Designer Spotlight: Muée Objects

The name Muée Objects, derived from the French verb “muer” (to molt or transform), directly echoes the story of its founder. Before launching her object design brand, Agathe Legrand first had a career in communications within the cosmetics industry. But gradually, she tells us, she was overtaken by her “love for objects” and all things beautiful. So much so that she left everything behind in 2023 to change direction.

It was a metamorphosis on two levels: a personal transformation for Agathe, but also a transformation of raw material into decorative (and almost collectible) objects. Her current catalog includes four creations, each available in multiple colors: the ceramic set L’Indécis, the Rêverie vase, the ceramic tray Dodu, and a larger, compartmentalized wooden tray called the Conversation Pit.

DODU

These objects draw inspiration from art, photography, fashion, and especially vintage design. Agathe Legrand’s fondness for compartmentalized pieces stems from traditional Japanese bento boxes as well as American school lunch trays, which are divided into small sections. The Conversation Pit, for its part, is a direct nod to the sunken seating areas and gathering spaces that were all the rage in the 1970s.

CONVERSATION PIT

Muée Objects reflects the “playful and childlike” forms, curves, rounded shapes, and bold colors characteristic of that same decade. “I draw a lot from the era, while reinterpreting it,” the designer explains. “It was the age of plastic, for instance, but I work with more natural materials like ceramic.”

Indeed, careful attention to material and production methods remains central to the project.

Agathe made the deliberate choice to have all pieces crafted by artisans based in France. For her, it’s a way to “preserve a local savoir-faire that is increasingly under threat or overlooked,” while also “minimizing the ecological footprint” of her creations as much as possible.

Another key component of the brand’s DNA is the versatility of its pieces. Her objects are not designed for a single, fixed purpose. The Dodu tray, for instance, can be used for serving appetizers, storing jewelry, holding pens, or as a catch-all tray.

“I love being surrounded by things that are beautiful but also useful,” she says. “I designed these objects to blend naturally into the everyday lives of those who own them. They can be used in many different ways, much like a piece of clothing that can be styled in countless ways.”

While craftsmanship will remain “at the heart of Muée Objects’ DNA,” Agathe Legrand is currently working on new prototypes, exploring other kinds of objects and creative directions. “Among other things, I’d love to explore mirror design or lighting,” she shares.

Discover Muée Objects on Perlo, right here.