Austrian designer Alexander Mueller was born in Klagenfurt in 1986 and grew up in the eastern Alps before moving to London in 2008 to study at the renowned London Metropolitan University, where he graduated with Honours from the Furniture and Product Design Bachelor program at The Cass (formerly the London College of Furniture) in 2013. During his studies, he gained industry experience working with the Scenic Carpentry Department of The Royal Opera House and interning at Philip Michael Wolfson Design Studio—Zaha Hadid’s former Head of Design. In 2013, after founding his own studio in London, Mueller won the Frederick Parker Award for best contemporary chair design as well as being named the winner of the Heal’s Disovers design competition, subsequently working on a furniture range together with the well-known London-based brand. In 2014, he was a designer in residence at The Cass. Mueller has collaborated on collections with well-known design brands, such as CAPSBURY, Universal, and Heals, as well as developing several collections independently.
Mueller is very much a craft-driven designer; he approaches his work from a maker perspective and through material experimentation. His aesthetic is clean rather than minimal, focusing on clear lines and exceptional quality of workmanship and materials to create contemporary heritage furniture. Pieces like the Burnt Side Table (2017) highlight Mueller’s dedication to craft; the table is hand-made from solid maple and features darker segments created from half a million individually burnt dots to create a decorative, textural contrast. The solid European Ash Dahlia Collection (2016), produced in collaboration with Italian manufacturer Universal, showcases Mueller’s knack for creating cohesive, mature collections that capture interest and provide structure in any interior.
Mueller’s work has been featured at London Craft Week (2017); London Design Fair (2016); DMY Berlin, where he was part of the New Design Talent exhibition in 2016; Milan Design Week (2016); Designjunction in London (2015); Stockhold Furniture Fair (2015); and at IMM Cologne (2015), amongst others. He continues to live and work in London.
