Yves Béhar
SWITZERLAND (1967)
One of the countless magazine articles written about Béhar called him “the multi-disciplinary designer of our time.” His long list of awards includes the prestigious National Design Award from the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian National Design Museum, where his work is part of their permanent collection.
In 2004 he had two solo exhibitions, one at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the other at the Musee de Design et D’arts Appliques Contemporains in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“When working with clients, my philosophy is to connect emotionally through ideas and content rather than style,” says Béhar. “It’s less about this or that aesthetic and more about meaningful conversations where people come to agreement in terms of approach and direction.”
His collaboration with Herman Miller came about through one such conversation. An admirer of Charles and Ray Eames, Béhar decided he wanted to do something for the company himself. “Design is very much at the center of Herman Miller’s culture,” he says. “So one day I just picked up the phone, called them, and said, ‘Let’s work together.’”
Four years later, Herman Miller introduced his two brilliantly innovative lighting products, Leaf and Ardea.
Given the wide range of products he works on, it would seem that Béhar might have a hard time escaping thoughts of design. Not at all, he says. “I have many outside interests that keep me balanced. For example, I love surfing, windsurfing, and snowboarding. So I spend a lot of time in the natural world, too.”
As for his future, Béhar says he’s very content designing products for companies who are “looking for departure, change, transformation. I’m continually excited working with people who want to move forward into the future and onto the next generation.”
From all indications, this is the man who can take them there.
In 2004 he had two solo exhibitions, one at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art and the other at the Musee de Design et D’arts Appliques Contemporains in Lausanne, Switzerland.
“When working with clients, my philosophy is to connect emotionally through ideas and content rather than style,” says Béhar. “It’s less about this or that aesthetic and more about meaningful conversations where people come to agreement in terms of approach and direction.”
His collaboration with Herman Miller came about through one such conversation. An admirer of Charles and Ray Eames, Béhar decided he wanted to do something for the company himself. “Design is very much at the center of Herman Miller’s culture,” he says. “So one day I just picked up the phone, called them, and said, ‘Let’s work together.’”
Four years later, Herman Miller introduced his two brilliantly innovative lighting products, Leaf and Ardea.
Given the wide range of products he works on, it would seem that Béhar might have a hard time escaping thoughts of design. Not at all, he says. “I have many outside interests that keep me balanced. For example, I love surfing, windsurfing, and snowboarding. So I spend a lot of time in the natural world, too.”
As for his future, Béhar says he’s very content designing products for companies who are “looking for departure, change, transformation. I’m continually excited working with people who want to move forward into the future and onto the next generation.”
From all indications, this is the man who can take them there.
Notes
I believe design’s purpose is not only to show us the future, but bring us the future.
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