Uncanny Valley, coffee table by James Haywood

James Haywood is a Franco-British artist and designer born in 1991 and based in Montpellier. Coming from a family of scientists, he initially focused on aerospace engineering. Deeply inspired by this world, he is now developing, through OOD Atelier, a sculptural work that intersects cosmic imagination, material research, and ecological commitment. His work is based on the use of reclaimed materials, blending artisanal techniques with innovative processes. He notably explores mineral resin, a material created from natural and mineral components, combined in water with various plant or recycled additions, giving rise to a stone paste that can be molded or applied as a coating. His creations, lighting fixtures, and furniture pieces, are all handmade, in recycled plastic molds, and produced on demand to limit inventory and waste. Each object is unique, conceived as a fragment of a hybrid world between science, craftsmanship, and fiction. James Haywood defines his style as "discreet fantasy," where minimalism, dynamic forms, and intricate details form a unique visual language. Visionary yet grounded in reality, his work questions the place of humans in their environment and outlines new ways of inhabiting the world.