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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]
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]
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]
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]