About Layer_design Branding company in London, United Kingdom
Benjamin Hubert is an award-winning British design entrepreneur founder and Creative Director of LAYER.
LAYER is a fast-growing studio that partners with the worlds most forward-thinking brands. We have a progressive approach to personal development within the studio and are always looking for talented and highly motivated industrial designers to join the team.
If you would like to take the next step in your creative career email your portfolio and CV to [email protected] or explore the below available positions.
LAYER has designed a collection of cat furniture for New York-based start-up Cat Person. Cat Person is a new brand committed to strengthening the relationship between cats and Cat Persons from the entrepreneurs behind successful subscription shaving company Harrys. The Cat Person collection comprises Mesa Bowl a modular feeding station and Canopy Bed an adaptable 3-in-1 cat bed.
LAYER examined the unique wants and needs that inform feline behaviour collecting a number of user insights to drive the new products. The resulting collection is playful and expressive with a strong emphasis on inviting materials and adaptability. The sculptural softly geometric forms and bright ’mix and match’ colours have been designed to fit easily into contemporary home interiors and to be proudly displayed by Cat Persons in the home and on social media.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
LAYER has designed Beosound Balance for luxury Danish consumer electronics brand Bang amp; Olufsen. The compact yet powerful speaker is a sculptural interior object for the home that embodies the performance of high-end audio equipment.
Beosound Balance is driven by an intelligent approach to sound design with seven uniquely configured speaker drivers concealed inside. The distinctive sculptural silhouette expresses the speakers performance with a large base unit supporting a textile-covered cylindrical speaker with a touch- and voice-activated interface on top.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
LAYER has launched Hop for Hong Kong-based start-up ODA with a successful Kickstarter campaign. Hop is a set of modular bags designed to adapt to a users needs on the go – from weekday to weekend from the office to the gym to across continents from daily essentials to high tech gear to a change of clothes for a short trip. Hop comes in two parts an everyday Backpack and a Shoulder Bag which can be magnetically fixed together to form a single piece of carry-on weekender luggage.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
The PAL scooter for NIO has recently won a prestigious iF Design Award. PAL is an intelligent mobile platform that embraces AI and machine learning to offer flexible and convenient ’last mile’ travel for Chinese electric vehicle company NIO. Various PAL accessories – bag basket and shopping cart – can be affixed to the front of PAL to cater to the users lifestyle and changing needs.
The innovative near-future concept was launched at the Wallpaper* Handmade exhibition as part of Milans Salone del Mobile 2019.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
LAYER recently launched a collection of reusable glass straws with leading design magazine Surface. Surface Straws not only offer an alternative to environmentally problematic disposable plastic straws but also function as an attractive table centrepiece.
The three straws are displayed within a glass bell jar with a recycled rubber base and their elegant form takes inspiration from nature and the organic form of branches. The visually engaging product is designed to be displayed to encourage regular continued use. Surface approached LAYER to design the straw set as a playful and eco-friendly product to raise brand awareness in different sectors.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
The Move concept developed by LAYER for Airbus has recently won Gold in the prestigious London Design Awards 2019. Move is a prototype of a new concept for economy class seating for Airbus driven by smart textiles that rethinks the flying experience. The use of smart textiles enables passengers to monitor and control various factors – including seat tension and temperature – using the Move app also designed by LAYER. The lightweight adaptable seat structure reduces the on-board weight of the aircraft resulting in significant fuel savings and a greener approach to flying.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
Hula a height-adjustable swivel stool designed by LAYER for renowned Spanish furniture brand Andreu World has recently won a German Design Award 2020 in the Excellent Product Design – Office Furniture category.
’This elegant and high-quality stool is height-adjustable and rotatable with an elliptically positioned footrest that makes it clear where it got its name from’ said the jury. ’A chic design with a clear and flowing aesthetic that also offers a comfortable experience for the sitter with soft upholstery and a high-quality mechanism.’
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Benjamin Hubert and LAYER are proud to announce our first collaboration with sustainable fashion design studio RÆBURN on Canopy Collection a range of innovative furniture pieces that explore form and structure using recycled parachute material and welded steel frames. The Canopy Collection comprises two rocking chairs and two screens that can be used in both commercial and domestic settings. The frames have been prototyped and manufactured in the UK by leading furniture manufacturer Allermuir.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Benjamin Hubert and LAYER have designed Strand for Muuto a collection of four elegant pendant lamps. Each lamp is constructed from a finely crafted steel frame over which an innovative cocooning material has been sprayed creating a form with a large volume and small material impact. This is the first product designed by LAYER for Muuto and Benjamin Hubert is the first British designer to work with the Scandinavian brand.
The Strand Pendant Lamps will launch at the Muuto space in Heals furniture store during London Design Festival 2019.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
British design entrepreneur and Creative Director of LAYER Benjamin Hubert will be talking at Dezeen Day on the 30th of October. The inaugural event will act as an opportunity for Benjamin to share his approach to entrepreneurship in the creative industry aswell as the studios approach and vision of a design-driven future.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Hula a height-adjustable stool designed by Benjamin Hubert and LAYER for renowned Spanish furniture brand Andreau World has won the HiP Award for Best Workplace Stool at NeoCon 2019 the worlds leading platform and most important event of the year for the commercial design industry. Hula is designed to be hardwearing and comfortable and is intended for contract use in bars restaurants and other hospitality venues.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
TAPE a modular sofa designed by Benjamin Hubert and LAYER for Italian brand Moroso has recently won an Interior Design and ICFF NYCxDESIGN Award in the ’Contract Bench + Stool’ category.
The TAPE sofa is part of a furniture family which also includes a table for Moroso and is the eighth collaboration between Benjamin Hubert and the renowned Italian furniture brand. The Tape collection uses polyurethane tape to bond smaller pieces of textile together which would otherwise be discarded in the upholstery process and treated as waste. The technique was inspired by the sporting industry where tape is used in the construction of snowboarding ski and wet-weather gear.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Benjamin Hubert of experience design agency LAYER has designed PAL a near-future prototype for an intelligent modular personal transport system that embraces AI and machine learning to offer flexible and convenient ’last mile’ travel for Chinese electric vehicle company NIO. Various accessories – bag basket shopping cart – can be affixed to the front of PAL to cater to the users lifestyle and changing needs.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
The PAL app was developed by LAYER for Chinese electric vehicle company NIO designed to offer flexible and convenient ’last mile’ travel. The PAL app connects to the smart modular scooter via a wireless bluetooth earpiece using NIOs NOMI system an artificially-intelligent digital companion which learns its drivers self-interests and other information to meet their needs.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Hula was launched at the Andreu World stand in the Fiera during Salone Del Mobile in Milan and will be on show at Clerkenwell Design Week in London where Benjamin will be giving a talk on the stools design journey at 5pm on the 22nd of May in the Andreu World showroom – 101-104 Goswell Rd.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Benjamin Hubert and LAYER have launched the AXYL Bench for British furniture brand Allermuir. The sustainable modular bench represents an expansion of the highly successful AXYL collection of chairs and tables.
Designed as a versatile system the modular bench allows users to create hundreds of iterations by mixing and matching finishes colours and elements including colour and finish of the frame and seat length of bench and the option of plywood or cushioned armrests and seat pads. This intelligent adaptability alongside a minimal design language enables the bench to effortlessly fit into soft contract spaces and across a range of hospitality interiors.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Raytrace an immersive installation designed by LAYER for Cosentino one of the worlds leading solid surface brands showcased the innovative material Dekton at Milans Salone del Mobile.
Raytrace was constructed in an underground vault at Milans Stazione Centrale. Inside the dark atmospheric space visitors encountered two huge architectural slabs of Dekton – each measuring 6m in height and 24m in length – seemingly balanced on a single edge creating a triangular passage. Inside this passage a mesmerising caustic pattern slowly played across the surface evoking the dreamlike state of being underwater.
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The AXYL collection for Allermuir was showcased at Milans Salone del Mobile 2019 at Cove an installation designed by LAYER that transformed the Hall of Mirrors at Palazzo Litta into a light and reflective space for visitors.
The architectural installation was designed to contrast with the highly ornate Baroque setting framing pieces from the AXYL collection against minimal backdrops inspired by a photography studio.
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Benjamin Hubert will deliver the keynote speech at Madrid Design Week in February on LAYERs approach and projects including exciting new launches for 2019.
Benjamin will shares his methodology on the 15th of February at 17.45pm in the University COAM Calle de Hortaleza 63 28004 Madrid Spain.
Benjamin Hubert and LAYER have received a prestigious Wallpaper Design Award 2019 for Best Reflective Space for Basket created for Danish furniture brand Fritz Hansen.
Basket is both decorative home accessory and functional storage – it can be used to stack papers magazines books cushions or other items.
The handle makes it easy to pick up and move to another room so you can bring the stored items to wherever they are needed in the home. The handle extends through the basket form to create feet that stabilise the soft basket shape enabling it to stand firmly on the floor whilst being visually pure.
Tape designed by Benjamin Hubert and LAYER for Moroso has won the annual Elle Deco UK Design Award for Best Seating.
The Tape collection uses polyurethane tape to bond smaller pieces of textile together which would otherwise be discarded in the upholstery process and treated as waste. The technique was inspired by the sporting industry where the tape is used in the construction of snowboarding ski and wet-weather gear to create a robust and waterproof furniture system.
Shift designed by Benjamin Hubert and LAYER for Really and Kvadrat has won the annual Elle Deco Japan Design Award for Best Wall Covering.
Shift has the ability to easily transform from a flat acoustic wall panel to a shelf used for display and storage. The flexible system has been designed to maximise space and display areas in response to the constantly changing needs of retail environments. Shift seamlessly adapts to different situations from high-demand sales periods during which storage and display areas needs to be prioritised to launches and openings when floor space and acoustics need to be maximised for entertaining.
Benjamin Hubert Creative Director and Founder of strategic design agency LAYER has been included in the Evening Standards list of most influential people in London.
The annual survey celebrates the top 1000 (or 0.0001%) of Londoners who offer the most influence in their field of expertise.
Benjamin Hubert has delivered the keynote speech at Design Week Turkey in November on LAYERs approach and projects.
The speech was delivered to a sell-out audience of over 1200 visitors during the third edition of the annual design week held in Istanbul.
LAYER has designed two stands for this years designjunction as part of London Design Festival 2018. The Kite stand for the KiteONE eyewear launch plays on the theme of modularity reflecting the concept behind the bespoke made-to-measure collection. The design language is minimal and Scandinavian providing a simple backdrop for the eyewear. The Nolii stand for the launch of 67 product SKUs and Rise a new wireless lamp is a simple series of modernist monoliths that display the companys products in an accessible and minimal fashion.
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Benjamin Hubert will deliver the keynote speech at this years designjunction on Friday the 20th of September 2018 at 11am at the Bargehouse OXO Tower Wharf. The talk will take the audience through a tour of the studios recent product launches the LAYER approach and give an insight into the design entrepreneurs methodology for creating design-led businesses. Tickets to the talk are £8. Please let us know if you can attend and we look forward to seeing you at the event.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Benjamin Hubert of experience design agency LAYER will launch KiteONE a modular 3D-printed eyewear collection for London-based eyewear brand KITE. The collection comprises a 3D printed frame which is manufactured to the specific measurements of the customers head and face to create a bespoke perfectly-fitted pair of frames. The eyewear can be further customised through a choice of four different temple styles three different colours and finishes. The KiteONE collection will launch in September at designjunction as part of London Design Festival 2018.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
In the 12 months since the Nolii brand launched at Somerset House as part of London Design Festival 2017 the LAYER design team has taken the five products from the inaugural collection from prototype to production-ready. The full collection will be on display at designjunction in September as part of London Design Festival 2018. The team has overseen the creation of hundreds of functional prototypes and product samples designed the brands packaging and created a new website. LAYER is also behind the brands art direction and has creatively led and executed all product shoots lifestyle shoots and branding. The five products from Collection 001 – Couple Set Keep Stack and Bundle are now retail-ready and will go on sale at London Design Festival both at the designjunction stand and through the Nolii online store and other partners.
Set and Stack are in pre-production and details may change on the production version.
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Benjamin Hubert of experience design agency LAYER has designed Rise a smart lamp prototype at Designjunction during London Design Festival. Rise is a smart lamp concept which blends the simplicity of wireless charging with sunrise-style wakeup routines to facilitate a more natural morning ritual. Wireless and wired charging capabilities allow you to keep multiple devices charged while you sleep. Light levels and routines can be controlled simply via the Nolii app.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Axyl has been on an awards roll collecting nine accolades in as many months. The collection of recycled plastic and aluminum furniture designed by LAYER for British manufacturer Allermuir has won the Red Dot: Best of the Best award Core77 Design Award Azures AZ Awards: Best Furniture Design a number of awards at Neocon and Best Furniture at the Design Week Awards. We are extremely grateful to all the judges and the team at Allermuir for their belief in the project.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
Nolii the new lifestyle-led tech accessories brand co-founded by Benjamin Hubert and Asad Hamir has won the Land Rover BORN Awards Technology category. This annual competition celebrates exceptional creative achievements in design. As part of the competition Nolii exhibited in Milan Design Week in April. Nolii was born from the belief that technology should simplify and improve everyday life. The inaugural collection comprises five key products that form an intelligent ecosystem of accessories all featuring intuitive functionality and a contemporary minimal design language.
Please email [email protected] for more information and high resolution images
