Yinka Ilori's bold, colourful style can be seen all over London this summer, but the designer tells Dezeen there's a lot more to him than bright graphics.
London-based Ilori, 32, made a name for himself with his characterful chairs, which he creates by upcycling various pieces of unwanted old furniture, and adding colours and textiles that reference his Nigerian heritage.
However the designer recently collaborated with architects on two large-scale projects ? a summer pavilion in Dulwich and the transformation of a gloomy underpass in Battersea ? and also created the exhibition design for Somerset House show Get Up, Stand Up Now.
Yinka Ilori references both his British and Nigerian heritage in his designs
Speaking to Dezeen at his studio in Harrow, Ilori said these new projects have brought him a lot of attention, but that he has to be careful that people understand he is a designer, not just a colourist. "That is my real worry," he said. "I don't want to be seen as someone who's just a colourist, the guy who just slaps a bit of colour on and that's all he does."
"I love graphic design, but I'm not a graphic designer," he continued. "No offence to anyone, but it's not my passion, my passion is design."
Giving old objects a new narrative
Ilori is from north London, but both of his parents are Nigerian. In his work, he aims to fuse together the traditions of British design with the loudness of Nigerian culture. But he also wants to ...