現代的な佇まいのなかに、親しみや愛らしさを感じるBIG-GAMEのデザイン。彼らはどのような感覚でクリエーションを続けているのか、スイス・ローザンヌを拠点に活動する彼らに、直接問いかけてみた。
BIG-GAME combines the contemporary appearance of their work with friendliness and loveliness. What kind of sensibilities do they bring to their creations? They have their base in Lausanne, where we asked them these questions directly.

「美しさや豪華さ、洗練された感覚など、デザインにはいろいろな要素があります。スタジオを設立した当初から、僕らがずっと変わらず心のなかに抱いていたのは、日々の暮らしで使われる身近なものをつくりたいという気持ち。独創的で特別なアートピースじゃなくてもいい。毎日使っていても飽きず、ずっと一緒にいられる、連れ合いのような存在を目指したいんです」
‘Beauty, elegance and a sense of refinement are among the many things needed for design. Ever since we established our studio, we have kept to our desire of creating things that users feel close to, usable in their everyday lives. Not each design needs to be unique or artistic. We aim for products that are ‘good company’ and which people never grow tired of.

Pendant lighting series TOP for MUUTO(2022)

Giroflex of Switzerland and Karimoku of Japan cooperated to create this wooden office chair Giroflex 150, (2022)
デザインに求められる品質や機能性の高さを超えて、暮らしを共にし、愛すべき対象であり続けるというデザイン哲学を貫くBIG-GAME。オーギュスタン・スコットドゥ・マルタンヴィル、エルリック・プティ、グレゴワール・ジャモノの3人が、スイスのローザンヌで2004年に結成したデザインスタジオは、来年で20周年を迎える。
The consistent design philosophy of BIG-GAME is creation of loveable objects that cohabit with their owners. At the same time products meet the requirements of quality and functionality. Next year will mark 20th Anniversary of this Lausanne-based design team of Augustin Scott de Martinville, Elric Petit and Grégoire Jeanmonod.

ANIMALS for Moustache was BIG-GAME’s maiden work. Plywood wall ornaments reference stuffed trophy heads (2004)

FOLD is an independent project investigating possible forms for folding architectural panels (2005-2008)

Chair BOLD for Moustache, constructed by bending polyurethane-foam-wrapped metal tubes (2009)
「フランス、ベルギー、スイスとそれぞれ異なる国の出身ですが、デザイン学校ECALに同期入学して、すぐに意気投合。在学中にミラノのデザインイベントへの出展をきっかけに共同でプロジェクトを手がけるようになり、自然発生的にBIG-GAMEとしての活動が始まったんです」
‘We are from three different countries – Belgium France and Switzerland – but when we met as fellow students at ECAL design school we immediately felt a bond. We began collaborating after participating in a design event in Milan. BIG-GAME was the natural result.’
友だちから仕事のパートナーになっても関係は変わらないと語る彼ら。特定の役割分担はせず、自由に意見を重ね、相互補完しながらプロジェクトを進行していく。
This fundamental friendship has remained unchanged, they say, even though they are now in a business relationship. No one person has any specific role, with projects moving forward by shared discussion and the free exchange of ideas.

Ball-point pen POP, for Hong Kong-based stationary manufacturer Praxis (2016)

Toy ship made of cork, BOTE (2011)

Since 2016, successive projects have been launched with OPINEL, a long-established knifemaker. Illustrated here is a product from the premium line LES FORGES 1890

SCOUT, released by French watchmaker Lexon (2014)
「それぞれが明確なビジョンと理念を持っているので、メンバーを説得するのは至難の業。十分な動機や裏付けをして話し合いに挑まないと、合意にはいたりません。3人のコラボは、互いをサポートし合うだけでなく、切磋琢磨しながらよりプロジェクトを芯のあるものへと発展し、さらに挑戦を続けるための手段だとも言えるでしょう」
‘Each of us has his own vision and philosophy, so when it comes to discussions, we need to be strongly motivated and have solid backup if we want to convince the others. Our triple collaboration is mutually supporting, but also challenges and allows us to develop projects in conditions of friendly rivalry.’

Filter and coffee pot, released from 2016/Arita brand based in Saga Prefecture (2016)

FUMIDAI from IDÉE is chair and stepladder and functions as a storage unit (2017)
日本ブランドのプロジェクトも頻繁に行なっており、特に愛知県の木工家具メーカー、カリモク「KARIMOKU NEW STANDARD」との協業は10年に及ぶ。
They frequently work with Japanese brands, and collaboration with KARIMOKU NEW STANDARD, a woodworking manufacturer in Aichi Prefecture, has already lasted a decade.

Items from collection released by KARIMOKU NEW STANDARD. From left to right: SIGNS, CASTOR CHAIR, CASTOR STOOL, CASTOR LOBBY SOFA
「ディレクターのDavid Glättliの存在もありますが、新しく立ち上げたブランドから継続的に作品を発表していけるのはとても珍しいこと。関係が長く続くほどに、僕らは彼らの技術、そしてニーズをより理解し、プロジェクトがより深く、そして明快なものになっていると感じています」
‘David Glättli plays a significant role as a Director, but it is pretty rare for a new brand to be able to release products repeatedly. The longer a collaboration lasts, the more we understand its technologies and needs, and the deeper and clearer projects become.’
最近では航空や観光といった新しい分野にも触手を伸ばすなど、積極的にチャレンジを続ける彼らだが、彼らに加えてスタッフ4人と、アトリエは比較的コンパクトに収めている。
Their energetic sense of challenge has led to recent expansion of designs into aviation and tourism. But their atelier remains compact, with only four additional members.
「あまりにもアトリエを大きくしすぎると、自分たちで一つひとつのプロジェクトをきちんと見られなくなってしまう。身近な感覚、体験を大切に考え、ディテールまで極めていきたいので、このくらいがちょうどいいんです」
‘If the group gets too large it is difficult for us to address every project individually and in depth. At present we are a good size for giving full attention to what we have learned from experience, and in being able to look closely at every detail.’

Interior of BIG-GAME’s atelier in Lausanne, Switzerland
果てしない好奇心を剥き出しにしながらも、人間味溢れる感覚でパートナーとの関係やクリエーションの環境を築いていく姿勢が、彼らのデザインをいつまでも新鮮で、確実なものに見せているのかもしれない。
The team’s endless curiosity fosters warm relationships between partners and creative environments. This attitude seems to be reflected in their timeless and solid designs.
