French designer Ferréol Babin has unveiled his first collaboration with Italian design house Cassina, debuting a two-piece lighting collection titled Polyshape. Available in both table and floor formats, the new lamps mark Babin’s entry into Cassina’s prestigious design catalogue under the brand’s Patronage programme. The initiative, led by Cassina’s creative director Patricia Urquiola, aims to support and spotlight emerging designers through real-world production and global exposure.
Functional Aesthetics Meet Geometric Minimalism
The Polyshape collection reinterprets Babin’s typically organic approach through a structured geometric lens. Each lamp is composed of stacked, clean-lined forms—from a cylindrical base to a rectangular stem and matching head—reflecting a modular, minimalist sensibility. “From its supporting cylindrical base to its rectangular stem and head,” explained the brand, “the piece is a study in compositional balance.”
Constructed entirely from metal and available in four bold colours—grey, blue, red and green—the lamps are tailored for contemporary interiors while retaining a sense of playful precision. The pieces feature dimmable LED lighting controlled via a tactile, spherical switch located at the base. On the floor lamp version, this same control also operates a secondary light source placed at the top of the structure, which casts a soft, ambient glow.
Design Innovation Through Craft and Collaboration
Unlike Babin’s earlier work—often centred on hand-carved wooden objects with fluid forms—the Polyshape series explores the boundaries of industrial fabrication and minimalist geometry. “This project is a new direction for me,” Babin has said in past interviews, noting the transition from organic to architectural influences.
The collection is part of Cassina’s ongoing commitment to mentorship through its Patronage programme, which Urquiola describes as “an opportunity not only to design a piece for us but also to exhibit it in a show or project which we then promote on the world stage.” Each year, the programme selects one or two emerging designers and gives them the platform to develop and launch a product under the Cassina name.
With Polyshape, Babin joins a growing list of next-generation talents being nurtured by one of Italy’s most respected design houses. The blend of high functionality, sculptural form and vibrant colour makes Polyshape a versatile addition to both residential and hospitality environments.
The full Polyshape collection is now available through Cassina’s official website.