This series, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth, unveils the backstage of contemporary creation. Tackling various topics from personal designer processes to the position of collectible design on the global design market, COLLECTIBLE In-Depth offers different views to suit all tastes. Today we speak with Merle & Job from Supertoys Supertoys.

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COLLECTIBLE: Can you talk about a new piece / collection that you release for COLLECTIBLE this year?

Merle & Job: This year we show our new and first floor light sculpture called Angel Flower Light. It’s a cute addition to our smaller table Flower Light sculpture in light pink which we launched at Collectible in 2022. Instead of our usual signature pink we went for a soothing beige tone which works really well for this large piece. The piece has a height of almost 80cm and our goal is to bring some joy into the often too serious living spaces. 

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

M&J: Lately, we delved deeper into our concept of Radical Cuteness, a journey we've been actively articulating over the past year and a half. Our sole interest lies in discovering ways to express what Radical Cuteness means to us. This might manifest in light sculptures resembling slightly otherworldly, cute flower beings or through the creation of larger-than-life public installations featuring our character, Spaceboy, created to infuse joy into different spaces.

In all our new work coming up you will see that we are blending different fields and scales, which we’re really excited about.

C: How do you understand collectible design’s unique story from your concept to a piece someone lives with (and perhaps forms an emotional connection to)?

M&J: We like to evoke emotions through cuteness, a concept we call "Radical Cuteness." However, in the Western world "cuteness" is often viewed as immature, with a sense of childishness attached to it. In Asia and certain parts of the US, people fully grasp the power of cuteness as a societal enhancer and a means for people to connect. Cuteness serves as a means of escapism, transcending childishness, cynicism or sarcasm. It offers comfort by bringing back memories while igniting hopes for a brighter and more joyful future, which is a necessity if you watch the news lately.

C: How do you question or challenge functionality in your design process?

M&J: Often, our creative process doesn't start with a predefined functionality; instead, we aim to encapsulate a particular emotion with our cute objects, typically oscillating between joyfulness and melancholy. We construct a (virtual) world that serves as the canvas for expressing this emotion, and it is within this realm that our pieces come to life. Despite our initial focus on emotion, we do appreciate imbuing our creations with a specific functionality. The interplay between functionality and non-functionality allows us to explore and reflect upon our relationship with everyday objects in our lives.