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Jo Downs is leading the field of contemporary glass design with her bespoke interior and architectural service

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Since she established her first studio in London in 1996, Jo Downs’ reputation as one of the UKs leading designer-makers has positioned her at the forefront of bespoke fine-art glass, winning her commissions from international hotels, corporate headquarters, cruise liners, art galleries and private homes around the world. With a passion for large scale bespoke work, and years of experience under her belt, she recently launched ‘Jo Downs Architectural Glass’, designed to work in partnership with interior designers, architects, and their clients, giving them the chance to incorporate bespoke glasswork into their design schemes.

Supported, as lead designer, by a dedicated team which includes specialist glass workers and a full-time project manager, Jo has invested in new design studios, new flatbed kilns and the space and facilities needed to create large scale, cutting edge new work for her clients, meaning entire projects can be handled in-house. The most spectacular of these progressive new pieces must surely be Jo’s mesmerizing fused-glass lighting chandeliers, launched initially at London’s 100% Design exhibition in 2016, followed by Grand Designs Live at Birmingham’s NEC. Not surprisingly, the originality of these concept pieces received a wealth of attention from industry leaders and design firms. Created from tens, even hundreds of individual pieces, they are the result of intensive, handcrafted work, requiring multiple firings and incredibly detailed finishing. The brilliance of Jo’s chandelier designs is that they can be adapted to suit any space, in any design, meaning their truly bespoke nature really shines through. The launch of these unique works also marks the beginning of a new creative partnership between Jo Downs and design company Northern Lights, who have been creating inspiring lighting solutions for the hospitality and retail sectors since 1987, and worked with Jo to create integrated lighting for these stunning new pieces.

Mindful of the emotional and financial investment inherent in the commissioning of bespoke works, Jo’s focus is on a close partnership with each of her clients, and the knowledge that clients wish to express something of their own identity through their design choices. Accordingly, corporate commissions are designed to reflect the aspirations of that business, and domestic commissions are designed to reflect the cultural interests and personality of the family who created that home. Jo’s ultimate aim, in partnership with lead architects and interior designers, is to create a space the client can feel strongly connected to. So far, her CV boasts a long line of impressive bespoke installations that include a spectacular 11 metre wide glass ceiling for the P&O cruise ship Arcadia, a unique back-lit desk at Westminster Tower, designs for the Matisse exhibition at the Royal College of Art, bespoke windows for the home of soul and jazz singer Joss Stone, spa and pool pieces for the luxury Flying Boat Club on the Isles of Scilly, commissions for University College London Hospital, custom works for Forte, Mercure and Hilton Hotels, and installations for a string of international head offices including Microgaming Software Systems, British Borneo Oil and Gas and pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson.

For further information see architecture.jodowns.com or contact interiors@jodowns.com

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