Edward Barber (seated) and Jay Osgerby (standing) at their studio in East London.
AT WORK WITH: BARBER OSGERBY
- Words Ali Morris
- Photos Felix Speller
The London design duo on 30 years of friendship and collaboration.
( 1 ) In recognition of their services to the design industry, Barber and Osgerby were appointed as Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (two ranks down from a full knighthood) in the Queen’s 2013 Birthday Honours.
( 2 ) Isokon was founded in 1931 by visionary modernist Jack Pritchard to design and build houses and apartments, and later, the furniture and fittings to go inside them. For many years, Pritchard and his wife lived in one such project: London’s famous Lawn Road Flats.
There’s a tendency when meeting designers as prolific and influential as Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby to want to pinpoint the secret to their success. What has made it work? How have they built not one but three successful design businesses, created architecture, interiors, installations, products and even sculpture for some of the world’s most prestigious companies, and received OBEs for services to design?1
( 1 ) In recognition of their services to the design industry, Barber and Osgerby were appointed as Officers of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (two ranks down from a full knighthood) in the Queen’s 2013 Birthday Honours.
( 2 ) Isokon was founded in 1931 by visionary modernist Jack Pritchard to design and build houses and apartments, and later, the furniture and fittings to go inside them. For many years, Pritchard and his wife lived in one such project: London’s famous Lawn Road Flats.
