About Vanessa Battaglia + Brendan Young

Where did the passion for Shakespeare come from?

The company name Mineheart was inspired by the Shakespearian quote: "Mine eye and heart..." to symbolise our dual passions; a love for tradition craftsmanship and eye for contemporary design which are combined in often surprising and delightful ways within the Mineheart Collection.

How does your design process begin?

The root of our approach is always to surprise and delight. This ethos is carried through in our collaborations. We love discovering designers that take a similarly experimental view of design and work with them to create something unexpected."

What does a regular day at the studio look like?

Every day is different, but one of the most exciting moments is seeing a finished prototype of one of our designs for the first time, that and working on new ideas!

Do you have a favorite fixture or one that you feel best encapsulates the brand?

Mineheart's products often combine familiar elements from the past and present and by playing with different genres and styles they offer a uniquely new perspective. Mineheart's modern day mash-ups blur the line between art and design. Two of Minehearts' most iconic designs include the Persian Cowhide rug, which is a marriage between the two most well-known rug designs in the world, and the King Edison lamp which features a miniature King's chandelier hung within a simple Edison-style glass bulb.

How was Mineheart first launched?

Having both trained and worked in product design, we started a design consultancy together in 2003 out of which grew the Mineheart collection. The collection was born as a result of our desire to create more personal and creative work, without necessarily having a client in mind. The products often combine characteristics from both our backgrounds - Italian art mixed with British design. We enjoy reworking materials and using references to traditional imagery but giving them our twist.

Where did the inspiration for the Gold King Edison Grande come from?

The original King Edison as visited by his cousin Midas - gold cap and gold braided cable enhance the majestic look of this design hybrid. Stately solo, or punchy in groups. We then wanted to combine the pure simplicity of an Edison light bulb with the romance and glamour of a Kings chandelier. So we decided to have a miniature brass chandelier inside a hand blown clear glass shade.