If you have visited any design shows around the world in recent years and are a bit of a lighting connoisseur then you will no doubt be familiar with the extraordinary work of Matthew McCormick and his team.
He wanted to take his graphic creativity and apply it with his own two hands using new tools and materials...
Matthew grew up in the suburbs of Toronto, Ontario but his love for outdoor sport (snowboarding and biking) convinced him to move to the west coast - originally to Whistler and more recently Vancouver. Before the inception of his lighting brand he had several art direction and marketing roles and it was ultimately while practising as a graphic designer that he realised that he couldn’t be on a computer all day. He wanted to take his graphic creativity and apply it with his own two hands using new tools and materials, particularly towards lighting which had been his long time obsession.
When asked why lighting, Matthew recounted a number of moments that helped him take the plunge. Ingo Maurer’s Mozzkito Lamp was of great significance. Made from the most obscure parts, seemingly household items, the sum of these unlikely objects made for a beautiful creation that Matthew has marvelled at ever since. When renovating his first home he spent most of his time tinkering with how the space was lit. Making sure that lighting took centre stage he invested in designer lamps such as the Curtina Light by Pablo Design and also dabbled making his own for the first time. With Matthews enthusiasm towards lighting, appreciation of well considered interiors and his vision and ability to articulate ideas it felt almost inevitable that Matthew would turn this pastime into a fully fledged career. Though even he probably didn’t imagine it being where it is today.
...much like children towards bubbles, you are lured and attracted into a space through its bold, sophisticated yet soft and light aura...
The product that first caught our eye of Matthew’s was the Halo light. Matthew explained that this was originally conceived as a graphical interpretation of effervescence with the main goal to capture the airy glow of bubbles dancing in a champagne glass. I think we can all agree that the end product is so much more, its the first thing you notice when entering a room, not in an invasive way but much like children towards bubbles, you are lured and attracted into a space through its bold, sophisticated yet soft and light aura. It's modular system allows for Halo pendants to be suspended in a whole host of compositions that not only look artistic and grand when illuminated but also at rest.
The simplicity and pureness of these designs mean that they compliment any interior, from domestic to commercial...
A couple of other pieces that we have become infatuated with are Mila and Cascadia. Mila is a timeless piece consisting of pearl like spheres that hang in beautiful harmony within nests of precious metal. Cascadia is an homage to nature and its effortless beauty and lends its name from the Canadian Cascades’ with its white capped mountain range and organic flow of waterways. The simplicity and pureness of these designs mean that they compliment any interior, from domestic to commercial. The choice of materials on offer and the modular flexibility that they possess ensure most given spaces, worth being in at least, would benefit from a dose of Mccormick magic.
...he collaborates with as many brains necessary during the various stages of development in order to arrive at a better informed final product...
Whilst Matthew is the face and name of the brand he is quick to mention the brilliant people and team he is surrounded by. He makes a point I think most of us would agree with - two (or more) minds are better than one. Whether its craftsmen or designers, he collaborates with as many brains necessary during the various stages of development in order to arrive at a better informed final product and avoid a rebuild at the very end. Attention to detail is a trademark of each product, some products undergo development for years before true satisfaction is reached. Matthew points out that maybe the process is never ‘done’, but it’s when everything is taken away and distilled down to its purest simplified form that he feels it is ready for lift off, or light up should we say!
He is psyched to debut some new projects and large scale installations...
During the last year Matthew, like many of us, has spent a lot more time working from home, with the door closed of course! Video conferencing has become a mainstay in his everyday routine and he has come to appreciate the convenience of being virtually connected rather than spending time in transit. He is psyched to debut some new projects and large scale installations in 2021 with a renewed sense of optimism in everything the company does. What was once a pastime has taken him to so many places including Paris, London, Milan, Mexico and Dubai and we’re sure in the near future that list will only get longer as the brand grows from strength to strength.
For more great design content, click HERE!
To find out more about the artist: https://www.matthewmccormick.ca
Comments