Innovation in Form, Material and Process

Centrifuge Design is a furniture and product design studio and manufacturing company located in Toronto, and founded in 2000 by furniture and product designer Stephen Hugo-Seinader and research and marketing specialist Tracey Butler.

Currently, design-intensive product development is being conducted to expand our furniture line and introduce a diverse line of household products and accessories.

At Centrifuge Design the central aim is to discover new possibilities which serve familiar functions, through the examination of materials and forms for contemporary living.

Innovation in design, with excellence in materials, and craftsmanship form the foundation of our line, producing contemporary classics that will last a lifetime. Our passion for fresh, quality design is the driving force that we aim to share.

The collection is prototyped in-house, and manufactured in small batches, both in-house and with the involvement of specialist subcontracted fabricators. The designs are exclusive to Centrifuge Design and have been developed by furniture and product designer Stephen Hugo-Seinader, with the occasional collaboration of guest designers.

Our pieces are made using a wide range of materials, from Canadian and European hardwoods sourced through suppliers of sustainable product, to industrial processes with a ‘Made in Canada’ mandate. We seek the highest standards in manufacturing, durability, and ease of maintenance.

We push for exceptional quality, market-driven flexibility, and delivery of unique, sustainable product, that responds to customer demands in a constantly evolving marketplace.

The initial product line was introduced at the Interior Design Show in Toronto, February 2002. In 2003 and 2004, an expanded product line was shown in NYC at DesignDowntown, and in London, UK, at Designersbloc, both as part of Canadian Design group exhibits.

" The exploration of new forms begins with the question: How would things be if they were different ? Applied to the problem of any intimate object of use, this starting point allows for a wide range of interpretation of pre-existing forms. The challenge is to provide a solution that takes into account the associations which are established in society for that object - and its use, while examining a fresh set of formal concerns relevant to our current mode of living. More than just a mere styling exercise, the solution must speak to the object's function, its longevity, and its ability to invite the user to it. It should prompt enjoyment not only as something beautiful, but in the interaction we have with it."

Stephen Hugo-Seinader