IHA speaks with Laura Perri, senior manager, digital content and brand marketing at Nambé, to hear the about the latest developments at the company known for its trend-setting tableware and gift items. Nambé will feature new introductions and its line of classics at N7919 at the 2017 International Home + Housewares Show in Discover Design.
Laura, where does Nambé find inspiration in designing new products?
We work with leading designers around the world to create products that bring style and function into the home. Our designers find inspiration at every turn. For example, our Drift collection, a new introduction in glass for this Show, was inspired by sand drifts in the desert. Our Cabo collection takes a more rustic, beachy approach, and POP introduces color.
Are there any specific designers, places or eras that influence you?
Nambé just recently celebrated its 65th anniversary and has certainly been influenced by many designers over the years. Nambé’s design aesthetic remains true to its heritage, creating products that embrace mid-century modern design. Nambé products maintain a modern appeal, yet they’re still timeless. Pieces like the Butterfly Bowl have been in our collection since it was first introduced in 1957.
How do you choose which idea to take to development?
There are several factors to consider when thinking about new product development. We look at our current collection and look for gaps in the existing assortment, whether it be for function, price or material. This often leads us down a path worth exploring. We’ll also conduct some informal market research to see what’s trending.
We then work with our designers to create concept and technical drawings, which we then forward on to our manufacturers to assess whether the item can be manufactured and if it is cost-effective to produce.
How do you identify the key user audience for your products?
Nambé pieces make wonderful gifts, entertaining essentials and home accents. We put a focus on products that are functional and stylish. The key user appreciates both and has an eye for good design. The items are often passed down from one generation to the next.
How do new technologies influence your product design?
Nambé has an active presence in social media. We use platforms like Instagram to showcase user-generated content and ideas on how to use your Nambé pieces, as well as Facebook to keep followers up to date on the latest Nambé news and trends. Nambé has also started looking to influencers to help us create robust content and help spread word of mouth.
Nambé uses 3D printing on almost all of our products. Nambé will often create a 3D printed plastic prototype to provide a really good sense of what the product will look like.
How do you see design’s importance in our industry as it moves forward?
Great design is at the forefront of everything we do at Nambé. It is our dedication to artistic integrity, and commitment to timeless beauty and uncompromising quality that has contributed to our recognition in the design community and will continue to guide us as we move forward. Our pieces have received numerous design awards and are featured in museums around the world.
Can you give us a preview of what you will be showing in your booth in Discover Design?
Nambé introduces a new wood, Ash Wood, in the new Cabo Collection, which mixes the traditional Nambé Alloy with the light hue of Ash Wood, which is slightly gray, for a rustic, yet sophisticated presentation.
POP brings together sophisticated neutrals and vibrant color in a beautiful stoneware collection perfect for mixing and matching. With its clean lines and timeless design by Robin Levien, POP embraces casual dining. Robin Levien is one of Europe’s most consistently successful and innovative product designers. Over the past 30 years he has designed many best-selling ranges for the home, in particular for the bathroom and tabletop categories. His Studio range for Ideal Standard revolutionized the UK bathroom market and the Trend porcelain has been Europe’s most successful contemporary tableware of the past quarter century. In recognition of his sustained design excellence, he received the distinction of Royal Designer for Industry (RDI) from the Royal Society of Arts in 1995.
Additionally, Nambé adds to the Gourmet Line with a new set of porcelain and wood canisters. Named Gifu, these pieces feature a traditional shape accented by the gentle upward curve of their wooden lid. Nambé also expands into cast iron with the new Hida Trivet and Kyoto Tea Pot.
And finally, new glass pieces have been added to the Drift Collection, including a Salad Bowl and Hors d’oeuvre Tray.
Thank you, Laura, for this tantalizing peek of your latest offerings that will soon be displayed in Chicago. Looking forward to visiting your booth N7919 in Discover Design.
See more Nambé products at:
www.nambe.com
www.facebook.com/nambeusa
www.instagram.com/nambe
Discover Design is the premier destination at the International Home + Housewares Show for trend spotters who make design their priority. Retailers looking for the unique will find early 200 design leaders at Discover Design located at the front of the North Building.
Anchored by renowned brands such as Alessi, Blomus and Charles Viancin, Discover Design welcomes new exhibitors, such as notNeutral, Victoria Lekach, and Unplugged Goods, and introduces 10 emerging companies at the Design Debut incubator. Additional fresh offerings from veteran design-focused exhibitors such as Kikkerland, Zoku and Magisso will also inspire your choices for the coming year. Find more information on Discover Design exhibitors online.
