Axel Chay began working in design about ten years ago; first by creating the design studio Nueva Obiecta with his partner Marouane Sadki; now with his own eponymous brand.

“I create everywhere, in the car, on the train or even at home…”

Originally from the Côte de Vermeilles, close to Marseille, Axel has been exposed from a very early age to the strong saturated colours of the Mediterranean. He tells us how everything he encounters can be a source of inspiration.

Being self-taught, Axel has no fixed and defined creative process. His ideas come to him spontaneously: he begins by sketching, then making 3D drawings, and finally prototypes – in partnership with his brother, who is in charge of manufacturing.

Some of his designs come about by playing with materials, without plans or precise ideas.

“Everything comes naturally.”

What is a typical Axel Chay day like? Every day is different. Generally, Axel tries to create a couple of his plaster Coquillage wall lights each day, and if he is not designing new pieces, he works on electrifying his lights or on shipping or admin.

Axel has decorated his own interior with a mix of his own creations and second-hand pieces. Both feature his trademark – bold shapes and colours.

Axel’s plans for the near future ?
A collaboration in the coming weeks with the ready-to-wear brand American Vintage, for which he will create decorations for the store windows. Or the creation of a new, larger version of the Coquillage wall lamp, exclusively for Chiara Colombini…

Any advice for people who want to embark on an interior design project ? “You have to be daring, buy things you really like and don’t limit yourself to trends. Be careful not to use fake pieces or fake materials: I’ve already made this mistake and I ended up getting rid of it very quickly…”.