Fascinated by the concept of hiding wealth, Naimanan explores a new austerity in design – an investigation into aesthetics and materials that celebrates conspicuous abstention. Instead of flashy displays of affluence or excessive consumption, this new direction offers consumers an opportunity to indulge in luxury – but to do so privately.

Born in 1976 in London Khashayar Naimanan started his career, aged 15, as a graffiti artist and photographer before enrolling on the product design degree at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design. It was while a student at the Royal College of Art that Naimanan began his investigations into concealment and disguise by designing garments with pockets that could only be accessed by the user and by melting precious materials into the form of a nail so they could be hammered into the wall and subsequently hidden from view.

His recent collaboration with the venerable German porcelain company, Porzellan-Manufaktur Nymphenburg, extends the concept of concealment while also subverting the accepted traditions of patterned tableware. While the classic Rococo and Empire hand-painted detailing distinguishes the Incognito range as a luxury item, the precious motifs have, however, been deliberately placed on the underside of each piece.

Naimanan lives in London and Munich and is an associate of Kram/Weisshaar. Recent exhibitions include Museum of Modern Art, New York, Israel Museum, Jerusalem, Messe Frankfurt.

© Design Museum

BIOGRAPHY

1976 Born London

1996 Commences BA degree from Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design before moving to Munich where he worked as an apprentice in a metal-workshop

2001 Wins the Blueprint Competition organised by the Vitra Design Museum during MA degree in Design Products Royal College of Art

2003 Joins design firm Kram/Weisshaar and works on numerous collaborative projects out of Munich. Is commissioned to design ‘Incognito’ collection which was produced by Porzellan-Manufaktur Nymphenburg in 2005

2006 Participates in Khashayar Naimanan Vs Arne Quinze, as part of a series of special exhibitions at Messe Frankfurt, The Design Annual curated by Stylepark

2006 Incognito exhibited in Design Museum Tank

FURTHER READING

Visit Khashayar Naimanan's website