This new series, Design bites, unveil the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of Collectible design on the global design market; these bites offer different views to suit all tastes. Today we talk with the founders of Volume Gallery, Sam Vinz and Claire Warner.

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COLLECTIBLE: What do you think about the position of contemporary collectible design in the design market? How do you think the contemporary collectible design market is evolving?

Sam Vinz and Claire Warner: In North America the contemporary collectible design market is still very very small. It is interesting how the market is evolving, more emphasis seems to be placed on unique objects that express the language of the designer, whereas 10-20 years ago the market was more oriented towards editions.

“ Stop doom scrolling! To be able to see a piece in person - in 3D - to walk around it and understand the materiality, an experience is created.”

C: What tips would you give to a collector who wishes to start collecting contemporary design?

SV&CW: See as much as possible, talk to as many designers as possible, talk to gallerist as much as possible. Stop doom scrolling! To be able to see a piece in person - in 3D - to walk around it and understand the materiality, an experience is created. Furthermore, to hear the story of the piece from the designer/gallery, there is the benefit of creating a deeper understanding of the piece beyond the aesthetics. 

C: How did you get into collectible design? Why did you start your gallery?

SV&CW: Claire and I both worked at Wright in Chicago, but prior to that we both went to school for Decorative Arts and Art History respectively. Given our background was predominantly in 20th Century work, we wondered why there wasn’t more contemporary design. We both recognized that there were very few outlets for contemporary designers to continue developing their design language after school. So, we decided to create that platform that allowed for designers to work in an independent manner.

C: Can you talk about the designers you present for COLLECTIBLE SALON, what makes their practice and pieces unique? 

SV&CW: Both Tanya Aguiñiga and Ross Hansen live and work in Los Angeles. But more importantly they both are a good representation of the type of practices that we find interesting and engaging at the gallery. Tanya is an artist/designer/craftsperson who was raised in Tijuana, Mexico – she considers her work as a performative medium to generate dialogues about identity, culture and gender while creating community. Ross first went to school for Landscape Architecture, followed by 3D at Cranbrook. His work considers the ‘perception’ of nature as perfect by exploring color, texture, and industrial processes to create pieces in a domestic scale that encourage user/viewer to question its origins.

C: What have you been up to recently? What are the next projects or exhibitions you wish to highlight?

SV&CW: We are always busy with current and upcoming exhibitions at the gallery. Working towards opening our second show with architect Ania Jaworska in June, in September we will have an exciting show of new work by Jonathan Muecke, followed by a show with Sung Jang in November. Amidst the solo exhibitions, there are always numerous commissions and projects going on to keep us very busy.

About Volume Gallery 

Volume Gallery focuses on American design, with a strong emphasis placed on emerging contemporary designers. Volume Gallery releases editions, publications and organizes exhibits that showcase the work of American designers to regional, national and international audiences. We are asking critical questions of what it means to be an American designer in a culture that is rapidly becoming more global, while simultaneously examining the American experience.