Designer Bethan Laura Wood expresses her desire to create items that offer both rewards and uplifting experiences, the longer one interacts with them.
Bethan freakin' Wood. Just sayin'. This gal's a colorful force to be reckoned with. I've been a fan of her psychedelic wonders for a hot minute, so when I finally met her at her Hackney studio, it felt like a long-lost buddy reunion, even though it was our maiden meet.
Her vibrant vibe was through the roof as she opened the door in a kaleidoscopic dream of a getup. My first impression? This chick's got style, and her work is a damn extension of that.
With a fluffy, snake-like, pop-tufted rug underfoot, I plunged into her kaleidoscopic wonderland of furniture and objects. In the center of it all, like the Pied Piper of Pattern, Wood sat there—a living, breathing embodiment of her whimsical work.
Wood's about to take center stage at the Design Museum's PLATFORM exhibition, a new, free-to-access annual show spotlighting a single designer. She's also slated to reveal some sweet collaborations during Milan Design Week.
But let's not forget Wilma, her faithful studio companion, snuggled up on her lap like a velvety txt-send emoji.
As we chatted, Wood was in the thick of it, juggling numerous projects without losing her bubbly charm or creative fire. I managed to sneak in a question about the exhibition, and she called it "one of the best design exhibitions in London."
Her presence is undeniably a perfect fit for the whimsical vibe of her work. As I shimmied up her spiraling, rainbow "Wisteria Chandelier" (2022), I felt like I was climbing her beard—and I couldn't have been happier about it.
Wood's not just a whiz with colors, you see. Her work is an intricate network of layers, a precise, bewitching puzzle. She's got a system for her design process, making sure that each piece is well-balanced, with no single reference dominating the scene. This ensures that the viewer's eyes are constantly drawn to discover something fresh.
The exhibition is divided into three sections: Desire, Adornment, and Hyperreality. Each section speaks to Wood's fascination with the complex ties we have with inanimate objects. From food and nature-inspired, surreal creations to her intoxicating, quilted furniture pieces, her work flirts with the line between reality and fantasy.
The Hyperreality portion allows Wood to explore the blurry line between natural and artificial, as we've grown more and more connected to the digital world. It's an area of fascination for the artist as she watches our perception of the fake shift, becoming less taboo and more integrated into our daily lives.
Wood's work intentionally straddles the line between art and design, playing with visual cues to spark conversations that wouldn't otherwise happen. In crafting these wondrous, curious pieces, she's found a unique way to elicit strong reactions from viewers, whether they have deep opinions on the matter or not.
Finally, Wood reminisced about a chat with a visitor who marveled at the exhibition, saying it helped her understand her creative daughter's mindset. "That's the beauty of design," Wood mused. "It makes us feel, think, and talk, even if we don't realize it."
Plugged into the matrix of design, Wood's captivating presence will keep us talking for years to come. Don't say I didn't warn you, design rookies—this chick's about to take over theie-fer-cooee world.
PLATFORM: Bethan Laura Wood's vibrant transformation of the Design Museum will keep you flying high until January 2026. You heard it here, bozo! 🌈💕💫🎨👩🎨💅🏽🦸♀️💃🏼
- Bethan Wood's psychedelic art and interior design pieces are a bold extension of her colorful lifestyle, showcasing a trend of vibrant textures and patterns.
- The Design Museum's PLATFORM exhibition, featuring Bethan Wood, will highlight her unique approach to furniture design and decor, creating a whimsical atmosphere that blurs the line between art and design.
- In her Hackney studio, Bethan Wood's interior-design choices, from her kaleidoscopic attire to her textured, pop-tufted rug, reflect her trendsetting lifestyle and home-and-garden aesthetic.
- From quilted furniture pieces to surreal, food-inspired creations, Bethan Wood's work speaks to our complex relationship with inanimate objects, offering a fresh take on interior design and decor in the realm of aging trends.
- Bethan Wood's PLATFORM exhibition at the Design Museum is divided into three sections: Desire, Adornment, and Hyperreality, exploring her fascination with the digital world and its growing integration into our daily lives, offering an immersive glimpse into her creative process and its impact on our perception of reality.
