Karen McCartney introduces design duo Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, whose collaboration with Royal Doulton resulted in the covetable 'Olio' collection of serving pieces to mix and match. 

We live in a world of collaborations, some of which are meaningful and successful and others which are just, well, plain weird.

For example I am happy to buy a frying pan created with the input of Jamie Oliver because he seems to be a decent fellow who cares about design integrity. He is a chef with serious knowledge that translates in valuable input. On the other hand, I do not understand why you would want a fragrance created by Paris Hilton, or even David Beckham. To me it just isn't their skill set and despite not being the target market for either I wouldn't see myself buying a flagon of Cate Blanchett scent.

In the world of design there is a great deal of cross-fertilization and when it works it really works. Take design duo Barber Osgerby for example – famous for the creation of the Olympic Torch at the London Olympics in 2012 but actually prolific designers working across a range of high-end furniture brands – Vitra, B&B Italia and Knoll – as well as the design of a permanent gallery at the Science Museum in London. Their collaboration with Royal Doulton is the real deal – a functional everyday range that marries sensible design principles with colour and form. This is on my must-have list (which is quite long).

Here is an excerpt of an interview with Jay Osgerby and the relationship with Royal Doulton.



Tell us a little bit about yourself and your work?
I am currently 45, I think! I live and work in East London. I grew up in the countryside around Oxford and moved to London to go to university; and have been here ever since. I became friends with Edward Barber in the early days of the RCA in 1992, and have more or less worked with him ever since.

We are designers, and are lucky to be able to work with the best manufactures in the world, on the best design projects in the world.

What piece of work are you the most proud of and why?
Working on the Olympic Torch for London was the most amazing project so far, it came to mean so much to so many people. It performed flawlessly during the opening ceremony and was watched by 4 billion people; it was a really happy time in London and I was very proud to have been part of that excitement.



What are the main steps you tend to divide your design process into? (Please give us a bullet-point list)  

• - Coffee
• - Thinking
• - Coffee
• - Sketching
• - Lunch – talking
• - Coffee
• - Model making
• - Wine
• - Rethinking the whole thing
  
  

What do you appreciate the most in your work?
A difficult question, I always feel that I need a couple of years after finishing a project before I can really look at it again and be in a position to appreciate it. Before then, we're too close to all the problems that occurred on the way to completion.

'Double Space' - an exhibition in the Raphael Gallery of the Victoria & Albert Museum for the London Design Fair 2014

What other artists'/designers' work has influenced your work and how?
I am influenced by artists more than design work really, not really anything in particular but all this visual soup goes in and somehow makes a difference.

What is your perception of the current Royal Doulton's design philosophy?
We seem to be attracted to companies with a deep history and cultural importance, that is why we were attracted to working with Royal Doulton. We loved the fact that the company started near our London studio so long ago and has been a pioneer ever since.



What has encouraged your collaboration with Royal Doulton?
Principally the close working relationship with the Royal Doulton team, their engagement and enthusiasm for the project.

Could you please share one of your favourite design related quotes – this could be one of your own or from another artist / designer that has inspired you.
'Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.' - Oscar Wilde

What is your favourite piece in your Royal Doulton collection?
The Olio black creamer and the handled server.