The light fantastic

One of the most prolific and poetic lighting designers in the world, Michael Anastassiades is returning to Paris’ Maison & Objet, where he launched his eponymous brand in 2007, as its Designer of the Year.

- Penny McCormick

To design a light one first has to embrace the darkness,” believes Cypriot designer Michael Anastassiades, who trained as a civil engineer before taking a master’s degree in industrial design at the Royal College of Art. He founded his studio in London in 1994 (he still works in Camden) and his eponymous brand in 2007. His work is defined by simple shapes and volumes – a sphere, a line, a circle – yet the illusionary simplicity of his designs results from an ongoing labour of love and is not something that’s easily achieved. A perfect example is ‘The Fleet Drinking Fountain’, found at the V&A Museum in London, which conceals its technical aspects without compromising aesthetics and is more of an experience than just a place to stop and fill a bottle.