black+blum

black+blum creates and markets products for the home and office, combining ruthless practicality with a mischievous and intellectually satisfying design aesthetic. At black+blum we are driven by the opportunity to give each design its own character. Their brief is to create functional products that charm and entertain.

black+blum is passionate about creating beautiful, original designs which are underpinned with functionality. black+blum  has an eclectic taste and this shows through in the varying aesthetics of our different ranges. They design in house, but also collaborate with the most talented designers worldwide, bringing the finest products to market.

Dan Black and Martin Blum met while studying industrial design at Northumbria University. In 1998, not long after graduating, they formed black+blum. Although the company started as a consultancy, their passion lay in developing and selling their own designs and they launched their first range of lighting in 2000. The range quickly grew and they entered the homeware market in 2002, with the launch of their iconic James the doorman.

Other award winning designs followed swiftly, with the propello fan, loop candelabra and Box appetit lunchbox. The designs were adventurous in diversity of category and aesthetic, but always consistently underpinned with function and fun. In 2014 Dan took over the reins of the organisation and steered black+blum into becoming the design house behind several homeware ranges, with each one having its own individual category and recognisable aesthetic.