Philipp Mainzer

Philipp Mainzer (1969–) is a German designer and entrepreneur best known for his work with the brand e15, of which he was co-founder, CEO, and creative driving force. He spent his student years in London, where he studied product design at Central Saint Martins and specialized in architecture at the Architectural Association. It was also in the British capital that, in 1995, he launched the e15 venture—a brand whose name derives from the postal code of the London district where his first workshop was located. His style, infused into all of e15’s unmistakable creations, is characterized by an almost Franciscan sobriety, with minimalist forms that highlight the material quality of what he has always considered his material of choice: solid wood in light, natural tones. His early creations - such as the Bigfoot table (1994) and the Backenzahn stool (1996) - stem from Mainzer’s desire to move beyond the use of cold materials like glass and steel, which were omnipresent in interior design at the time, while still maintaining a strong sense of formal clarity. In the following years, Mainzer relocated both the company and his practice to Frankfurt, Germany, where he was joined in managing the brand by his partner, Farah Ebrahimi. Her influence enabled him to draw new inspiration from the rich and flourishing craft tradition of Iran.