The Sight Of Sound

In a Home & Decor exclusive with Michael Anastassiades, the London-based designer talks about his latest collaboration with Danish luxury audio-visual brand Bang & Olufsen, and the Beosound Edge.

- Domenica Tan

As an established lighting designer who only recently started dabbling in furniture design, Michael Anastassiades was blind to the industry of audio-product designs prior to the Beosound Edge. “Every invitation from companies to work in a new field is a challenge, especially when I come from a completely different background. I’m very grateful that I got this invitation from Bang & Olufsen (B&O), because it’s not easy for a company to trust someone who doesn’t have experience in a certain field. I particularly enjoy working with companies with a long history, as I can study their legacy. I also analyse those products that have become iconic and that people remember the company for, and B&O has quite a few of them throughout history,” says Michael.

Are you an audiophile?

Absolutely, I love music. However, I did a hearing test about a month ago and it confirmed that I have a hearing loss of about 30 per cent in both ears. I hear less than the average person and it’s interesting because the doctors believe this is congenital. I feel that this condition has made me more sensitive to sound and it makes me appreciate it better.

Tell us more about the design concept of the Beosound Edge.