imbued with cultural resonance. They have been internationally acclaimed for their work and in 2008 were awarded the prestigious Future Legends of Design by the Cooper Hewitt National Museum of Design in New York. Established in 2000, the studio focuses on the hybrid, exploring the overlap of technology, storytelling, culture, craftsmanship, and industrial design. Its clients include Moroso, Cappellini, Herman Miller, Intel, Camper, and BD Barcelona, Hay, Kvadrat, among others.
SARA CANTOR AND GEORGE AYE
Greater Good Studio
Bringing together researchers, creatives, facilitators and strategists, Greater Good Studio is in the business of design change to the status quo. Three years after marrying, this power couple co-founded their social innovation studio. Their work has included helping to co-develop programs and services with clients, building blueprints for public policy, and developing tools that give more access to targeted communities. Their website is full of project examples showing how they involve stakeholders and user in the development process. This work is truly amazing!
Do you know of any design couples we missed? Tell us more about them in the comments below.