Nurturing and advancing Istanbul’s design culture for over three decades, Mozaik welcomed one of contemporary design’s most influential figures, Jay Osgerby, to its Ortaköy showroom on 18 November.
For thirty years, Mozaik has been bringing leading names in international design such as Patricia Urquiola, Piero Lissoni, Marcel Wanders and Guido Cappellini to Istanbul, not only representing modern design culture but actively contributing to its growth. With its “Design Dialogues” series, Mozaik continues to strengthen its role as a cultural pioneer in the sector.
On the evening of 18 November, Mozaik hosted Jay Osgerby, architect, designer and co-founder of Barber Osgerby Studio. In a conversation moderated by Damla Kürklü, Osgerby shared the core principles behind his design practice, the research-driven processes that shape his work, and how his long-standing collaboration with Vitra has evolved over the years. He emphasized that Vitra’s sustainability approach is not merely a technical requirement, but an integral part of how design forms a relationship with time. According to Osgerby, longevity, emotional connection and the ability to withstand the passing of time are fundamental elements of true sustainability. His reflections on the cultural contrasts between Istanbul and London, and how each city nourishes creative energy in different ways, stood out as some of the evening’s most memorable insights.
Founded in 1996 by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby following their studies at the Royal College of Art, Barber Osgerby Studio is renowned for its interdisciplinary approach spanning architecture, interior design, product design, sculpture and large-scale installations. The studio has created some of the most significant designs of the past decades, including the Tip Ton chair, Mariposa sofa, Soft Work seating system and Mikado chair for Vitra; the Tobi-Ishi tableand award-winning Tortello sofa for B&B Italia; the Tamburound chair for Cassina; and the iconic Bellhop lighting family for Flos. Among the studio’s most notable works is the London 2012 Olympic Torch, celebrated for its technical innovation and symbolic clarity.
Today, Barber Osgerby’s designs are held in the permanent collections of major institutions including the V&A and Design Museum in London, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Art Institute of Chicago, the Olympic Museum in Switzerland, the Vitra Design Museum in Germany, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris.
