Downtown Design
redazione 1/01/2026

Harry Nuriev: Who is the Designer of the Year?

Maison&Objet Paris has named the founder of Crosby Studios, a proponent of a transformative vision aligned with the event's guiding theme, as Designer of the Year

Under the theme “Past Reveals Future”, Maison&Objet constructs a new narrative for contemporary living: a vision that explores heritage and craftsmanship through innovative design processes, adapting to the evolution of forms and functions. Guiding this journey is Harry Nuriev, elected Designer of the Year by the exhibition – a key figure in today’s design landscape, perfectly in tune with the values driving this year’s event. Harry Nuriev’s approach blurs the lines between craftsmanship and contemporary design, riding the wave of a creative manifesto he calls “Transformism”.

Balenciaga sofa, design Harry Nuriev

Balenciaga sofa, design Harry Nuriev

«Transformism is a way of seeing, feeling, and acting», his manifesto reads. «We live in a world saturated with objects, data, and ideas. Today, the real challenge isn’t invention, but perception. It’s not a time for innovation, but for sensibility, empathy, and an honest response to what already exists». He continues: «My creative process doesn’t start with a blank canvas, but with the world as it is. To transform means to give a second life without erasing the origin, to amplify its essence, and to restore meaning to what has been forgotten». Nuriev thus proposes a singular vision of the world he inhabits: a universe populated by objects, fueled by data, and animated by a constant flow of ideas. Balancing collectible design and contemporary art, his creations – whether products or interiors – resonate with the collective unconscious, designed to be accessible, recognizable, and always future-oriented.

Crosby Studios, Royal Houses Exhibition - Mobilier National

Crosby Studios, Royal Houses Exhibition – Mobilier National

Crosby Studios x Jimmy Choo - Photo © Benoit Florencon

Crosby Studios x Jimmy Choo – Photo © Benoit Florencon

With over 30 projects annually across retail, fashion, hospitality, and international cultural institutions, Nuriev divides his time between Paris and New York, where he founded Crosby Studios in 2014. «Two distinct yet complementary energies fuel my creative vision every day», says the designer. «New York shaped me as a designer of objects and spaces thanks to its cultural diversity and unique intensity. Paris pushed me to deepen my emotional connection with the world, to transform the tangible into a visual and spiritual narrative, into art. Coming to France opened a new door for me, a space for experimentation».

Harry Nuriev’s collaborations extend globally, connecting fashion, design, and some of the most prestigious cultural institutions: Balenciaga, H&M, Fusalp, Nike, Delta Air Lines, Dover Street Market, Gucci, Baccarat, Valentino, Westwing, Art Basel, the Louvre, and Mobilier National. «In my creative process, I don’t differentiate between working for Art Basel or another brand. What matters are the people behind the brands and the conversations that can emerge».

Crosby Studio, Design Parade - Toulon - Photo © Luc Bertrand

Crosby Studio, Design Parade – Toulon
Photo © Luc Bertrand

Crosby Studio - Design Parade - Toulon - Photo © Luc Bertrand

At Maison&Objet, the designer makes a return: «The first time I visited Maison&Objet, I had just founded Crosby Studios. I left the fair full of inspiration and new contacts, and immediately felt a strong affinity with its inclusive and community-based approach. What struck me most was the sense of community that Maison&Objet manages to create around the event. Artisans, curators, studios, brands: everyone meets and contributes to an extraordinary collective energy. Unexpected conversations arise everywhere at every edition». Here, he will present a totally immersive and ad hoc scenography to offer a new experience of design inspiration.

Our latest stories

Margraf: 120 years of the future
Minutes icon
2 minutes

Margraf: 120 years of the future

Roberto Xompero, CEO of Margraf, reflects on the company's 120 years. It's a legacy that looks to the future through innovation, design, and sustainability, transforming stone into a design material capable of speaking an ever-contemporary language

Design
24 hours in the Greek islands
Minutes icon
9 minutes

24 hours in the Greek islands

As autumn begins, summer nostalgia starts to set in. The antidote could be an immersion in the contemporary art circuit on the Greek islands. A slow-paced journey through the exhibitions of Hydra, Andros, and Chios, for a profound experience far from the urban chaos

Design
Rivolta Carmignani at home
Minutes icon
1 minute

Rivolta Carmignani at home

In Milan’s Porta Venezia district, a new space designed by Galli Cavalcabò interprets the brand’s textile savoir-faire through a concept inspired by the intimacy of home

Retail
UNIQLO: a place to pause by Desalto
Minutes icon
1 minute

UNIQLO: a place to pause by Desalto

The Unlimited seating system and Mini Clay side table furnish a reading and relaxation area at UNIQLO’s Piazza Cordusio store in Milan, bringing Italian design into dialogue with Japanese fashion

Design
The three dimensions of surfaces
Minutes icon
1 minute

The three dimensions of surfaces

Renowned for its ability to create organic shapes for walls and ceilings, the Wood-Skin® platform evolves into Presentform, a new starting point for shaping space

Design
Home-Maxxing
Minutes icon
1 minute

Home-Maxxing

From 12 to 15 January 2027, Heimtextil returns to Frankfurt with a look at the future of spaces and textiles, where functionality, technology and wellbeing converge. At the heart of the new edition is a collaboration with Alcova

Agenda