Jasper Morrison on the rise of craft-based design among young designers

British industrial designer Jasper Morrison draws parallels between the current rise of craft-based, bespoke furniture and the design scene in 1980s London, where commercial opportunities were scarce. In an interview with Dezeen, Morrison expresses sympathy for young designers who are turning to craft due to dwindling opportunities for large-scale industrial partnerships. He notes that companies cannot work with everyone, making it tough for emerging designers. Morrison recalls his own early career, when he engaged in micro-production, assembling pieces from local workshops. He cites recent examples such as Tessa Silva's Smock coconut fibre and horsehair chair and Pablo Octavio's foam daybed with flexible paint. Morrison advises young designers to focus on their own definition of design and mentions Rio Kobayashi and Bethan Laura Wood as designers he follows. Despite the craft trend, Morrison himself was never interested in that route, preferring machine-made, industrially designed objects.