How to Collect Design Works

Design is part of everyday life. Lamps on a nightstand, chairs in the dining room, ceramic vases in the bathroom: These pieces turn regular living spaces into expressions of your tastes. “It can be something that you buy, and you live with, and you love forever, so think of it much in the way you’re collecting art,” said Alex Gilbert, director of New York–based design gallery Friedman Benda.

So what exactly are design works? The short answer is that they can be many of the items that populate our most familiar spaces. These works span furniture, decorative arts, and lighting. By and large, they are already household mainstays. Yet, collectors, new and experienced, often overlook the breadth of what design can offer—from elevating common areas to curating a well-rounded collection. For collectors, design works, which span various geographies and periods, can be ideal complements to the artworks already in their homes.

Design is now a core part of the art world. Today, design galleries showcase prominently at art fairs such as TEFAF and Design Miami. These fairs and their participating galleries—along with design auctions at Sotheby’s or Christie’s—have helped to spur new interest and audiences for design works in the art world. “Auction houses were a big part of that growth, but galleries have really moved in to fill that void,” Gilbert said. “There are so many wonderful contemporary design galleries, and many of them have an online presence, so it’s just a matter of finding them and following them on Artsy or Instagram.”

As well as being focused on big-name brands like Charlotte Perriand or Eames, collectors have turned to design work made by lesser-known, emerging names across the board. “During the last decade, a new market has emerged for vintage and contemporary design.…You have this new wave of design mixed with art,” said Olivier Garcé of Lisbon-based design gallery Garcé & Dimofski.

Here, we speak to expert dealers from leading design galleries about what collectors need to know about the design market, purchasing design works, and how to start collecting.

The appeal of design lies in its versatility and reflection of individual style. Chairs, light fixtures, tables, and other common household items fall into the category of design, so it’s likely that you already live among these pieces. One of the most rewarding parts of approaching these works as a collector is that they provide a new vantage point to engage with both art history and design.

“Owning a design collection is rewarding because it allows you to surround yourself with unique, beautiful objects that reflect your taste and have a story and a history,” said Giorgia Zen, gallery manager of Italian design gallery robertaebasta.

A pragmatic consideration for collectors is spatial limitations within their display environments. As wall space becomes saturated with paintings and prints, incorporating three-dimensional design elements allows collectors to use floor and surface areas effectively. This adds dimension to an art collection and a household, where the entire space is considered.

“It seems obvious, but you start to run out of wall space at a certain point in time,” said Gilbert. “It’s really exciting to think that you have all these other [spaces] that have yet to be filled in your house, so it’s furniture and rugs and lighting and glass objects, and it really opens up the opportunities, and it makes for a much richer kind of tapestry.”

These pieces also have the potential to increase in value, much like contemporary paintings and prints. “What makes design collectible and interesting for collectors is the fact that there is value in what you are buying, and it’s not just a piece for the present,” said Garcé. “It’s a piece that you will keep, and the value will get higher and higher following the market. Designers are not considered just designers anymore; they are often a mix between designers and artists, and the boundaries are almost disappearing.”

Making that first purchase requires a healthy mix of trusting your instincts and doing the proper research. “Collecting is always linked to some kind of an emotional appeal,” said Valerie Goodman, founder of Valerie Goodman Gallery in New York.

That said, the gallerist emphasized that it’s never been simpler to find information online about the work and designer before making the purchase. “The more informed you are, the better collector you are, and there’s tons of information online,” she added.

Galleries are ideal guides to steer you in the right direction. Many specialize in particular historical periods and niches and can help to hone your tastes. “Making your first purchases can be daunting, so having the help of an expert can be valuable,” said Zen. “It can help you understand the significance and quality of a piece and assist you in considering how it will fit into your space—both aesthetically and functionally.”

Many gallerists advise to start small. The first purchase doesn’t need to be a massive piece like a dining room table or chaise lounge. Smaller design works, like decorative ceramics or lighting fixtures, can ease you into collecting.

“[For] collectors that are just beginning, ceramics is a really incredible place to start a design collection because there’s a lot of crossover into the fine art world with that medium, and price points are not necessarily astronomical to start a collection in that space,” said David Alhadeff, founder of leading North American design gallery The Future Perfect. He pointed to the works of Eric Roinestad and Floris Wubben as examples.

Once you’ve made your first purchase, finding new designers becomes a consistent practice. The key is to maintain relationships with gallerists while continuing your research on platforms like Artsy or Instagram. It’s essential to stay ahead of the trends and to find what interests you.

“The gallery has a lot to offer here because they’re validating some of the work,” said Alhadeff. “So, what you’re looking for is an artist with a trajectory of a future career, future talent. What you want to buy is stuff that will hold its value for the future.”

Design works, especially if used on an active basis, will inevitably show some signs of wear. “Tear is part of the work,” said Goodman. “But it’s not necessarily a bad thing. If you see an old bronze, it actually brings personality to the piece. If it has the patina, it’s a good thing.”

Patina is a common term used by design gallerists that refers to the natural wear of any given piece. Even if patina is to be expected, it’s crucial to take proper care of your design collection. Chairs, couches, tables, and more are subject to daily use and, therefore, some weathering. However, this underscores another reason to make informed decisions about purchases. “High-quality materials and craftsmanship of these works provide a strong foundation for their longevity,” said Zen. Nonetheless, he advised to avoid high humidity and chemical cleaners.

All that considered, Alhadeff notes the beauty that comes with age. This is part of the historical element of these works, as well as their importance in the home. “The patina, if you will, becomes part of the value of that piece,” he said. “When people buy a beautiful historical design work—let’s say it’s a leather chair and the leather is cracked and broken in and scratched and the cushions are a bit rumply—that’s not considered undesirable.… It’s part of the value of the piece, so I wouldn’t be too afraid to live with the work that you have.”

Restoration might be something that is required after some time. Several design galleries offer restoration services for when routine maintenance is no longer sufficient.

Once you begin to learn more about the artworks, galleries, and designers that you like, you have the springboard to start building a collection.

Here are six tips for getting started on building a collection of design works:

• Use online resources. There has never been such an abundance of information right at your fingertips. Check out work from all over the world using online platforms and databases. “Online platforms—like Artsy—are essential resources where you can see works from all over the world,” said Zen.
• Start at home. This allows you to gradually understand what types of design resonate most with your personal aesthetic and your home’s functional needs. “You can live with great objects and things—it opens up opportunities in your space, no matter how big or how small,” said Gilbert.
• Visit galleries and showrooms. As well as seeing design works in person, forming relationships with gallerists is critical when starting your collection. As you develop your tastes and begin to acquire more pieces, these become crucial. “It’s a dialogue with the gallery and the young collectors or people starting collecting. It’s good to start a relationship,” said Goodman.