Aire met with Adeline Papon, founder of APAN. She reveals how she thinks about and creates designer furniture.
Can you introduce yourself in a few words?
I'm Adeline Papon, the director of APAN. The company was founded in 2015. I have a diploma in metal design and application from the Boule School of Arts and Crafts. Before that, I had completed several vocational certificates in ironwork and bronze mounting.
What does APAN mean and what do you produce?
APAN is the contraction of my first and last name: Adeline Papon. Funny thing, at a trade show, a Swedish woman told me that "apan" means "little monkey" in Swedish. So I use it often! *laughs* Especially for the Sarù range, which means little monkey in Japanese.
I produce designer furniture made in France. I produce small series, custom creations, and unique pieces. For small series, I create furniture that is functional, playful, and customizable. The unique creations that I produce are made from noble materials such as brass, wood, oak, etc.
How did you get into the world of furniture and custom-made furniture?
Thanks to my training at the Boule school. Afterwards, I worked in a company that manufactured luxury furniture. It was already very ingrained in my mind, I wanted to create my own workshop. After learning well, I decided to set up my own furniture production workshop.
Can you describe your creative process and how you work?
There's always something playful in what I do. My furniture can be assembled, disassembled, and moved. It always has to be functional.
I'm increasingly looking to move towards more environmentally friendly materials. I'm trying to work with recycled plastic and bio-sourced paints.
I also collaborate with designers to provide a professional perspective on the assembly and construction of the furniture. They therefore choose from A to Z how the furniture will be (shape, colors, materials, etc.)
I have clients who ask me for unique creations. So I try to understand the mood they want. I then propose a personalized creation through drawings.
Finally, for small series, I do everything from A to Z. I draw, do the 3D design, the model, the prototype and finally the execution of the series.
Can you expand on the functional design of your Sarù collection?
For the Sarù project, I was given an order for a base. However, at the time I had just assembled my box. I only had my Citroën C1. As a result, the base wouldn't fit in the car! But I had to make my delivery. So I thought of a solution. From there, I had this idea of a nestable and removable base without fixing.
How do you define your job, what qualities are required?
Concerning my job, when I worked for someone else, I did execution. I had a style of furniture to make and I executed the pieces one after the other. So you had to have mastery of gesture and know-how. Being self-employed, I need on the one hand know-how, mastery of gesture and, on the other hand, a great imagination to develop projects. So you have to have many strings to your bow. You have to be a salesperson, an accountant, a salesperson, know how to work on a computer, know how to use software and do all of this in the workshop. It's multi-pass!
Do you think your profession will have to reinvent itself? Especially with the pandemic we're going through?
I tried to digitalize my business, but it wasn't very successful. I got a bit lost in everything that was already available on the internet. As a result, the year was a bit complicated. But for the past four months, things have been going better! I feel like people need to get back to art, to things that come from France, to products with a story behind them. Ultimately, this restart is quite convincing.
In your opinion, does decoration have an impact on our moods and well-being?
Yes, absolutely! Having a beautiful home is very important to me. Beauty has always been essential to the soul of men and women. This is what I am seeing now. For the past few months, people have been interested in beautiful and unique things. They want to have something special. They come to me to have an exceptional piece. I think it is essential to have a beautiful interior and to know where our products come from and how they were made.
Do you have a project that you dream of achieving one day?
There are plenty of projects I'd like to complete. *Laughs* What interests me is subcontracting small series like the Sarù collection. That way, I can focus on unique pieces. Something more artistic, especially in design. I'd like to make large pieces, and work on slightly more monumental works upon request.
What are your sources of inspiration?
I draw a lot of inspiration from Art Deco and Métiers d'Art for my atmosphere. I look a lot at art workshops in France, I see what's being done. I'm also interested in the Kraft project. It brings together French artisans who have expertise and who produce very beautiful pieces with quality materials. I would say that my style is inspired by nature.
Do you have any recommendations for Instagram or Facebook accounts that you particularly like? (whether brands or individuals)
I like “petite friture” which brings together quite a few designers including Constance Guisset who I like and recommend.
Finally, what do you think of the Pegboard and modular design? Should we prefer a single-function object? Or does multifunction provide solutions that are in line with our lifestyles?
I'm really moving towards multifunctionality. I think people get tired of an object quickly. It needs to be something different, but without having to buy the same one again. Giving people the opportunity to keep the furniture they buy a little longer, while personalizing and reinventing it over the years is great! I see this with the Sarù range; there's a question of storage that works well. I think it's quite essential to be able to make evolving furniture.
Interview by Clara Didier
Formatted by Coralie Mottu
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