One of the exhibitors at Ocean Talks 2025 is Christopher Duffy from Duffy London, an ocean-loving designer specialising in luxurious and sculptural art furniture pieces, including the Abyss Collection, inspired by the deep. Ahead of the event, he tells BOAT about his brand's story.
Tell us about the inspiration behind the Abyss collection
I’ve always been passionate about sailing and the ocean, navigating the coastline and across immense depths of water. And that depth was what we wanted to capture in the Abyss. We have a distinct design signature that has always been one of playful illusion. In the Abyss, we wanted to create the illusion of depth and imbue oceanic physics into a three-dimensional canvas. The result is stunning, mystical cross-sections of our Earth and inviting viewers to see the ocean not as blue but as a dance of clarity and light.
Is there a message you are trying to convey with these pieces?
Contrary to the playful illusion that surrounds a lot of my design work and Duffy’s signature as a whole, there is a distinct lack of playfulness with these pieces, and instead, they lean heavily on the side of the illusion. I wanted to explore the psychological effect that illusion can give the viewer, the unease of the uncanny valley. As you look into the Abyss, it pulls you in deeper, and the layers of glass reflect your own image in the depths. There is a moment where you can contemplate your own depths and the depths of consciousness. I guess the message I’m trying to convey here is not to shy away from those deep thoughts.
What one aspect of furniture design do you enjoy most?
I have two. The beginning of a new idea is always a favourite for me, sketching up concepts and bringing to reality what I have seen in my mind’s eye. Then, seeing that piece in its final setting, whether that be someone’s home, a hotel lobby, or a gallery, the design is only complete once in its chosen surroundings and interacting with its residents and visitors. All stages in between I find fascinating, and we have a great team of engineers, designers, and artisans that help me get from a design's initial conception to that final display, but as furniture is an interactive sculpture, it’s only complete once someone interacts with it.
How important is sustainability in your work?
Sustainability is at the core of all our work at Duffy London. From our all-electric powered vans to our reusable packaging. In our pieces, we source sustainable materials, birchwood and bamboo from managed forests, and we use the latest in CAD design to allow us to reduce the amount of materials we need for each design. We believe that a design cannot be luxury unless it is made with sustainability at the forefront.
You have also designed yachts as a sideline. Tell us a little about these.
Our design team and I started designing yachts as a bit of a palate cleanser in between projects. We believe, as artists who are using our creativity for our profession, that these exercises can refresh our minds and keep us at the forefront of innovative design. These design practices grew naturally when combined with my own interests in boating and renewable power for our sister company and start-up, Hari Innovations, which is now working to create luxury marine transport that is solar-powered and made from sustainable materials.
If you could share one key message about ocean conservation, what would it be?
Life began in the ocean and is sustained only through the ocean, so to conserve the ocean is to conserve ourselves. The way we work towards this is to dynamically shift the way we consume and our ideas of luxury to always include sustainability to the point that things are undesirable without it. In a world focused on wellness, the wellness of the planet and the creatures we share it with has to take priority.
Now in its eighth year, Ocean Talks will return to London on 12 June 2025, celebrating ocean conservation efforts in the week running up to World Oceans Day. Held in partnership with Ocean Family Foundation, this year’s event will feature world-renowned keynote speakers and a range of exhibitors showcasing the best and latest ocean-saving projects, initiatives and products. Tickets are free, but guests must register their attendance.
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