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The latest works of French design studio Waiting for Ideas—Godspeed, Lift Off Carry-On, Practice Your Swish and PP-1—pay homage to movement, of sports, motorsports and aerospace, by translating the fluidity of motion into static objects of design. Founded by Jean-Baptiste Anotin in 2021, the studio is based in Paris, and weaves visually striking spatial, sculptural, product, art and design narratives. They often collaborate with artists such as Guillaume Grando, painter Iris Marchand, set designer Pierre Vaillant and photographer Mathilde Hiley for a wide range of projects.
Apart from creating furniture designs, the studio creates innovative objects and installations, occasionally working on retail store projects for renowned companies such as Lacoste, Reebok and Shinzo. Alongside launching new designs in aluminium, the studio is gearing up for several showcases this year, including Alcova Milano 2025, the Collectible Fair in Brussels, the Matter and Shape design exhibition and a solo exhibition titled Please, have a seat in Paris, France.
A culmination of precise engineering and bold sculptural design, the Godspeed rocking chair (2025) embodies sharp lines and minimalist geometry. The chair design is inspired by the forms often seen in the motorsport and aerospace industry, reflecting modern racing chassis into its streamlined form. By using aluminium to craft the contemporary design, the French designer ensures durability and underlines the potential of industrial materials in creating unique, lasting art. Existing at the convergence of art and utility, Godspeed presents a dynamic translation of motion into a static object.
The PP-1 turntable (2025) is a monolithic sculpture that facilitates a refined music listening experience through its music technology, while "balancing radical design with intuitive simplicity," according to the project's press release. Crafted from a solid aluminium block, the industrial design eliminates the hassle of operating the tonearm and regulating sound settings. Embodying minimalism into its functionality, PP-1 requires the vinyl to be inserted upside down, ready to play without navigating through any settings. The product designer also pays attention to the technology behind the music design, integrating automatic detectors for the speed of the records, ensuring smooth navigation between the tracks.
Crafted with precision and elegance, the Lift Off Carry-On (2024) ashtray is a smaller, sleeker and portable variant of the Lift Off (2023) piece. Anotin underlines the smooth interlocking mechanism of the product design, drawing parallels with the "grace of a ship descending onto its base". In addition to functioning as an ashtray, the minimalist object also acts as an ideal container to safely store small, valuable items.
Industrial aesthetics meet minimalist design in a stainless steel basketball hoop, featuring meticulous metal craftsmanship and an innovative design approach. Designs for sports seldom exhibit fine artistry like the Practice Your Swish (2024) piece, which attempts to channel the essence of the game. The designer steers away from a conventional hoop, reimagining it without a backboard, encouraging users to focus on the accuracy of their shots.
Designs by Waiting for Ideas showcase a fluid fusion of art, design and engineering, featuring expert craftsmanship and machine precision. Demonstrating versatility across scales and typologies underscores the designer's wide array of interests, from furniture to everyday utilitarian objects. The design explorations, innovative and experimental, are as functionally sound as they are aesthetically pleasing, elevating the living experience within any space.
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