Meteorological spring was barely a week old, but it showed itself at its best at the joint Outdoor Market launch event by HAY and Connox in Berlin in Germany on 5 March. At a surprisingly bearable 10 °C, the atmosphere was warm and relaxed as the invited guests chatted among the summery new arrivals from the HAY Outdoor Market by Jasper Morrison Shop. Guests included members of the press, well-known interior influencers such as Jules Villbrandt aka @herz.und.blut, the team behind @r.a.u.f.a.s.e.r.b.e.r.l.i.n, content creator Leonie Pauls, Sarah Hartmann, artist Lotti Adam and many more.
The venue was a real Berlin gem: hidden in a courtyard behind tall pines and bamboo is a converted 1950s petrol station that now houses the Zeit-Café. Under the curved forecourt canopy, the HAY Outdoor Market collection – inspired by classic camping equipment – had been set up in matching cream and red, as if the petrol station's builder, Mette Hay and Jasper Morrison had dreamed it up together. Our guests could touch the new products, sit on them, drink from them and be the first to immerse themselves in the world of the HAY Outdoor Market.
Everything at a glance:
- A design experience with toasted marshmallows
- The Outdoor Market collection: democratic design made for everyday life
- Honest materials, functional design, long-lasting quality
- Design that brings people together – and proves itself after the party
1. A design experience with toasted marshmallows
Just a few days before our event, the collection had been presented for the very first time in New York in the USA together with the MoMA Design Store. In Berlin, it could be experienced outdoors for the first time – in its natural habitat. And this time the barbecue utensils weren't just there to look at: they could actually be used to toast marshmallows. The s'mores station at the fire bowl quickly became the literal hotspot of the evening.
2. The Outdoor Market collection: democratic design made for everyday life
At the heart of the collection, curated by HAY and the Jasper Morrison Shop, are the folding chair and the folding sofa – two practical, timeless designs whose comfort was thoroughly tested that evening. The verdict: really comfortable. Inspired by the nostalgic practicality of classic camping gear, this collaboration unites HAY's philosophy of democratic design with Jasper Morrison's celebrated approach to everyday objects. The renowned British designer is known for his "super normal" approach to design, which focuses on minimalist functionality without taking itself too seriously.
The resulting collection comprises more than 30 items, all designed in Morrison's characteristic straightforward, functional design language. Thanks to the simple, no-frills forms that run through the entire series, all the products look timeless and very classic – without the fustiness that camping products sometimes have. That's no doubt partly because, for the fabrics, Jasper Morrison drew inspiration from maritime stripes he found at flea markets in Mallorca and the Pyrenees.
3. Honest materials, functional design, long-lasting quality
The HAY Outdoor Market, whose products are characterised by honest materials and a focus on functionality, ranges from foldable, easy-to-store furniture made of lightweight, water-based lacquered beech to a stainless steel fire pit and grill and handmade brooms by Japanese craftspeople. Striped textiles on furniture and accessories recall traditional Basque patterns. Woven from 100% recycled polyester for durability, they have a fresh, contemporary feel.
This collaboration brings together HAY's design philosophy and Jasper Morrison's design language: made for everyday adventures. The Outdoor Market combines a cheerful aesthetic with uncompromising functionality, offering a flexible way to design and curate your outdoor life to suit you perfectly – wherever and however, from the garden to trips into nature or anywhere in between.
4. Design that brings people together – and proves itself after the party
It certainly proved itself at our event in Berlin. In just a few moves, the folding seats were stowed in their bags, the tables folded up, the steel tableware gathered and the last marshmallows and biscuits polished off at the fire bowl.
A big thank you goes to the team at haebmau.ATELIER for bringing it all to life, and to Galerie Judin and the Zeit-Café for their hospitality in their unique venue. And of course to everyone who joined us – it was a real pleasure to celebrate the new collection with you.
The whole collection at a glance:
