Michael Sodeau

Michael Sodeau (1969–) is a British designer who achieved notable success particularly in the early 2000s. After graduating from Central Saint Martins College in London, he attracted significant attention while still a student thanks to a project involving unusual “life-saving” furniture designed for an exam together with his brother Mark Sodeau and Nick Crosbie. The following year, in 1995, the three designers declined an appealing collaboration offer from Alessi and, in pursuit of complete creative independence, founded the Inflate studio, dedicated to developing their original concept through a full line of inflatable objects made from vinyl. Vases, bowls, seating, lamps, tableware, and many other items: Inflate’s creations, characterized by bright colors and a strong sense of irony, explored all aspects of domestic living. In 1997, Michael Sodeau left Inflate and his two partners to establish his own independent practice, guided by a different inspiration—clear, decisive forms for functional furnishings—produced mainly by British brands such as Modus, SCP, and Isokon Plus, as well as by the Swedish company Offecct. Among his most successful designs are a series of rattan accessories and lamps, marketed by the Italian brand Gervasoni from 1999 onward, and an elegant pair of scissors created for the Japanese brand Anything and later produced by the Danish company Hay.