In the second article of this series, we highlight the intriguing work of some of the women-led studios that we spotted at Maison&Objet in Paris. Here, Italian artist-designer Francesca Colombo tells us more about her dreamy drawings and new tableware designs
While Francesca Colombo was born in Italy, her international perspective has helped her to work nearly anywhere in the world. After years spent plying her trade as both an art director and artist, Colombo returned to Milan and opened her own studio in 2019 and started designing porcelain plates, on top of her mainstay in designing patterns for upholstery collections.
Known for her delicate style, the designer is the creative mind behind an eclectic mix of patterned wallpapers and fabrics. While Colombo has since become an acclaimed designer, she prefers to work on small-batch, on-demand collections rather than to sell in large-scale, mass-distribution initiatives, backed by the conviction that it is worthwhile to produce quality pieces that also minimise wastage.
Read more: The New Wave: How two friends started a designer rug brand
Each plate takes Colombo about a month to draw and design, depending on the technique and colours selected, and another month for the artisans to produce the samples. Here, she reveals insights into her creative process, and tells us more about her new speciality of tableware design.
Why did you decide to focus on homeware design?
After working for years for several fashion and interior companies, I felt the need to fully express my artistic and aesthetic values without any intermediation and to show my creativity 100 per cent. So, I decided to focus on hand drawing, and mixing colours and botanical elements together. I am always excited to see how a specific [colour] “works” and relates to others.
