Despoke

Despoke catches up with Pierre Gonalons of ASCETE to talk about his recent designs, what it means to be a Parisian designer, and the state of the design world in the city of light.

With the recent success of his “Je T’Aime” lamp, Pierre Gonalons has won recent attention from various blogs and media outlets including L’Express. The principle designer and vision behind ASCETE, Gonalons strikes a slender figure who is quiet, but extremely friendly, and then excitable, especially when talking about Paris. A Lyonnais by birth, he considers Paris the only place for a French designer, as the rich design tradition offers limitless inspiration.

DSPK: Though you mention that Paris is THE place for French designers, it doesn’t, at least on the surface, appear to have much support for young designers.
PG: It absolutely doesn’t. Paris lacks the infrastructure and community of London or New York (and there’s nothing in the world like Milan). Many young designers feel hung out to dry here, especially when what gets rewarded are things you see at places like Ligne Roset. I would say, though I don’t know much about it, that Paris is truly a place for art first, design is maybe a distant second.
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