Brass Monkos Candleholder with Black Exterior by Jaime Hayon for Paola C.

Born in Madrid, Spain in 1974, artist-designer Jaime Hayon studied industrial design at the Instituto Europeo di Diseño in Madrid, graduating in 1997. The following year, he completed the industrial design program at the École nationale supérieure des arts décoratifs (ENSAD) in Paris. After school, he began working as a trainee at the Benetton Group’s Fabrica studio in Treviso, Italy, under the tutelage of Oliviero Toscani. After a year, Hayon was appointed head of the design department, where he oversaw the development of multiple interior and graphic design projects. He established Hayon Studio in 2000 in Madrid. In 2002, he launched a second studio in Treviso; in 2003, he moved the Spanish office to Barcelona; in 2007, he opened a London studio. Today, he operates from three locations: the Valencia space focuses on creative work; Treviso is dedicated to technical design, 3D renderings, and technical development; and the Barcelona office handles communication and press.

Hayon works in the overlap between art, decoration, and contemporary design, creating furniture, products, sculptures, fashion, interiors, and conceptual installations. His clients include Baccarat, Benetton, Adidas, Fritz Hansen, Bisazza, Magis, Fabergé, Established & Sons, Camper, and the Groninger Museum, among others. His work has been exhibited across the globe, including the Vitra Design Museum in Weil am Rhein and the Design Museum in London.

Hayon’s list of awards includes the 2006 Elle Deco International Design Award, the 2008 award for Best Designer from Elle Deco Japan, the 2009 Designer of the Year award from AD Russia, and the 2010 Maison & Objet Designer of the Year award. In 2008, he was guest of honor at Belgium’s Biennale Interieur, the youngest person ever to receive the accolade.

Hayon lives in Valencia.

Founded in 2000, Paola C. is the result of the creative relationship between founder Paola Coin and in-house artistic director Aldo Cibic. They began producing household accessories and objects over which people can share moments, memories and encounters. The collection started with a line of hand-finished ceramics and a line of hand-blown glass objects. The research has since expanded with the exploration of other materials including wood, metal and silver-plating. The following projects consist of cooperative projects and exhibitions with design schools, which lead to a lot of lucky encounters, including one with Bijoy Jain which led to a Woodwork exhibition in 2012. In 2014, Paola C. decided to add to the collection a series of short stories that relate to the creation of the objects that they produce and design. The first story designed by Jaime Hayon in 2014, was followed by Tavola Gioia by Aldo Cibic, Dolce Vita by Cristina Celestino, Paesaggio Lunare by Elisa Ossino and Coquille by Chiara Andreatti. The commitment of Paola C. to give a chance to the youngest faces to design continues leading to dedicated exhibitions all around the world.