George Sowden

George James Sowden (born 1942) is a British designer and product developer based in Milan, where he moved in the early 1970s "and never left." He has "designed hundreds of objects, from [...] computers and peripherals to housewares, appliances, furniture and [...] writing instruments".

In the same year, 1981, he founded his design studio, SowdenDesign, collaborating with companies such as Olivetti, Alessi, Bodum, Guzzini, Lorenz, Rancilio, Steelcase, Swatch, Segis, Memphis, IPM, Moulinex, Telecom Italia, Tefal and Pyrex.

His works are held by museums such as the Metropolitan Museum, Brooklyn Museum, and Cooper Hewitt in New York, Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen in Rotterdam, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Notable works

In 2010, Sowden developed the SoftBrew coffee brewing device, which is distributed and sold throughout the world, notably in collaboration with the Danish design company HAY.

In 2012, Sowden established his own brand, SOWDEN , dedicated to the development, manufacture and distribution of exclusive products designed under his own name. Throughout his career, he has maintained a personal interest in collaborating with craft and small industrial organisations, an approach that has informed much of his design work.