From the family workshop to object publishing: the story of Kann design
Kann design is a brand - founded twelve years ago by Houssam Kanaan and Meghedi Simonian - that publishes furniture objects made in the family workshop in Lebanon.
January 23, 2023
The story of Kann design begins in 1958 in Lebanon in the carpentry workshop founded by Kanaan, the father of Houssam Kanaan. Twelve years ago, Houssam Kanaan and his partner, Meghedi Simonian, founded Kann design, a publishing house for furniture objects made in the family workshop.
Today, the workshop is run by Samer Kanaan, Houssam's brother, and is both the base of the publishing house and its only production unit. It is not uncommon for a certain know-how, a manufacturing or assembly technique to be at the origin of certain creations.
Kanaan, the founder of the carpentry workshop and samer, the manager (photo from kanndesign.com)
On the publisher's side, meetings with designers take place in various ways, such as at trade fairs, openings or when designers come directly to the Kann design showroom to present their work.
The profile of the designers with whom Kann design collaborates is quite varied: some have already been published, others never. In both cases, the process is the same: Kann analyses the designers' work and reviews the objects designed or edited to understand the identity of the designer. Then the project must be in line with the brand's marketing objectives. Two years ago, for example, Kann set itself the goal of developing three chairs. The designer Léonard Kadid came to the workshop at that time and presented them with a project for a kit chair that would become the Tall collection. This was a first for the workshop, which had never worked on a similar type of chair.
Sketch of the Tall chair designed by Léonard Kadid (photo from kanndesign.com)
The Tall Chair designed by Léonard Kadid (photo from kanndesign.com)
In some cases, it is Houssam and Meghedi who take the initiative for a project. In all cases, the process is often long (between one and a half and two years) and Houssam travels regularly to Lebanon to follow the making of the prototype and to validate it. He appreciates this stage as well as his role as intermediary between the designers and the production workshop.
Finally, Houssam wishes that publishers could be more open to the work of emerging designers. He recognises that both parties need to learn to understand each other better. Designers need to understand the expectations and problems of publishers. He advises not to hesitate to knock on doors, to follow decision-makers via articles or social networks to understand the people involved and to propose a project that corresponds to their expectations.
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From the family workshop to object publishing: the story of Kann design
Kann design is a brand - founded twelve years ago by Houssam Kanaan and Meghedi Simonian - that publishes furniture objects made in the family workshop in Lebanon.
January 23, 2023
The story of Kann design begins in 1958 in Lebanon in the carpentry workshop founded by Kanaan, the father of Houssam Kanaan. Twelve years ago, Houssam Kanaan and his partner, Meghedi Simonian, founded Kann design, a publishing house for furniture objects made in the family workshop.
Today, the workshop is run by Samer Kanaan, Houssam's brother, and is both the base of the publishing house and its only production unit. It is not uncommon for a certain know-how, a manufacturing or assembly technique to be at the origin of certain creations.
Kanaan, the founder of the carpentry workshop and samer, the manager (photo from kanndesign.com)
On the publisher's side, meetings with designers take place in various ways, such as at trade fairs, openings or when designers come directly to the Kann design showroom to present their work.
The profile of the designers with whom Kann design collaborates is quite varied: some have already been published, others never. In both cases, the process is the same: Kann analyses the designers' work and reviews the objects designed or edited to understand the identity of the designer. Then the project must be in line with the brand's marketing objectives. Two years ago, for example, Kann set itself the goal of developing three chairs. The designer Léonard Kadid came to the workshop at that time and presented them with a project for a kit chair that would become the Tall collection. This was a first for the workshop, which had never worked on a similar type of chair.
Sketch of the Tall chair designed by Léonard Kadid (photo from kanndesign.com)
The Tall Chair designed by Léonard Kadid (photo from kanndesign.com)
In some cases, it is Houssam and Meghedi who take the initiative for a project. In all cases, the process is often long (between one and a half and two years) and Houssam travels regularly to Lebanon to follow the making of the prototype and to validate it. He appreciates this stage as well as his role as intermediary between the designers and the production workshop.
Finally, Houssam wishes that publishers could be more open to the work of emerging designers. He recognises that both parties need to learn to understand each other better. Designers need to understand the expectations and problems of publishers. He advises not to hesitate to knock on doors, to follow decision-makers via articles or social networks to understand the people involved and to propose a project that corresponds to their expectations.
TIPS
test |
Further info
|
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