Horm Stories #18
Today we would like to share a brief story that illustrates one of the many sources of inspiration fueling the creativity of product designers. Even the most imaginative designers draw inspiration from their surroundings: the wonders of nature, the paradigms of science, technological challenges, and works of art. After carefully analyzing the needs of the market and consumers, our designers begin shaping the concept of a new product, using sketches, 3D models, and prototypes. It is in this phase that their creativity merges with aesthetic vision, aiming to create products that are both functional and distinctive.
You don’t need to be an architect or designer to understand the importance of connections: we have all faced a problem, spent time pondering it, and suddenly, when least expected, a solution flashes into our mind—a spark triggered by our synapses “switching on.” These specialized structures are true points of connection between neurons, allowing them to communicate and transmit information through electrical and chemical impulses.
The connections between synapses in the human brain served as inspiration for Chilean artist Sebastian Errazuriz when he designed one of Horm’s most enduring and exclusive products: the “Sinapsi” shelf. The shelf has a single form, yet by placing, rotating, and mirroring multiple units, it is possible to create infinite compositions, forming expansive and eclectic wall-mounted shelving systems. It’s as if Sinapsi allows you to “draw on the walls” using a piece of furniture instead of a pencil.
Sebastian Errazuriz is a designer and artist renowned for his heterogeneous work, capable of challenging viewers’ perceptions of the meaning of “things.” It was in this creative context that Errazuriz conceived Sinapsi—not merely a bookshelf, but rather a tangible expression of a broader idea that unites the concepts of connection, modularity, and creativity, reflecting the intellectual abilities typical of a truly inventive mind.
