Background
David Raffoul and Nicolas Moussallem have established a global presence since they set up their studio, david/nicolas, in Beirut in 2011. The two designers met at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts, where they both studied for a bachelor’s degree in interior design, going on to undertake Masters Degrees at the Scuola Politecnica di Design in Milan. After graduating, both undertook internships with international design studios, Nicolas going on to freelance for a year in Beirut while David worked as a designer at Fabrica, in Treviso, Italy. Since 2011, david/nicolas has staged several exhibitions and collaborated with established international brands. The duo’s breakout year came in 2014 at the Milan Design Week during which the New York Times selected them as one of the design week’s three breakout stars. Later the same year, they held their first solo show in Beirut, “Loulou/Hoda” at JM Design Gallery, exhibiting pieces inspired by their grandmothers that combined Oriental and Western as well as antique and contemporary influences. The design duo’s innovative approach to contrasting materials, along with their unique way of blending retro, contemporary and futuristic elements, gives their work a timeless aesthetic that translates to a wide range of projects, from furniture design to high-end bespoke interiors.
Signature Style
david/nicolas “retro-futuristic” aesthetic is rooted in a wide range of influences, from Oriental geometry to antique furniture, to robots, space travel and the music of Daft Punk. The partnership is built on mutual criticism, as much as encouragement. David creates detailed sketches while Nicolas prefers to write down his ideas, and no design is ever completed without both partners’ input. While one is working on a design, the other will often “hack” it, vetoing a particular aspect or suggesting an addition that necessitates a fresh approach. From luxurious private projects car or designing a custom interior for a high-end restaurant, and even refurbishing a classic car, their near obsessive attention to detail means that they leave nothing to chance – every last aspect of every project is designed and produced by the studio.
Showstoppers
From the much-talked-about complete overhaul of a 1992 Porsche Targa to tableware collections that won them the Red Dot Design Award and the Wallpaper* Award, David/Nicolas is making waves in the world of design and reaching the top of exclusive lists such as Wallpaper* Magazine’s POWER 200, as part of their selection of “20 designers under 40”, and the renowned AD 100.
