House of dopamine

A playful home

'Our theme for the season was “house of dopamine”,’ explains Home & Gift Senior Designer Faye Spearpoint. A lot of thought went into what inspires joy and optimism, and what it means to live life to the fullest. ‘We created a "supper club"-inspired tableware range that celebrates the joy of hosting, having fun, and spending time with friends and family.’

‘There was a strong focus on the idea of getting together to celebrate and socialise, with food being at the heart of that,’ explains Head of Home & Gift Design Kate Butler. ‘Food became a central motif and we were inspired by elaborate cakes, jellies and fruit for their playfulness and bright colours.’

And so came about a feast of uplifting, good-enough-to-eat homeware designs with a focus on fun, a large helping of whimsy and tongue firmly in cheek.

Food with friends

From the mug you drink your first morning coffee out of to the plates upon which you serve food to friends, we've always firmly believed that life is more interesting when things are designed differently and are so visually satisfying that they make you take a second look. The Home & Gift team put a lot of consideration into shapes and motifs, prints and colour combinations this season - even slogans joined the playful party.

‘Each piece in our newest collections has been thoughtfully designed to bring a smile and spread joy, whether you’re enjoying the products on your own or having friends over,’ explains Faye. ‘We always think about what would create an uplifting atmosphere within the home when we’re planning our designs.’

The ‘Supper Club’ collection became known as such because the team loved the idea of enjoying the pieces while hosting an informal dinner or brunch with friends. Many of the designs were hand-painted in our studio and scanned into digital designs to interpret onto products. Lighthearted wordplay on a platter and side plate – we chose ‘Chef’s Kiss’ and ‘Bon Appetit’ – led the way, and our strong checked print saw the addition of bold daisy motifs for an eye-catching and contemporary juxtaposition. It feels fun, fresh and laidback, just like an easy supper with your favourite people.

A feast for the eyes

A striking chequerboard pattern runs across the collections, bringing a graphic geometric feel, and we also incorporated nostalgic smiley faces and colourful food motifs. ‘We wanted things to feel exaggerated- to inject a bit of humour and fun into the home,’ says Kate.

Ceramic pieces feature quite heavily across the ranges, and we’ve been able to create some exciting original designs. What started as 2D hand-drawn sketches or computer-aided designs were transformed into 3D clay mould prototypes and eventually the main moulds were created ready for production. The entire process relies on skilled craftsmanship and is largely done by hand.

The prints and motifs were such a hit with the team that we rolled them out across textiles, candles and furniture items, and you’ll find cream-cake tea towels, cherry-adorned make-up bags, vibrant chequerboard furniture and our standout banana fruit bowl and pineapple vase.

‘The whole range is a dopamine hit of vibrant, uplifting colours, fun shapes, eye-catching patterns and whimsical slogans that provide great inspiration for gifting,’ says Faye. ‘But equally, these are items that are calling out for a joyful self-purchase.’