For all the people who think designer objects need to make bold statements with attention-grabbing forms and materials, the revered British designer Jasper Morrison has a message: The quieter objects are often the better products.
Some of Morrison’s earliest creations, such as the 1986 Thinking Man’s chair, with its snaking tubular steel armrests, and the 1991 3 sofa deluxe, whose sculpted seat resembles an enormous wave (both produced by the Italian manufacturer Cappellini, one of the planet's preeminent producers of cutting-edge home decor), display the eye-catching moves that were expected among his contemporaries.
At the same, Morrison was clearly searching for a different language. In 1988, just three years after he graduated from London’s Royal College of Art, he stunned many in the design world with “Some New Items for the Home,” an exhibition in Berlin featuring simple plywood furniture he had designed and made himself as a direct rebuke to the over-the-top colors and geometries of the Memphis movement. As Morrison increasingly came to see statement-making design as flawed and wasteful, he began producing the subtler objects that eventually became his greatest hits and inspired a new generation of designers.
Morrison’s Glo-Ball lamps for FLOS, for instance, feature opalescent blown-glass diffusers that resemble ever-so-slightly squished spheres with a striking visual softness. Designed in 1998, the pieces were instantly popular and have remained a best seller for the legendary Italian lighting maker. Morrison’s Cork Family stools for Vitra, designed in 2004, have proved similarly timeless, with simple silhouettes reminiscent of thread spools whose unexpected material — solid cork — makes them particularly alluring.
By 2005, Morrison had befriended another designer working in a similar manner — Japan’s Naoto Fukasawa. That year, Fukasawa introduced his Déjà-vu stool for Magis at the Salone del Mobile in Milan and was dismayed when fairgoers barely noticed it. Crestfallen, Fukasawa talked to Morrison, who saw the scenario differently: The fact that people instinctively used the stool meant that it was successful. To cheer up Fukasawa, Morrison described his design as “super normal.” Morrison and Fukasawa latched onto this phrase as an ideal term for what they were up to.
Launched in 2006, Morrison and Fukasawa’s “Super Normal” — a traveling exhibition and a book that served as a visual manifesto — documented more than 200 utilitarian yet beautiful objects, ranging from a paper clip, a plastic bucket and a ballpoint pen to an Alessi citrus basket, Vitsoe’s 606 universal shelving system by Dieter Rams and Vitra’s Joyn office system by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. That same year, Morrison began playing with extreme simplicity and introduced the Crate, a wooden bedside table for Established & Sons that was modeled on an old wine crate he used for his own bedside table.
Today, Morrison delights in finding the correct balance in his designs, turning out products that seem appealingly natural and precisely what they should be.
Find Jasper Morrison chairs, lighting, stools and other furniture for sale on 1stDibs.
One Legged Table in metal frame and Glass top by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Angelo Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
One Legged Table is one of Jasper Morrison’s very first projects, now revised almost forty years after its creation. This console, small in terms of dimensions but great in terms of ...
Metal
Simplon coffee Table in Carrara Marble Top by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The delicacy of the contours define the Simplon table, designed for Cappellini by Jasper Morrison. The range includes tables and side tables with a base made of anodised aluminium, a...
Aluminum
Jasper Morrison oak model "Module" series stacking tables for Cappellini Italy
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Skokie, IL
Oak Table Module Design: Jasper Morrison Series of detachable rectangular low tables, superposable and stackable. Tops surface have circular marks to let elements be superposable. To...
Oak
Jasper Morrison HAL Table — Minimalist Design, Maximum Presence
By Jasper Morrison, Vitra
Located in Dronten, NL
Elevated simplicity at its finest. Designed by celebrated British designer Jasper Morrison, the HAL Table exemplifies his “super normal” design philosophy—qu...
Chrome
Simplon Dining Rectangular Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The delicacy of the contours define the Simplon table, designed for Cappellini by Jasper Morrison. The range includes tables and side tables with a base made of anodised aluminium, a...
Aluminum
2013 Cappellini Lotus Round Dining Table designed by Jasper Morrison in Laminate
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Philadelphia, PA
This is a “Lotus" Round Dining Table, designed by Jasper Morrison for Capellini in 2006. This particular example was manufactured in 2013. The piece features a 5-star polished cast-a...
Aluminum
Bac Large Rectangular Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Bac table, designed by Jasper Morrison, is made of solid ash wood with a bleached, oak-stained, black-stained or Shanghai blue finish. Available in round and rectangular version...
Ash
2022 Jasper Morrison for Cappellini Simplon Rectangular Table in Palisander
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Listed for sale is a Simplon Rectangular Table made with an aluminum frame. The table was designed by Jasper Morrison and produced by Cappellini in Italy. It dates to circa 2022 and...
Aluminum
Bac Rectangular Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Bac table, designed by Jasper Morrison, is made of solid ash wood with a bleached, oak-stained, black-stained or Shanghai blue finish. Available in round and rectangular version...
Ash
Simplon Dining Large Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The delicacy of the contours define the Simplon table, designed for Cappellini by Jasper Morrison. The range includes tables and side tables with a base made of anodised aluminium, a...
Aluminum
Simplon Dining Large Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The delicacy of the contours define the Simplon table, designed for Cappellini by Jasper Morrison. The range includes tables and side tables with a base made of anodised aluminium, a...
Aluminum
Simplon Dining Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Cappellini, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The delicacy of the contours define the Simplon table, designed for Cappellini by Jasper Morrison. The range includes tables and side tables with a base made of anodised aluminium, a...
Aluminum
Alias 796 Round Atlas Table in White Laminated Top and Lacquered Aluminum Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 796 Round Atlas Table in White Laminated Top and Lacquered Aluminum Frame by Jasper Morrison Round table with 80 mm diameter conic lacqu...
Aluminum
Alias Round Atlas Low Table A in Anthracite Laminated Top and Lacquered Steel
By Jasper Morrison, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Atlas Round Low Table A in Anthracite Laminated Top and Lacquered Steel by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacquered steel. To...
Steel
Glas Italia Mirror Console Table - Mirrored Glass - Jasper Morrison
By Glas Italia, Jasper Morrison
Located in Alcamo, IT
Mirror Mirror by Glas Italia, designed by Jasper Morrison, is a refined rectangular console table in glass, defined by its elegant and minimal composition. The base is crafted by bo...
Glass
$6,088 / item
Bac Round Table by Jasper Morrison for Cappellini
By Jasper Morrison, Cappellini
Located in Brooklyn, NY
The Bac table, designed by Jasper Morrison, is made of solid ash wood with a bleached, oak-stained, black-stained or Shanghai blue finish. Available in round and rectangular version...
Aluminum
Glas Italia Pirandello Rectangular Desk 110×49cm (43.3×19.3in) - Jasper Morrison
By Glas Italia, Jasper Morrison
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Pirandello desk by Glas Italia, designed by Jasper Morrison, is a masterful example of minimalist elegance and refined craftsmanship. Constructed from extra-light transparent te...
Glass
Alias Atlas Small Base Table in Sand Top with Lacquered Aluminium Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Atlas Small Base Table in Sand Top with Lacquered Aluminium Frame by Jasper Morrison Rectangular top in: - full color plywood (thickness 12 ...
Aluminum
Alias Round Small Atlas Low Table M in White Laminited by Jasper Morrison
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Round Small Atlas Low Table M in White Laminited by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacque...
Steel
Alias Round Small Atlas Low Table M in Natural Maple Top & Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Round Small Atlas Low Table M in Natural Maple Top with Lacquered Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness ...
Steel
Alias Round Large Atlas Low Table H in Natural Maple Top & Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Round Large Atlas Low Table H in Natural Maple Top with Lacquered Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacquered stee...
Steel
Alias Atlas Large Base Table in Sand Top with Lacquered Aluminium Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Atlas Large Base Table in Sand Top with Lacquered Aluminium Frame by Jasper Morrison Rectangular top in: - full color plywood (thickness 12 mm) -...
Aluminum
Alias Square Atlas Low Table O in White Top and Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Square Atlas Low Table O in White Top and Lacquered Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacquered steel. Top: - Fu...
Steel
Alias 785 Square Atlas Table in Natural Maple Top with Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 785 Square Atlas Table in Natural Maple Top with Lacquered Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Square table with 80 mm diameter conic lacquered steel leg; 530 mm diameter base in...
Steel
Alias Square Atlas Low Table N in Black Top and Lacquered Steel Frame
By Jasper Morrison, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Square Atlas Low Table N in Black Top and Lacquered Steel Frame Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacquered ...
Steel
Glas Italia Pirandello Rectangular Desk 80×49 cm (31.5×19.3in) - Jasper Morrison
By Jasper Morrison, Glas Italia
Located in Alcamo, IT
The Pirandello desk by Glas Italia, designed by Jasper Morrison, is a masterful example of minimalist elegance and refined craftsmanship. Constructed from extra-light transparent te...
Glass
Alias Square Atlas Low Table N in Graphite Grey Top and Lacquered Steel Frame
By Jasper Morrison, Alias
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Square Atlas Low Table N in Graphite Grey Top and Lacquered Steel Frame Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic la...
Steel
Alias Square Atlas Low Table E in Natural Maple Top with Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Square Atlas Low Table E in Natural Maple Top with Lacquered Steel Frame by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm)...
Steel
Alias Round Large Atlas Low Table I in Canaletto Walnut Oak Top & White Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Round Large Atlas Low Table I in Canaletto Walnut Oak Top & White Frame by Jasper Morrison Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacquered steel. To...
Steel
Alias Round Atlas Low Table H in Black Top and Grey Lacquered Steel Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias Round Atlas Low Table H in Black Top and Grey Lacquered Steel Frame Small table with round base (thickness 8 mm) and leg in conic lacque...
Steel
Alias 796 Round Atlas Table in White Top with Lacquered Aluminum Frame
By Alias, Jasper Morrison
Located in Brooklyn, NY
Alias 796 Round Atlas Table in White Top with Lacquered Aluminum Frame by Jasper Morrison Round table with 80 mm diameter conic lacquered steel leg; 530 mm diameter base in lacque...
Aluminum