The Unimportance of Form, Jasper Morrison

The Unimportance of Form and Other Arguments gathers the early writings of British designer Jasper Morrison, written between 1984 and 2002 and collected and edited by industrial designer Sina Sohrab. Published together here for the first time, these texts map the formation of ideas that would come to define his practice: the responsibilities of design, the value of usefulness, and the quiet authority of ordinary things. From autobiographical manifestos and his 1985 RCA thesis to later essays, musings, and even notes for an unfinished novel, this compendium of 31 texts captures the honing of a lifelong argument about what design is—and what it should be. Taking its title from his 1991 essay The Unimportance of Form, one of his most searching critiques of the designer’s role, the book offers rare access to the early thinking of one of design’s most influential figures, from ideas behind objects not yet iconic to reflections on his expanding relationship with the industry. Celebrated for objects that feel as though they were always meant to exist, Jasper is also a sharp, sceptical, and often humorous writer. A longtime contributor to the Apartamento world—including The Hard Life Notebook (2016) and his introduction to Miguel Milá: A Life in Design—this volume provides a singular glimpse into the formative ideas that would shape a remarkable career.

About Jasper Morrison
Jasper Morrison is a British designer known for furniture, lighting, tableware, and everyday objects that fit seamlessly into daily life. Born in London in 1959, he studied at Kingston Polytechnic, the Royal College of Art, and Berlin’s HdK, and founded his Office for Design in 1986. He made his name with works such as Thinking Man’s Chair (1985) and the Plywood Chair (1988), and has gone on to design furniture and products for companies including Vitra, Flos, Cappellini, Muji, Alessi, and many others. Morrison co-curated the influential Super Normal exhibition in 2006 with Naoto Fukasawa, which became a defining moment in his practice. Alongside a canon of published books, including A World Without Words (2011), The Good Life (2014), and Super Normal (2006), his contributions to design have earned him membership in the Royal Designers for Industry, a Compasso d’Oro, and a CBE.

Published by Apartamento Publishing S.L.
Release date: April 8, 2026
Dimensions: 240 x 210 mm
Pages: 184
Binding: Softcover
ISBN: 978-84-09-83346-7

Shipping method: DHL/UPS courier service with tracking.
Delivery time: 2–4 days from the shipping confirmation.