Series of Series: Complementary Design in Contemporary Practice
by Anoe Melliou
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A shift from standalone artifacts to cohesive narratives within design, emphasises interconnectedness and thematic exploration, inviting deeper engagement with a central concept. A series converges with both the designer’s vision and the client’s preferences.
As a contemporary approach, it aligns with the growing demand for individuality, allowing designers to offer variations within a collection while experimenting with a distinctive aesthetic. From furniture and fashion to digital interfaces, series production caters to diverse user needs. In furniture, for example, collections are designed to adapt to different spaces, while technology brands release tiered devices that enhance functionality with personal choice.
The consistency of a series enables designers to explore an idea further, presenting nuanced interpretations across multiple pieces. A single product rarely encapsulates the complexity of contemporary concerns such as sustainability, diversity, or cultural identity. Series tell layered stories and weave holistic narratives more effectively, offering variations that resonate with diverse segments of the audience.
This trend mirrors broader cultural shifts toward collaboration and interconnectivity. Just as contemporary society operates in networks and ecosystems, design series reflect a system-oriented perspective. The pieces within a series are not isolated entities; they gain meaning through their relationships with one another.
The rise of series production comes with a complementary ethos in contemporary design — one that values dialogue between objects, ideas, and users. It speaks to a future where design evolves as a collective and iterative process, prioritizing versatility, storytelling, and efficiency. This "series of series" approach proposes a strategic model for addressing contemporary challenges in synergy.
The Broken Series by Snarkitekture x Gufram was initiated in 2017, and expanded in 2020. Its original piece, Broken Mirror, set up a playful contrast between the technical precision of a glass mirror and the unexpected softness of Gufram’s signature foam material. This innovative use of materials created a striking juxtaposition that became the foundation of the series. The subsequent Broken Bench retained the jagged, fractured edges of the mirror, evoking the sense that it could have been carved from the same architectural "ruin."
The evolution of The Broken Series illustrates how a design concept can traverse forms and functions while retaining its core identity. As the series expanded, it sparked curiosity about what might break next…
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Images: Broken Series, Designed by Snarkitecture, a team composed of artist Daniel Arsham and architect Alex Mustonen, in collaboration with Gufram; All images are courtesy of Gufram and Noah Kalina.
