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Sight Unseen x Heymat

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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.

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.

“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.

Shop the Heymat X Sight Unseen Collection