Inga Sempé

Inga Sempé is an award-winning French designer working from her studio in Paris. Her designs are unmistakable; as eclectic and elegant as she is. Working with a long line of prestigious clients, she disregards the definition of design objects either aesthetic or functional. In her hands, they are always intertwined. As Sempé herself says: “An object doesn’t have to look functional to be functional.” For inspiration, she often taps into the immediate environment of Paris; from the Sunday market Marché aux Puces de la Porte de Vanves to real estate ads: “I have an obsession with apartments and houses for sale. Not that I need it myself, but I comb the web on behalf of friends, searching for details and quirks.” A tongue-in-cheek approach to concept and form influences the objects she creates. Even the most everyday of these feel like strong characters—they are full of presence and personality.