Jaime Hayon

Hayon, 32, has been busy. After the Spaniard's imaginative "Mediterranean Digital Baroque" exhibit opened in London in 2003, he left his job as head of design at Fabrica, the creativity hub run by Benetton, and started his own studio in Barcelona. A slew of diverse projects followed. There have been artistic installations throughout Europe, projects for companies like Coca-Cola and Adidas, and the AQHayon Collection for ArtQuitect, a line of bathroom fixtures widely praised for its whimsical sensibility—in stark contrast to the trend at the time. Hayon defines himself as an artist, not a designer. "I think design can be much more like art. I work with intuition. If they say white, then I go black," he says. "And maybe in that black, there's a little bit of white." http://www.hayonstudio.com/design/

Nirav Modi Flagship Boutique

La Terraza Del Casino

The Restaurant La Terraza del Casino (Madrid, Spain) presents its spectacular new look. An interiors project by Jaime Hayon that explores the balance of an aesthetic link between past and future using his very personal style that connects harmoniously with the imaginative and innovative kitchen of the outstanding chef: Paco Roncero. 

Marc Newson

Australia native Newson is the poster child for the much hyped "design art" boom. In 2006 he made headlines for his mega-sale at Sotheby's: his Lockheed Lounge sold for $968,000, the highest price ever paid at auction for the work of a living designer. Then in January, Gagosian, the blue-chip New York City gallery behind artists like Jeff Koons and Richard Serra, devoted a one-man show to Newson. But it's his everyday products—bottle openers, soap dishes, flashlights, hair dryers, hangers—that have made his futuristic forms, if not his name, familiar to so many people. These days Newson, 43, is busy with his duties as creative director for Australia's Qantas Airways. He has his hand in everything from the new airport lounges in Sydney and Melbourne to the in-flight freebies.

Patricia Uriquiola

Born in Spain and trained as an architect in Madrid and Milan, Urquiola, 45, was mentored by architect Achille Castiglioni. After a stint at De Padova, where she worked with Vico Magistretti, she opened her own Milanese studio in 2001, bringing her playful geometry to furniture for companies like Moroso, Kartell, and Molteni & C. Seating that is elegant, imaginative and still sublimely comfortable has been Urquiola's specialty, but she has worn many other hats, creating watches and housewares for Alessi, crocheted rugs for Paola Lenti, lighting for Foscarini Murano and bathroom fixtures for Agape. Next up is the Tufty-bed for B&B Italia

Marcel Wanders

Wanders, who was one of the early members of the cutting-edge design collective Droog, has once again expanded his repertoire. The prolific Dutchman spent February promoting the new Miami hotel Mondrian South Beach, for which he designed the interior. Wanders, 44, conceived the hotel as "Sleeping Beauty's castle," with gardens that serve as indoor and outdoor living spaces, featuring cabanas, tented play spaces for children and a hanging chandelier above the elegant pool. The hotel rooms, which resemble theater boxes, overlook the gardens so that "everyone has the best seat in the house," he says. The 2006 Elle Decoration designer of the year furnished the hotel with original pieces, such as lighting fixtures, sofas and even floors from his studio. Now that the hotel is complete, Wanders can focus on his next endeavors, including a line of accessories for Puma, due in stores this spring.

Kelly Wearstler

 With a completely distinctive style that juxtaposes refinement with rawness, melds color, sophistication and swank and seamlessly blends many periods of furniture under one roof, Wearstler has revolutionized the look, feel and meaning of modern American design. As a showcase for her creative work, Wearstler has published four books: Modern Glamour: The Art of Unexpected Style, Domicilium Decoratus, Hue, and Rhapsody. Her much lauded blog MyVibeMyLife houses mood imagery and inspiration garnered from sources around the globe.

 I love blending pieces from many    different time periods and movements.”
—Kelly Wearstler

If I Weren't a Decorator, I Would Be:

An artist or painter

Most Inspired by:

The smallest everyday things: colors, prints, patterns…