Products by Sam Hecht and Kim Colin

Contrasts, and holding them in creative tension, define the work of Sam Hecht and Kim Colin. Their designs reflect both a meticulous attention to an object’s details and a thoughtful consideration of its context. Thus, they measure the success of their designs, “not only in sales or notoriety but also in the contribution to the greater good of the industry (and we hope, the planet)”.

Designers Sam Hecht and Kim Colin of London-based Industrial Facility create work that balances the need to live a full life with the desire to keep things simple. British-born Hecht’s contemplative approach and attention to detail complements California-born Colin’s architectural sensibility; together they design furniture and products that relate to the landscapes where they are used.

Colin says, “We strive for simplicity of use that is not to the detriment of good functionality”. Hecht adds, “What comes out of it is a kind of equilibrium where products are relevant and lasting”.

Their studio, Industrial Facility, is located in central London’s Clerkenwell neighbourhood, itself a place of opposites, hip and professional, home to thinkers and entertainers. The studio is small in number, eclectic in talent.

“When we are working through the design process, it is very much a series of conversations.”
– Sam Hecht

“Each of us is from a different part of the world,” notes Colin, “and we collaborate constantly about ideas, methods and opinions. Our work is never created in cultural isolation, and therefore our office behaves like a good, condensed international neighbourhood, which is efficient, energetic and pleasurable.”

Hecht adds: “When we are working through the design process, it is very much a series of conversations. What comes out of it is a sense of equilibrium because the process, the result, is essentially holding those two points of view.”

“Our work is never created in cultural isolation, and therefore our office behaves like a good, condensed international neighbourhood, which is efficient, energetic and pleasurable.”
– Kim Colin

Since founding their studio in 2002, Hecht and Colin have used their “worldly views” to design objects that range in scale from the diminutive to the architectural. In addition to their work with Herman Miller, they have designed products for Yamaha (Japan), Mattiazzi (Italy), Issey Miyake (Japan), Established & Sons (UK), Louis Vuitton and Tectona (France) and Muji (Japan). Originally, in 2008, Herman Miller asked both Kim and Sam to become retained creative advisers.

Many of their designs are held in museum permanent collections, including those of MoMA in New York City, the Art Institute in Chicago, the Finlandia Museum, Helsinki, the San Francisco MoMA, the Pompidou Centre in Paris, the State Museum of Applied Arts in Munich and the V&A Museum in London.

Both Colin and Hecht have been named to the prestigious Royal Designers for Industry (RDI), the highest honour for designers working in the United Kingdom. Colin received her RDI in 2015, becoming the first female product designer included; Hecht received his in 2008. Their monograph entitled Industrial Facility (published by Phaidon Press, 2018) catalogues their portfolio.

Office/Studio
Industrial Facility
London, United Kingdom

Awards/Recognition
Royal Designer for Industry, 2015 (Colin)
Best of NeoCon Silver Award, Benching, Chicago (Locale), 2013
Furniture Design of the Year, Design Museum, London (Branca), 2011
Habitare Collection 2011, Habitare Fair, Helsinki (Branca), 2011
Best Furniture of the Year, Wallpaper Awards, (TBC), 2010
Bo Bedre Award, (TBC) 2010
Japan G-Mark Awards (4)
Royal Designer for Industry, 2008 (Hecht)
IF German Gold Awards (4)
Design Plus Awards (3)
GQ Award (2)
FX Designer of the Year Award, 2008
IDEA Awards (3)
Nominated for Prince Phillip Designers Prize, 2008
Honorary Material ConneXion Award, 2007
Japan Creative Award, 2007
Elle Decoration Best Kitchen Design, 2007
Grand Designs, (IF4000), 2006
Red Dot Award (2)

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KEVIN KRÄHENBÜHL

Technician + Logistic

Nach der Arbeit widme ich mich meinem Hobby Modellbau und bin im Bastelraum oder auf dem Flugplatz aufzufinden.

DENIS MENZEL

Project Leader

Holz ist meine Leidenschaft!

Als gelernter Zimmermann durfte ich während meiner drei Jahren Wanderschaft unterschiedlichste Arbeitsweisen, Materialien und kulturell geprägte Designsprachen kennenlernen. 

Das Arbeiten mit dem Werkstoff Holz in seiner Vielfältigkeit fasziniert mich immer wieder aufs Neue.

ERMES PICCOLOTTO

Technical Manager

Vernetzung von Technik, Ergonomie und Menschen ist das, was mich an unserer Arbeit begeistert. Privat ist Paartanz meine Leidenschaft – von Disco-Fox zu Latin über Rock n’ Roll bis Boogie Woogie.

Nadine Zumbrunn

Interior Designer

Account Manager

Ich sehe mich als Geschichtenerzähler.

Die Kunden beauftragen mich, ihre Biografien zu schreiben, aber anstelle von Worten verwende ich Stoffe, Möbel, architektonische Elemente und natürlich persönliche Gegenstände.

Priska Bauer-Heeb

Interior Designer

Möbel sind meine Leidenschaft und der Umgang mit Design, Funktion, Farbe, Material und Oberflächen ist seit mehr als 25 Jahren Teil meines Berufes, den ich nicht missen möchte.

Office Zug bietet mir als Produkt Manager Digital Retail eine Aufgabe, in der ich all mein Wissen und meine Lust am «Möbeln» einbringen kann.

CHRISTIAN VEIDT

Head of Department

Die Faszination meiner Aufgabe liegt sowohl in der Vielfalt unserer Projekte als auch in derer unserer Kunden.

Verschiedenste Anforderungen, Ziele und Kulturen verlangen eine hohes Mass an Empathie und Kommunikation.

Der Zuspruch und die Zufriedenheit unserer Kunden ist die Belohnung für ein perfektes Team .