Acerbis Trench Armchair by Philippe Malouin

Canada-born and London-based designer Philippe Malouin imbues his functional modern furniture with whimsical touches of personality. His sinuous sofas and armchairs covered in soft upholstery and irregular, tapestry-like rugs, which are inspired by wax crayon drawings, all play with the visual and tactile senses.

Malouin earned a bachelor’s degree from the Design Academy Eindhoven. He also studied at the Université de Montréal in Canada and L'École Nationale Supérieure de Création Industrielle in Paris. After graduation, he worked for London furniture designer Tom Dixon before opening his own studio in 2009.

In his design studio, Malouin opted for a broad focus that includes everything from chairs and tables to rugs, light fixtures and decorative objects. He enjoys using natural materials like wool and combining them with striking geometric forms. Every piece created by Malouin, whether furniture or decor, leaves a lasting impression.

In 2012, Malouin collaborated with six prominent London-based designers on a project for the London Design Festival. Called “Seven Designers for Seven Dials,” it featured aerial installations above the streets of the Seven Dials shopping district. From 2012 to 2015, Malouin taught at the Royal College of Art in London.

In 2018, Malouin celebrated 10 years in furniture design with an exhibition in Hyères, France. In 2019, he made headlines with the release of his Industrial Office collection, which featured experimental materials such as dyed nylon and polyurethane-coated steel. He followed this up at Milan Design Week 2022 with a military bed-inspired camp chair that is simple in appearance but big on comfort.

Malouin boasts an impressive client list, including Nike, Kvadrat, Vaarnii, Resident, Ace Hotel, Aesop, Established & Sons and Umbra Shift. He is a recipient of the W Hotels Designer of the Future Award and the Wallpaper* Design Award for Best Use of Material. He lives and works in London and is represented by Salon 94 in New York City.

On 1stDibs, find Philippe Malouin seating, carpets, wall decorations and more.