From Louvre to Home: An Intimate Journey of Eastern Design

On October 10, at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, an exhibition titled "Design a Chair with Eastern Warmth" was successfully held.

It marked not only the first exhibition by a Chinese original furniture brand to enter the Louvre, but also a thoughtful exploration of a timeless question - how to define good design？

Why A Chair?

In traditional Chinese carpentry, crafting a well-made chair marks mastery of the craft. A chair is more than furniture - it carries aesthetics and wisdom from its time.

At grado, we believe good design must be rooted in culture and shaped by real life. With this chair, we bring Eastern culture into something tangible-furniture that can be touched and felt.

Why Parent-Child Co-Creation?

We want to see design through the eyes of children, to rediscover what it means to create for the present.Professional designers bring technical skills, while children contribute pure imagination. The result is a design that holds both playful ideas and precise craft.

On this journey, children imagined chairs like one that could "live with a cat" or a "Daydream Chair" inspired by balloons that never deflate. Their ideas reminded adults of the true heart of design, while guidance from designers showed kids how creativity can become reality.

This two-way collaboration gives Eastern Warmth a richer meaning: it is both the beauty of innocence and the comfort of family.

From China to Paris: Showcasing Eastern Design to the World

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At 1 p.m., the exhibition officially opened.
During the opening, curator Zhan Yuan remarked:

"Seeing designers of different ages come together to showcase their work here at the Louvre is truly special. It shows the world what Chinese design is capable of. The confidence in Chinese design is growing, even in design by children. That's the message we want to share: design is a light that can be passed from one generation to the next, and it will continue to shine on."

Co-curator Tiya shared her heartfelt wishes with the children:

"To all our little artists, I want you to remember this day. Remember that your work once shone its own light among the stars of human art. I hope this exhibition at the Louvre becomes the very first spark that lights up your creative journey. And to everyone here — thank you for being part of this moment, as we witness together the gentle unfolding of China’s design future."

grado’s founder, Alex, added:

"Over the past decade, we've joined Milan Design Week many times, but bringing grado to the Louvre in Paris has been a dream come true for me. The theme this time is 'Parent-Child Co-Creation' -we invited both young and adult designers to work together on one piece. The process itself beautifully reflects the bond between parents and children, and it's also a very real expression of what home means."

At the exhibition, child designers and adult designers alike shared amusing stories from their creative journeys.

From tracing the origins of their inspiration and sketching early ideas by hand, to crafting small-scale models, visiting factories for hands-on learning, and refining countless prototypes — every step was filled with care and dedication over more than ten months.

At the venue, visitors and designers gathered in small groups, chatting and sharing their thoughts. The exhibition hall soon turned into a vibrant space of emotional connection and shared inspiration.

French fashion influencer Maconga and her friends posed happily for photos on the Cuddle Sofa, savoring the thoughtful warmth of Eastern design. Some visitors gently ran their hands over the gradient fabric of the Mountain Back Chair, feeling the texture that captures the spirit of Eastern landscape painting. One guest smiled at the Huddle Chair and said, “It looks just like my daughter’s favorite bunny toy.” Meanwhile, the Momo Chair, with its strong Eastern symbolism, drew many curious visitors to stop and admire.

From Louvre to Home: Design Back To Life

Although we brought these chairs to exhibit at the Louvre,they will ultimately return to family homes-design must serve everyday life. The Louvre's artistic prestige points back to the same place: life.

So after this exhibition, we can answer the question: How do we define good design? It's not expensive materials or flashy shapes,but the small design details that change and improve daily life.

grado offered its answer at the show: good design is an eight-year-old's longing for parental time; a five-year-old's wish to "raise" a bunny; every family's hope for a better life. As we always advocate-design for the present-these pieces aren't made for distant art temples; they're made for everyday homes full of warmth and life.

The result was a series of designs where every detail felt alive, engaging, and full of heart.