New Kids on the Block: 15 young international designers you should know right now

Discover our latest pick of fresh talent that are making waves in the world of design, bringing out products with great form, function and purpose.
1. Andras Lacfi and Erno Balogh of Altar FurnitureWhat do you get when a former ad man and church organ creator collaborate? Incredibly detailed pinball machines/coffee tables like The Shuttle. Painstakingly built by Budapest based duo, it has little surprises Star Trek fans will recognise, like the three lit “Dilithium crystals” and four real meteorites lodged in its rear. Website: www.altars.co
2. Edrris Gaaloul and Cyrille Verdon of SuperlifeIs that a floor mat or an inflatable raft? It’s both! The Swiss team, who go by the name Superlife, came up with clever objects made of PVC, natural and synthetic fabrics that can possibly save your life. We’d rely on Blackout, a lamp with a battery run removable light source and Meduse, a carpet that can be inflated to become a float.Website: www.superlife.ch
3. Breaded EscalopeThis Viennese collective is all about creating products that combine craft, technology and human interaction. Among their latest creations is Shadowplay, a modern day sundial, more like a smart wall clock that tells time with light and shadow as you place the tip of your finger at its centre. Website: www.breadedescalope.com
4. Julian Lechner The German designer has perfected the perfect caffeine fix. He takes leftover powdered coffee beans and adds natural glue and wood particles to form cups! These seemingly fragile pieces are dishwasher safe and fit for daily use. We’re rushing to get ours. Better latte than never. Website: www.kaffeeform.com
5. Chan Wai LimAs a throwback to her childhood days on a farm, the Singaporean designer has crafted Icons of Sembawang, three animal shaped rocking toys for kids. Made of eco-friendly Heveatech wood, these are weather resistant and extremely durable, making them ideal for playgrounds.Website: www.littlethoughts.org
6. Victoria PembertonPainstakingly hand dyed in rich blue on crisp white, the Melbourne based designer’s Shibori Canvas Bowls are crafted using the ancient Japanese technique of indigo tie and dye. Envisioned to function as unique fabric servers – each bowl made using a meditative step-by-step process of dyeing gives each piece its unique form and pattern. Website: www.bindandfold.com
7. Charlotte LancelotThis Brussels bred designer presented the Silai line meaning “stitch” in Hindi for Gandia Blasco at Salone Del Mobile 2015 comprising of rugs, pouffes and cushions. To celebrate handmade techniques, yarn was woven over a plastic frame using diagonal stitching. “You don’t see certain details the first time,and many notice it only after a month,” adds Charlotte.Website: www.charlottelancelot.com
8. Emilie Mazeau-LanglaisIt takes more than a glance to figure out the material used in the French designer’s pieces. Giving an illusion of wood, the furniture has been crafted using affordable, easily available cardboard. Employing a simple process of bending, cutting and liquidising it to achieve a desired shape, she has created bookcases, seaters, cabinets, tables, chairs and even lamps. Website: www.emilie-mazeau-langlais.com
9. Grey CorkWith their flat pack furniture, Grey Cork just wants to make compact city living easier for you and your wallet. This American startup can ship a sofa, chaise, tables and bookshelf as a set, all of which can be put together in minutes, without tools. And they’re really cool to look at too.Website: www.greycork.com
10. David GraasDesigned by the Dutch studio and made of polyamide, Stalaclights are light bulbs that look like upside down skyscrapers growing out of the fixtures. They have Art Deco inspired detailing and are also 3D printed. Website: www.davidgraas.com
11. Etienne ReijndersThis visionary Dutch designer has come up with a novel way of recycling unused shopping trolleys by turning them into ergonomic benches and chairs. Use these upcycled seats for indoors and out.Website: www.etiennereijnders.blogspot.in
12. Dirk Vander KooijMuch like how a chef whips up a dish, Dutch designer Dirk Vander Kooij uses enormous amount of recycled plastic to create this Melting Pot Side Table. Each leftover material utilised lends its own history, colour and pattern to make a unique indestructible mass with the sturdiness of marble. Website: www.dirkvanderkooij.nl
13. Mike Mak At only 30, he has already established himself as a serious maker, with a funny bone. Crowned as Maison & Objet Asia 2014 Rising Talent, this graduate from Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Design makes products are not only practical but also unapologetically humorous. Take for instance, the cartoon like Eyeclock that tells time and the cheeky Dear Van Gogh mug with a ear for a handle. Website: www.mikemak.com
14. OntwerpduoBased in the Netherlands, Ontwerpduo is hot on our radar for their Tim Burtonesque creations. Case in point, the Cageling, a birdcage swing chair and Loena Lantern – its afterglow lingers for eight hours even after it is switched off.Website: www.ontwerpduo.nl
15. Gabriella AsztalosThe Hungarian designer and former ballerina Gabriella Asztalos recently designed the lacquered wood Wiener Chair for Luxury Living Group. The graceful seater is a bow to late 19th century design styles and is a delicious upgrade to the angular strawback armchair.Website: www.asztalos.comAlso read: 15 best homes ever featured in ELLE DECOR India