Raw Edges

Both born in Tel Aviv in 1976, Yael Mer and Shay Alkalay studied at the Bezalel Art & Design Academy in Jerusalem before moving to London. After obtaining a diploma from the Royal College of Art in 2006, they founded the Raw Edges Design Studio. Yael likes to fold slim layers of all sorts of material as if they were paper, creating curved volumes and functional forms, while Shay has a passionate interest in a world where things move, function and interact.

These two different approaches come together to create a series of original projects, characterised by a keen sensitivity towards the environment. 2009 was an important year: in addition to the Elle Decoration International Design Award for Stack by Established & Sons, in the Furniture section, at Design Miami/Basel the duo received the Designers of the Future Award 2009. They work with a number of international brands and producers, such as Arco, Cappellini, Bauhaus Ceramic Japan, Established & Sons and Stella McCartney.

“First of all, after meeting Mutina’s partners we were ‘infected’ by their great energetic approach toward ceramics and their willingness to promote design within this field and it also seems that they enjoy their work and each other’s company.

We wanted Folded to effect the interiors where it would be installed in a slightly surreal way, such as having steamy hot shower surrounded by ‘paper tiles’, stepping with bare wet feet on delicate ‘folded floor’ or entering a massive hall covered with ‘unfolded paper’“.