DESIGNER COLLECTION
ALDO BAKKER – Crystal Vase
A collection of modular vases in marble and crystal Aldo Bakker was born in the Netherlands in 1971, to artist parents. He first trained as a silversmith working to commission, setting up his own studio in 1994. Moving into furniture and product design, he won awards for collections of glass and porcelain tableware. He also teaches at the Design Academy at Eindhoven in the Netherlands. This is his first collaboration with Swarovski.

Aldo Bakker presents a vase in three sizes, constructed in crystal and expressive marble. The base acts as a shallow water pool, and the sides are made of three interconnecting elements in either faceted marble or crystal, creating a fascinating play of light. Although functional, the design is ambiguous and abstract, allowing the user to feel and play with the way one element fits with another.

DANIEL LIBESKIND – Architecture & the City
A chess set inspired by Studio Libeskind buildings Polish-born, American architect Daniel Libeskind came to prominence with his poignant design for the Jewish Museum in Berlin, opened in 2001. In 2003, his practice Studio Libeskind won the competition to rebuild the World Trade Center in New York. Libeskind’s work is informed by music, philosophy and literature, and he speaks widely on the art of architecture. This is his first collaboration with Swarovski.

Daniel Libeskind presents a championship-size chess set, whose pieces celebrate some of Libeskind’s most iconic buildings. With a board showing maps of Milan and New York – the two cities where he lives and works, the set uses materials from the worlds of construction – concrete and marble – as well as luxury: silver from Wiener Silber Manufactur and Swarovski crystal. The two kings, in crystal, are represented by the Freedom Tower in New York.

Queen in crystal, CityLife Milan
Bishop in silver from Wiener Silber Manufactur, L Tower Toronto Knight in marble, Tor Di Valle Rome Rook in concrete, Century Spire Manila Pawn in Aluminium, The Pyramid Jerusalem

FREDRIKSON STALLARD – Glaciarium
A collection of candle holders, vases and bowls Patrik Fredrikson and Ian Stallard began working together in 1995 and are recognized today as leading exponents of avant-garde design. Their previous collaborations with Swarovski range from the vast sculpture ‘Prologue’ – four meters in diameter and inset with 8,000 crystals – to the powerful ‘Armory’ jewelry collection for Atelier Swarovski 2016.

Fredrikson Stallard present a series of centerpieces inspired by the form of raw crystal. Each piece is cast in crystal and then faceting is applied to certain sections, combining precision cutting with the material’s natural structures.

KIM THOMÉ – Plinth & Donuts
A collection of candle-holders
Norwegian-born Kim Thomé graduated from the Royal College of Art in 2012 and runs his studio from East London. His work finds a balance between installation and object, and mixes graphic elements and optical play. In 2015, for his first collaboration with Swarovski, Kim unveiled ‘Zotem’ at London’s V&A museum, a sculpture 18 meters high and embedded with more than 600 bespoke crystals, which was later shown in Shanghai.

Kim Thomé’s design for Plinth features a heavy stainless steel base in a variety of heights, on which sits a crystal halo. Donuts is a series of palm-sized candle holders made of crystals, each with a different color effect, bonded together with UV glue. There are four in the series.

RAW EDGES – Printed
A collection of centerpieces
Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay were born in Tel Aviv and studied at the Royal College of Art in London under Ron Arad. In 2007 they set up their studio Raw Edges in London, designing furniture, products and installations, with an accent on playfulness and humor. They have attracted commissions for Cappellini, Established & Sons, and Stella McCartney among others. This is their first collaboration with Swarovski.

Raw Edges showcase a new laser-jet crystal printing technique from Swarovski with a series of centerpieces for the home. Layered prints on the interior of the objects produce colorful patterns, distorted and augmented by the crystal faceting. When the crystals sit together, the reflections and layering reveal additional patterns of even greater richness.

RON ARAD – Alphabet & Numbers
A collection of crystal digits, letters and square-form bookends Industrial designer, architect and artist Ron Arad has been based in London since the mid-1970s. His work has ranged in scale from bottles to museums, but some of his most innovative creations have been for Swarovski. He was a leading figure in the company’s Crystal Palace initiative. He is a Professor Emeritus of the Royal College of Art, and was elected a Royal Academician in 2013.

In a new font designed for the project, Ron Arad introduces a crystal incarnation of the numbers 0 to 9 and the 26 letters of the alphabet – and follows the rich legacy of Swarovski’s figurines. Precision-cut and standing either 22cm or 13.5cm tall, the characters also translate into unique square-form bookends where each figure has been cut from a crystal mass.