Larger than life

Jaime Hayon is a busy man. Just this year alone, he has unveiled new designs for furniture brands &Tradition and Wittmann; assembled a kaleidoscopic installation with quartz manufacturer Caesarstone; curated a hotel set-up with Scandinavian furniture maker Fritz Hansen; and revealed a new installation at Atlanta's High Museum of Art.

A man who needs little introduction, in the 17 or so years since he established his own studio, Madrid-born Mr Hayon has skyrocketed to fame as one of the world's most successful designers, collaborating with big-name brands from Bisazza to Ceccotti, Swarovski and Camper.

Yet, despite his meteoric rise, the designer has retained his approachability, which has earned him a reputation as the industry's fun guy, the smiley-face of design (there aren't many people who can get away with posing for a magazine dressed as a sheep). Indeed, it's this humour that has driven his success, with his whimsical, freewheeling and bold style revealed through a lively line-up of products: fantasy figurines in porcelain for Lladro; crystal-shaded chandeliers for Swarovski; bulbous stackable stools in felt and plastic for Moooi; and colourful dancing shoes for Camper. "Good design never gets old and gives you more than what you expect," he says.