London based artist and designer Yinka Ilori launched his eponymous homeware collection back in 2020, right at the height of the pandemic. A tonic for our home-fatigued eyes, his bright and bold pieces have been brightening up dreary corners ever since. Below, Yinka shares his shopping picks, from cheery ceramics to stylish rugs.
… I love its bold contrast of colours and dynamic shapes—it’s such a vibrant and fun addition to the kitchen.
… whether in the car, the studio, or at home, it fuels my mind and creativity. I love how Beats have embraced functionality and design through this piece–the ‘pill-like’ shape and bright pop of red is really striking!
… and how they’re able to trigger nostalgia, bring calm to an environment, and how they add beauty and character to a room. One of my go-tos is Vryao – I love their colour ways, association with positive emotions, and the porcelain vessel they live in.
… During my first year, we completed a project called ‘Our Chair’. It was inspired by Martino Gamper’s chair series ‘100 chairs in 100 days’. It’s a fascinating read which opened my eyes to new ways of working and understanding the importance of storytelling through chairs.
… with patterns inspired by nature’s blooms, reminding us to keep on dreaming.
… the brighter, the better! Dusen Dusen has always stood out to me for their ability to seamlessly blend art and design, as well as for how they use color in such a striking, playful, and creative way.
… I love how they’ve approached this blanket in their signature pattern, but with a bold splash of colour.
… This is the latest addition to my series of mugs featuring artwork that encourages us to never give up on our hopes and dreams.
…I love that they are versatile, functional and decorative.
… with this trio of socks that translate some of my favourite artwork patterns.
… and in more ways than one. It’s also chargeable so it gives you the opportunity to be creative and position it anywhere you’d like.
…however its muted colours still allow it to mix well in any environment.
…this umbrella is made from recycled plastic bottles and features a bright sunshine repeat pattern.
… and artists like King Sunny Ade help keep me inspired, uplifted, and rooted in my rich culture. He is one of the originators of African-Pop and this collection, backed by his band called African Beats, is one of my favourites.
