Lee Broom, designer-scenographer

Having studied theatre and fashion at London’s Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, Lee Broom cut his design teeth working for the High Priestess of Punk Fashion, the late, great Vivienne Westwood. 
In 2007, he went on to set up his own lighting and furniture brand.  His designs are minimalist, elegant and often highly staged, focusing on playing around with classics and giving them an exciting new spin. Each of his exhibitions is a veritable custom-made “show”, akin to a carefully curated catwalk extravaganza. 

In a few words, what would you say you carry over to design from the world of fashion? 

Lee Broom: The need for relentless reinvention with each new collection that is launched. Every object, every collection that I create experiments with a brand-new take on a material or a shape. 
Say I create a lighting collection one season, I’ll then think about focusing on a furniture collection the next time around. 
In the design world, collections are launched at a totally different pace to fashion collections, but the world of fashion has left me with an insatiable appetite for revival and the art of performance. 

Was staging a haute couture fashion show one of your childhood dreams? 

Lee Broom: Yes, absolutely, and even working on the staging for an opera! In 2020, I launched my Musico Chair, which was one of the products I exhibited at the January 2023 edition of Maison&Objet. We had originally intended to organise an event in Milan specifically to launch this product, but it ended up being cancelled because of the pandemic. So instead, I put together a special launch film featuring a full-blown orchestra. The musicians were all playing their instruments sitting on my chairs, whose contours echo the coils of a musical instrument. We filmed the footage at the iconic Abbey Road Studios in London, made famous by the Beatles.  I’m from a theatrical background, so the art of performance is a crucial part of the way I approach design. Vivienne Westwood, her theatrical fashion shows and her performances provide endless inspiration for my work. I want people to find my collections challenging, surprising and moving. 

Your “Divine Inspiration” exhibition, which generated a huge buzz in 2022, was specifically curated with the venue in mind. What role did the building play in your design process? 

Lee Broom: I’ve always been inspired by architecture, and notably by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Mies van der Rohe.  
The backdrop for each of my shows consequently serves as a starting point for the concept. 
Although it was simply a gallery, the venue in Milan had an ecclesiastic and religious vibe, and I wanted to make the exhibition feel spiritual. 

Stepping into a space staged by Lee Broom is like stepping onto a movie set and feeling as though those playing a starring role left just minutes ago. You can picture the whole scenario. What role does cinema play in your work? 

Lee Broom: It’s fair to say that I’m a massive film enthusiast, and I’m particularly drawn to the idea of telling a story and playing around with historical references. 
The 1973 film “Holy Mountain” from Franco-Chilean filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky, for example, has provided me with lots of inspiration. 
Fellini and his Roman backdrops inspire me, too. The films “Casanova” and “Orlando” notably made a big impression on me. 

What about colour? What role does it play in terms of your products and making them sing in their surroundings? 

Lee Broom: When I’m designing products, the choice of materials always takes precedence over colour. 
If I do use colour, I opt for monochromatic hues to set the tone for my exhibitions, imbuing them with a specific vibe and differentiating each one from the next. Restricting myself to just one colour ensures that the product takes centre stage in an installation. 

From curating your temporary exhibitions to designing your own bespoke penthouse-showroom in the heart of New York’s Tribeca district, staging spaces and telling the stories behind your products is your signature design style. 
What role does experiential design play within the American market? 

Lee Broom: It is extremely important for American clients to be able to see, touch and feel products. 
That is why I opted for an apartment/penthouse format for my New York showroom. It is a space that allows me to push the concept to its limits. For the first time ever, my products are being showcased in a private interior rather than as part of a temporary exhibition. The way the Lee Broom Penthouse has been designed encourages clients to picture my pieces in their own homes. The furnishings are tailored to the space. It creates a brand-new narrative that potential clients can embrace, identify with and then ultimately run with themselves. 

Last but not least, what is the best piece of advice you have ever been given by your peers? 

Lee Broom: Vivienne Westwood, who was a born storyteller, once said “Do your own thing!”
That phrase has since become my mantra.