The Putman Legacy, a New Generation

To mark the centenary of Andrée Putman’s birth, the eponymous Studio is launching two awards dedicated to emerging talent. An initiative that extends the legacy of the French designer while asserting a conviction: design is as much about passing on knowledge as it is about creating anew. For this inaugural edition, two graduates of École Camondo, Charlotte Monnier and Stanislas Derrey, were honoured. The latter will present his work at Rendez-vous de la matière on 8 and 9 October at the Carreau du Temple.

A major figure in French design, Andrée Putman (1925–2013) established a distinctive aesthetic, combining rigorous lines, timeless elegance and a taste for contrasts. A language that continues to inspire without ever becoming trapped in nostalgia. Since Aurélie Laure took over as Managing Director in 2025, with Olivia Putman as Artistic Director, the Studio has entered a new chapter in its history. To mark the centenary of its founder, it is developing a programme that brings together contemporary creations, iconic reissues and interior architecture projects. Emerging talent naturally has its place within this new landscape.

In collaboration with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs and École Camondo, the Studio has created two awards: the Prix Andrée Putman de la Jeune Création and the Emerging Talent Award, with an international scope. Presented on 10 September as part of Paris Design Week, they recognise two projects selected from among the 102 graduates of Camondo’s 2026 class, which itself chose to honour the designer by taking her name.

DIGITAL AT HAND

Winner of the Prix Andrée Putman de la Jeune Création, Stanislas Derrey explores another way of interacting with digital tools through Form Synthesizer. His project reimagines the computer as an instrument for creation, one that can be handled with the same spontaneity as a musical instrument. By replacing conventional interfaces with tangible, analogue devices, the designer seeks to make digital creation more intuitive, almost physical. Here, the hand takes centre stage: no longer merely issuing commands, it experiments, adjusts and composes.

This approach opens up compelling possibilities for design practices, where the omnipresence of digital tools can sometimes create a distance between gesture and material. By reintroducing a sensory dimension to interaction, Stanislas Derrey invites us to consider technology not as a constraint, but as an extension of craftsmanship and imagination.

It is precisely this work that visitors will be able to discover at Rendez-vous de la Matière, on 8 and 9 October at the Carreau du Temple. An opportunity to meet a young designer whose research resonates with the fair’s core concerns: the place of gesture, experimentation and new ways of designing.

A NOCTURNAL JOURNEY

Meanwhile, Charlotte Monnier receives the Emerging Talent Award for Le 34, Traversée Lunaire. Her project transforms a Parisian gallery into a nocturnal bar, whose atmosphere evolves in rhythm with the lunar cycle. From the dimness of the new moon to the revelation of the full moon, light, materials and perception combine to create an immersive experience. The space becomes a narrative, inviting visitors to move through different atmospheres rather than simply observe them.

In November, Charlotte Monnier will present her project at the Andrée Putman Gallery in New York. Stanislas Derrey, meanwhile, is currently exhibiting his work at the Studio’s Paris gallery.

For this inaugural edition, Maison Christofle has also joined the initiative, offering each of the two laureates a tray from the Vertigo collection, designed by Andrée Putman. A symbolic gesture connecting an emblematic creation with those now shaping the contours of tomorrow’s design.

By making transmission one of the highlights of its centenary celebrations, the Studio Andrée Putman reminds us that the legacy of a great signature lies not only in its objects, but also in its ability to open up new paths. •

Photos: Form Synthesizer © Stanislas Derrey • Acte I, Scene III, L’Antichambre © Charlotte Monnier • Acte I, Scene II, Le Piano Lounge © Charlotte Monnier