How did you become a designer at Charlie Crane?

Gaspard: I studied at ESAD in Reims, then at the Royal College of Art in London. After school, I co-founded the Re-Do design studio with Tristan Kopp. In 2012, at the very beginning of Charlie Crane, the brand became one of our first customers. After six years of collaboration, I chose to work solo while continuing to collaborate with Charlie. This collaboration evolved over time and, since 2020, I have been in charge of the design and production of Charlie Crane products.

What are your sources of inspiration?

I'm a classicist, although I'm always on the lookout for trends! Charlie Crane founder Thomas and I share a deep admiration for iconic figures. Jacques Hitier, a French designer who created a lot of children's furniture from the 50s to the 70s, is one of our inspirations. Other major references include Jean Prouvé, the Eames and Hans Wegner. Among contemporary designers, I have great respect for the work of Jasper Morrison and Naoto Fukasawa. The innovation and creativity of these designers influence my daily work.

Was FILO a whim or a long-held idea?

FILO was created relatively quickly. Compared to our other products, such as the Tobo high chair, we didn't have many prototypes. The idea of a bookcase had been in the back of our minds for a long time... That's often how it goes at Charlie Crane: a long period of reflection and theoretical design, which then allows us to move quickly through the design process once the idea has taken shape. 

What challenges did you face in designing FILO?

As is often the case, the major challenge for us has been cost control. We have long-term relationships with our suppliers and work closely together, but the balance between quality and price is always a delicate one. We had to find clever solutions to keep FILO affordable. We're all very satisfied with the end result.

How do you select the next Charlie Crane pieces?

Gaspard: Our creative process is above all based on discussion. Within the team, and with Thomas. He always has a very good intuition of the market, which is crucial in the process. There are many exchanges, sometimes passionate, but our main objective is always to create pieces that will appeal to parents. The pieces will be useful to them, rather than following trends. Authenticity and personal satisfaction are very important to us. This is what guides our choices, above and beyond competitive pressures.

Thanks to Gaspard. Discover our Filo library and tell us what you think on Instagram!

The Charlie Crane team

You may also like :