Supernatural: The Work of Ross Lovegrove

by Paola Antonelli

This book is the first ever monograph on the acclaimed product designer Ross Lovegrove (b.1958). Written by the designer himself, with a forward by Paola Antonelli, it presents an exhaustive survey of the designer's cutting-edge career, featuring both realized and unrealized projects. While the core text explains Lovegrove's thought-provoking philosophy and original way of working, the products' descriptions reveal the crucial practical aspects and characteristic elements of each project. Lovegrove's work includes a vast range of products - from minimalist furniture to incredibly high-tech products, from water bottles to airplane seats - and explores the possibility of realizing sculptural and organic shapes through modern technology and materials. In recent years, Lovegrove has worked on a design concept that he likes to define as 'organic essentialism', inspired by elements and aesthetics assimilated from the natural world and reshaped in futuristic forms. His interest in this sort of new naturalism, which he terms 'supernatural', is accompanied by research into new materials, new applications and new methods of production. This combination of archetypal inspiration and up-to-the-minute technology makes him one of the most intriguing and provocative figures in today's design world.

Genres: Design

240 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2004

About the author

Paola Antonelli is curator in the Department of Architecture and Design at the Museum of Modern Art. Since 1994, Paola has curated the following landmark exhibitions: "Achille Castiglioni: Design!;" "Humble Masterpieces;" "Mutant Materials in Contemporary Design; " "SAFE: Design Takes on Risk;" "Thresholds: Contemporary Design from the Netherlands;" "Projects 66: Campana/Ingo Maurer:" and "Workspheres." For these accomplishments she received the 2006 Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum Design Mind Award. She was also appointed senior fellow at the Royal College of Art, London and given an honorary doctorate by Kingston University. Prior to joining the staff at MoMA, Paola was the editor of Abitare and a contributing editor to Domus. Among the books she has written are: Humble Masterpieces: Everyday Marvels of Design and Objects of Design from the Museum of Modern Art. She also writes for publications such as Harper's Bazaar, Harvard Design, I.D., Metropolis, Nest, and Paper.