The theatrical world of Lee Broom is celebrated in a new book

In the 15 years since launching his studio and eponymous brand, British designer Lee Broom has got us used to larger than life theatrical presentations and product compositions inspired by history and fashion. 

Broom now celebrates his studio and brand with a new interior design book, Lee Broom: Fashioning Design. Published by Rizzoli, the book charts his career influences using his background in fashion and theatre as the starting point. 

'For any designer, the point at which they release a monograph is a very special one, a milestone of sorts,' says Broom. 'Most creative people will tell you they don't look back on their older work; we are so focused on creating now and what we plan to create for the future. So when you are forced to look back it can almost be a cathartic experience. I was surprised how different I am as a designer now in comparison to when I started, and I am more conscious of the journey I have been on and how my work has evolved.'

Lee Broom: Fashioning Design

Written by Becky Sunshine, the book opens with a foreword by milliner Stephen Jones and further contributions by Kelly Wearstler, Christian Louboutin and Vivienne Westwood (the last being an early mentor of Broom, when he started his career in fashion).

‘I consider myself a storyteller and have always designed emotionally since my time in fashion,’ says Broom. ‘It’s visceral, but balanced with a focus on materiality, form, and function. It is also about the double meaning in my designs and the reinvention of what is familiar to create newness. The idea is of almost fashioning design and evolving what exists already into something new and unexpected.’

The book is divided into four thematic sections, each exploring an aspect of Broom’s universe. ‘Art Form’ looks at Broom’s relationship with architecture and the compositions he favours throughout his work. ‘History Repeats Itself’ is an overview of the designer’s fascination with history and his penchant for looking at ancient techniques and styles. Exploring his approach to materials and techniques, ‘Material Boy’ is an overview of experiments and collaboration. And finally, ‘Drama of Design’ delves into Broom’s theatre experience and how that informed his particular affinity for the dramatic presentations that offer an immersive experience to visitors approaching his work. 

'I was very young when I was a child actor and performing in the theatre, so that idea of seeing my work as a performance is sort of instilled in me, it's part of my DNA,' he says. 'Then fashion was my education, so to this day the discipline that I apply to my product design all stems from that training. I don't purposefully channel these two disciplines, it is just part of my being.'

Broom's latest collection, launched at Fuorisalone 2022 and titled ‘Divine Inspiration’, was a great example of his work's theatricality. Developed over several rooms, the collection's display was inspired by spiritual spaces and offered a multisensory experience through sound and scent. 'I don't see why a display of furniture and lighting cannot evoke the same emotions one might feel when looking at a piece of art or seeing a theatrical performance. I like to play with those concepts in my shows. The product however is the star and that is what our main focus is always applied to. '

‘Ultimately, what Lee designs is not just a lamp or just a chair, but an object created with a unique character of its own,’ writes Jones. ‘Each of the pieces he designs are almost like his children, gently nurtured and formed, carefully considered and constructed with precision but then let go to do their own thing in the world.’

Lee Broom: Fashioning Design is published on 15 November 2022 by Rizzoli

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