THE DESIGNER TALKS ABOUT NEW PROJECTS & THE IDEAS BEHIND HIS WORK
Story by Hannah Rittner
Photos provided by Jason Miller
Jason Miller’s personality is a mysterious combination of bluntness and sensitivity. This contrast is definitely at work in his furniture design, which embodies a fine balance between grittiness and grace. Miller’s newest project focuses largely on lighting. Some of his light fixtures look like luminous ivory vines, whereas others are made of naked light bulbs extending from geometrically placed aluminum poles. Miller always finds unique ways to bring spaces to life, whether it be through his signature “worn in” furniture designs (complete with “dusty” coffee tables and “broken” vases) or this new lighting project.
The essence of humour, style and lived-in luxury gives his work a trail of charisma, leaving his fans continuously longing for more. It is evident that in Miller’s work we can find both the part of him that is a realist and also a lover of life. Perhaps he teaches us that they are not opposites, but coexist as partners, and both contribute to his capacity to form originally interactive beauty.
Briefly describe your work space.
My office is in Green Point Brooklyn, which is a semi-industrial place in Brooklyn. It is on the second floor of an old factory building.
You like to have worn in aesthetics mix with luxurious materials. Why do you think this is an effective way to design space?
I think that thread in my work is employing the idea of human interaction with the products. Nothing is ever perfect. It might be shiny and come from a box, but then it starts to get worn in, and then humanized in a way. I wanted to play up that idea and celebrate that in this kind of work. A chair that gets old and ripped and put back together is in some ways better than its original. I have created work like this to celebrate human interaction.
What new project are you most excited about right now?
I’m doing a lot of lighting lately. I’m developing lights for a lighting company called Roll & Hill that will be launched in May, which I am very excited about.
Briefly describe the inspiration behind this project.
Lighting is a very good market. Roll & Hill is a design company that works with independent companies in New York.
What contemporary artists excite you the most right now?
I recently bought a painting by Greg Bogin. I like his work quite a bit. I especially like his sculptural work.
Couches are for…
sitting.
Dust is…
inevitable.
When a couch is torn is says that…
someone liked it enough to sit on it a lot.
Light fixtures should do what to a room?
Light it up.
What do you have to take with you before going to work?
Keys, wallet, cell phone and my bag.
Do you like to work in silence or listening to music?
Depends on the kind of work I do.
Visit Jason’s website to see more and order products online!
