Sight Unseen x Heymat
Heymat's collaboration, with online magazine Sight Unseen, is a collection paying homage to the legacy of iconic female furniture designers: "The Iconic Women Collection". Each design draws inspiration from famous furniture pieces from the past that are beloved by Sight Unseen's founders, Jill Singer and Monica Khemsurov. We had a chat with Jill and Monica about their thoughts on the design process.
Renowned for their dedication to showcasing the latest trends in design and the visual arts, Sight Unseen also champions uniqueness and encourages individuals to infuse their spaces with their own distinctive style. This philosophy shines through in the new collection for Heymat, where the colorful doormats are meant to complement a thoughtful interior.
Renowned for their dedication to showcasing the latest trends in design and the visual arts, Sight Unseen also champions uniqueness and encourages individuals to infuse their spaces with their own distinctive style. This philosophy shines through in the new collection for Heymat, where the colorful doormats are meant to complement a thoughtful interior.
Why did you want to celebrate women in this collaboration, and what significance does it hold for you?
Design has traditionally been a male-dominated field. It’s something we’ve seen throughout history — Charles Eames was consistently credited more than his wife and collaborator, Ray, for example; same with Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown, Le Corbusier and Eileen Gray, etc — and frankly, it’s something we still see with maddening frequency today. As a women-owned business — and as a design platform dedicated to raising the voices of independent designers who don’t always look like the traditionally vaunted designers of the past — we are particularly sensitive to this kind of neglect. We explored a few other more form-based tropes with this collection, but ultimately decided that honoring some of our favorite female designers from history was the direction we wanted to pursue.
What was it like to design a doormat collection, and how did you approach the process differently compared to other design projects?
A doormat has so many considerations we’ve never thought of before. Because we were working with large planes of color, we had to be cognizant of which colors might show dirt, and we had to be particularly sensitive as to which color combinations would feel at home in an entryway, where they might be competing with all of the other furniture in a room. The designs we created have character, but don’t overpower the rest of the interior.
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“Your home interior isn’t just about a flat notion of “decor” but about how you feel and what you think about when you’re around your objects”
How important is functionality/aesthetics?
When I design a product, I believe in finding a harmonious balance between functionality and aesthetics. Functionality forms the backbone of any successful design as it seamlessly integrates into users’ lives and provides practical solutions. Aesthetics play an equally important role as they evoke an emotional connection and enhance the overall user experience. I aim for designs that are not only visually appealing but also improve the functionality of the product.
What is your relationship with doormats and entryways? What do you think is important in this space?
Doormats often serve as the first point of contact and say a lot about who lives there. When designing something for the hallway, several factors come into play. Functionality is crucial, as a good doormat prevents bringing dirt from the street inside, saving you from vacuuming every day. Aesthetics also play a significant role in setting the desired atmosphere and reflecting the overall style of the home.
The collection aims to complement a thoughtful interior. What advice would you offer to homeowners looking to incorporate these doormats into their existing decor?
We advocate for thinking of each item in your home as something special and worthy of attention and consideration — even your doormat! This is because when you take special care to choose items in your home that you love, even utilitarian ones, it creates an extra moment of happiness for you in your space, and it means that the things you do live with are things you’ll ultimately keep longer and appreciate more.
Debuting during New York Design Week 2024, the Iconic Women Collection has already captivated design enthusiasts worldwide. Featured in both Wallpaper* magazine’s guide to the event and selected as a finalist in the Residential Flooring category for the 2024 NYCxDESIGN Awards, these doormats have been lauded for their innovative approach to indoor mats, perfect for entryways, patios, or balcony doors.
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The collection aims to complement a thoughtful interior. What advice would you offer to homeowners looking to incorporate these doormats into their existing decor?
We advocate for thinking of each item in your home as something special and worthy of attention and consideration — even your doormat! This is because when you take special care to choose items in your home that you love, even utilitarian ones, it creates an extra moment of happiness for you in your space, and it means that the things you do live with are things you’ll ultimately keep longer and appreciate more.
Debuting during New York Design Week 2024, the Iconic Women Collection has already captivated design enthusiasts worldwide. Featured in both Wallpaper* magazine’s guide to the event and selected as a finalist in the Residential Flooring category for the 2024 NYCxDESIGN Awards, these doormats have been lauded for their innovative approach to indoor mats, perfect for entryways, patios, or balcony doors.
Shop the Heymat X Sight Unseen Collection