Ron Gilad’s hybrid objects are a mix of creativity and beauty.
In 1972, Ron Gilad was born in Tel Aviv. After a few years in New York, he moved to Tel Aviv and Milan, where he lives and works. Ron Gilad’s hybrid objects are a mix of creativity and beauty. They are on the line between being abstract and being useful.
When Molteni & C asked Ron Gilad to work with them, he wasn’t sure if he should act like a designer or just be himself in the most honest way. He found the answer by making a link between his more abstract and artistic ideas and the ways things work in the business world. He then turned these ideas into cleverly designed products. (Ron Gilad – Molteni Designer, n.d.) The products he designed were not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and functional, making them highly sought after in the market. His unique approach to design allowed him to stand out from his competitors and establish a successful business.
Biography
Gilad’s work is highly acclaimed and recognised internationally, with his designs being featured in numerous exhibitions and publications. His work has been shown in solo exhibitions, like the one at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, and in many group exhibitions. They are in public collections in Israel and other places, like the Museum of Modern Art and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. In 2013, he won the Wallpaper Design Award for Designer of the Year and the Elle Décor International Design Award for Best Domestic Design (Designer of the Year; Furniture Design). (Ron Gilad Bridges the Gap Between Furniture and Art – Feel Desain | Your Daily Dose of Creativity, 2022) In Italy, he works for companies like Flos, Adele-C, De-Castelli, Dilmos, Salvatori, Nodus, and, of course, Molteni. He continues to push the boundaries of design and create innovative pieces that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
Case study: wood-textured glass table

For glas italia, designer Ron Gilad has made a set of welded high and low glass tables that can have a wood-textured finish thanks to a special printing process. The series, which was shown at Salone del Mobile in 2014, is made by projecting a transparent image onto a glass surface. This shows how the two materials can be combined in a refined and experimental way. The lightweight glass supports and absorbs the look of wood, letting light shine through the cracks and seams of the graphic surface pattern. There are also different sizes of low tables, including one with a wood finish and a clear edge on the outside (Caula, 2014). This design creates a unique blend of natural and modern elements, making it a versatile addition to any space. The various table sizes and finishes allow for customization to fit the specific needs and aesthetics of the room.
Sources
Ron Gilad – Molteni Designer. (n.d.). Ron Gilad – Molteni designer. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://www.molteni.it/us/designer/ron-gilad
Ron Gilad | Olivari. (n.d.). Olivari. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://www.olivari.it/en/designer/ron-gilad
Ron Gilad Bridges the Gap Between Furniture and Art – Feel Desain | Your Daily Dose of Creativity. (2022, November 21). Ron Gilad bridges the gap between furniture and art – Feel Desain | your daily dose of creativity. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://www.feeldesain.com/ron-gilad-bridges-the-gap.html
Caula. (2014, April 11). Sublimazione Wood-textured Glass Tables by Ron Gilad for Glas Italia. designboom | architecture & design magazine. Retrieved March 8, 2023, from https://www.designboom.com/design/sublimazione-glas-italia-ron-gilad-wood-tables-04-10-2014/