Benjamin Hubert (designer)

Benjamin Hubert (born 11 March 1984) is a British industrial designer and founder of LAYER, a London-based design agency known for its work in industrial design. His studio has collaborated with global brands across technology, furniture, mobility, and consumer goods.^[1] Hubert studied Industrial Design and Technology at Loughborough University, graduating in 2006.^[2]

Benjamin Hubert in 2015

Career

Hubert established Benjamin Hubert Ltd. in 2010, which was rebranded as LAYER in 2015.^[3] LAYER was described by Wallpaper as a "transition from eponymous designer brand to a larger entity, with a wider scope and reach".^[4] LAYER has collaborated with brands such as Airbus, Bang & Olufsen, Braun, Fritz Hansen,^[5][6] Samsung,^[7] and Vitra^[8] on projects including furniture, consumer electronics,^[9] wearables,^[10][11] homewares, transport,^[12] and public art installations.^[13] Hubert's design practice has a focus on sustainable solutions.^[14] In 2025, Hubert hosted 101010, an exhibition to mark the 10th anniversary of LAYER at 10 Corso Como during Milan Design Week, presenting a collection of prototypes addressing contemporary global challenges.^[15][16][17]

Projects

Hubert has led the development of numerous projects at both Benjamin Hubert Ltd. and LAYER including:

Juliet Chair for Poltrona Frau (2012) – Hubert won a competition to design a chair to celebrate the centenary of Italian furniture brand Poltrona Frau.^[18]

Change Box for Maggie's (2015) – A new charity collection box for cancer charity Maggie's.^[19]

GO wheelchair for Nike (2016) – A custom-fit 3D-printed mobility device developed with Nike and Materialise. The wheelchair won a Fast Company Innovation by Design Award.^[20]

Foil for Braun (2016) – An installation in the Tapestry Room of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London in collaboration with German brand Braun during London Design Festival.^[21][22]

Tape for Moroso (2018) – A modular sofa for Italian brand Moroso that launched at Milan's Salone del Mobile in April 2018.^[23]

Airbus Move (2019) – A lightweight airline seating concept designed for greater efficiency and sustainability.^[24][25]

Strand for Muuto (2019) – A collection of lighting made using a cocoon polymer material sprayed over a steel frame.^[26]

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance (2020) – A smart speaker integrating advanced technology with minimalist aesthetics.^[27] In 2021, Hubert collaborated with Bang & Olufsen on a second speaker, Beosound Emerge.^[28]

Viture One for Viture (2022) – A wearable XR device that allows users to stream media and games discreetly anywhere, creating a 120-inch virtual screen.^[29][30]

Ledger Stax (2023) – A cryptocurrency wallet designed by Hubert and iPhone co-creator Tony Fadell.^[31]

Earth Rated rebrand (2023) – A complete rebranding project for Earth Rated, including branding, packaging, and a collection of dog toys.^[32]

Concept View for Deutsche Telekom (2024) – A concept for a holographic home hub featuring a 3D AI-driven assistant for digital interactions.^[33]

Publications

• LAYER^[34][35] (2023) Phaidon. ISBN 978-1838660710

Awards

Hubert has received multiple international design awards, including the iF Product Design Award,^[36][37] Red Dot Design Award,^[38][39] and the Fast Company Innovation by Design Award.^[40]