This new 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 Luna Laffanour, director of Downtown+.

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COLLECTIBLE: How do you see the relationship between late 20th century design and contemporary design? How does one feed one another?

Luna Laffanour : Throughout the 20th century, there was a marked interest in new and innovative methods and materials, leading to a certain blending of design disciplines, art, and technology. I think that this practice is now observed in contemporary design, which often represents an interdisciplinary crossover between art and design.

Moreover, certain characteristics are common between modern and contemporary design, such as lines, shapes, and ergonomics. I believe that these elements provide a visual and functional continuity that links past and present design philosophies, ensuring that the principles of aesthetics and usability remain central to design evolution.

I strongly believe that the concept of cycles plays a crucial role in the history of design. The 20th century design had a significant influence on subsequent movements and styles. We could take Italian Radical Design, which will be featured at our stand, as an example to illustrate how this movement has influenced the broader narrative of design. From Italian Radical Design, the Alchimia group emerged, pushing the boundaries of design further. The Alchimia group, in turn, led to the formation of the Memphis group, known for its distinctive, colorful, and unconventional approach to design. Memphis then paved the way for postmodernism, a movement that questioned and expanded upon the definitions of design, art, and aesthetics. Now, we see postmodernism cycling back, inspiring contemporary designers to explore and reinterpret its themes and concepts.

This cyclical nature of design history not only enriches the current design landscape but also ensures that past innovations and philosophies continue to influence and shape the future of design. By understanding and appreciating these cycles, designers can leverage a vast array of ideas and inspirations, enabling them to create innovative and meaningful works that resonate with both the past and the future.

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

LL: I grew up in a Franco-Japanese biculture thanks to my parents, my father ,gallery owner, François Laffanour and my mother, artist Yumiko Seki. The passion for design and the arts was naturally transmitted to me, as well as the desire to ensure the continuity of my father's achievements. Over the decades, Laffanour | Galerie Downtown has showcased the work of 20th century modernist architects and has gained worldwide recognition for its exhibitions of Prouvé, Perriand and Jeanneret.

In 2021, I joined the gallery alongside my father and in 2023, I created the new Downtown+ department. I am now at the forefront of this project, aiming to take a fresh look at the gallery’s heritage. I'm tempted to continue the Downtown adventure, with the desire to emancipate myself, stand out and invent. I believe in interdisciplinarity and exchange, a conviction certainly born of my bi-culture and the world in which I grew up. I grew up in the Downtown gallery world, in a mid-century universe that François Laffanour boldly mixed with contemporary, historical, and many other worlds. In creating downtown+, I wanted to create my own language - a dialogue between eras, designers and artists, just as I see myself as a blend of two eras, a blend of two cultures.

C: Can you talk about the designers you present at COLLECTIBLE this year, what makes their practice/pieces unique?

LL: This year, we are delighted to present an eclectic selection that showcases both design heritage and contemporary innovation. Our featured pieces include iconic works by Andréa Branzi, known for his critical approach to modernity; Archizoom's creations, which with their avant-garde vision left their mark on the 80s; but also Jun'ya Ishigami's poetically slight structures, which push the boundaries of architecture and design, and the landscape research of Cesar Leonardi and Franca Stagi, offer a narrative and emotional dimension to our selection.

We will showcase also a few pieces designed by Bob Wilson, one of the world's foremost theater and visual artists. His images are aesthetically striking and emotionally charged, and his productions have been acclaimed by audiences and critics worldwide. Wilson has left his mark on the stage world with his innovative and visually arresting productions. In this context, we will be showcasing the Hamletmachine chair that Wilson designed especially for the theater piece in 1968.

All of these pieces have been chosen for their ability to dialogue with contemporary spaces, while bringing historical and conceptual depth.

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

LL: Recently, we focused our efforts on "trônes", downtown+'s inaugural exhibition, in collaboration with curator Romain Bitton. For the occasion, downtown+ took over 72 rue de l'Université, Paris, where a selection of sculptural seats (from the XXth century and contemporary pieces) and a series of paintings by Tim Wilson were presented in June 2023.

In an innovative online sales initiative focusing on design and metallic materials, downtown+ returned to this metal trend last December with "metalloids" a flash sale exclusively online on our website, our instagram page.

Now, along with our participation at COLLECTIBLE, we're also delighted to be taking part in major PAD Paris, where we'll be presenting pieces that showcase the synergy between design and contemporary art.

At the same time, we are preparing an imminent physical exhibition, exploring the interactions between space and materiality. These initiatives, ranging from thematic exhibitions to online sales platforms and event participations, reflect our dynamic vision of collectible design as a constantly evolving field, where the past informs the present and inspires the future, continuing to engage and inspire people through design and art.