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.

Certainly, from household items such as vases, candlesticks, lamps, armchairs and sofas - with many finding their way into the permanent collections of museums - to the interiors for restaurants, shops and hotels, Mr Hayon's creations definitely don't whisper. His interior design for Spanish hotel group Barceló's new property in Madrid, for example, has been given the full Hayon treatment. It includes a large zebra-striped bear, complete with brass top hat, that welcomes guests into a playful lobby loaded with vivid details from golden glazed ceramics, a giant-sized drinks cabinet that makes up the bar, a series of contemporary Spanish-themed photography and furnishings by brands such as Cassina, BD Barcelona, Arflex and Gubi. "I am inspired by lost or faraway worlds," says Mr Hayon. "I wanted to create a unique space that represents a new vision of Spain, far from the traditional aesthetic."

These days, the designer is based with his family in Valencia, a move that happened organically, he says; after extending their visits to the city so many times, they realised they were living there. "After having lived in a huge and complicated city like London, Valencia was a breath of fresh air: natural, simple, small and sunny," he explains. "I love early morning walks, having the beach close by and being able to sit on a terrace and draw."

With a list of upcoming projects that includes the design for a new hotel in London's Battersea Power Station, an Asian art tour which is due to kick off in Taipei this year, a rumoured residential scheme - his first large-scale architectural project - and further furniture pieces for Fritz Hansen, &Tradition, Magis and Parachilna among others, Mr Hayon certainly seems to have captured the elusive work-life balance. As he adds: "Enjoy life and work as much as possible. For sure, there's a tremendous effort behind the work, but when you do what you are passionate about, it flows."