Studio

Defined by a precise and architectural approach to design. Founded by Alexander May, the studio operates at the meeting point of space, object, and image, where every project is treated as a structure, measured, intentional, and complete.

May's career has been shaped by an insistence on clarity and proportion. His work ranges from interiors and exhibitions to furniture and curatorial projects, always returning to the same principles: a disciplined use of material, a deep engagement with scale, and a refusal of excess.

The studio's ethos is rooted in authorship. Projects are not styled but built, approached with the rigour of architecture and the sensibility of art.

Light, surface, and proportion are not secondary concerns but the foundations of meaning. The results are environments and objects that stand with quiet authority, at once minimal and resonant.

Alexander May Studio works across disciplines yet maintains a singular vision: to create forms that are exact, enduring, and unembellished, where nothing is arbitrary and every decision carries weight.

Practice

Alexander May Studio operates through three core practices that intersect and inform one another. Each discipline maintains its own methodology while contributing to a unified approach to design and culture.

01

Creative Direction

Conceptual and visual frameworks

Our creative direction practice focuses on developing cohesive visual narratives that align with strategic objectives. We begin each project by understanding the cultural context and competitive landscape, then develop concepts that differentiate while remaining authentic to the brand's core values.

The process involves collaborative workshops, iterative development, and rigorous testing to ensure that creative solutions resonate with target audiences. We believe that effective creative direction requires both intuitive understanding and analytical rigor.

Through careful consideration of tone, voice, and visual language, we help organizations articulate their unique perspective in ways that create meaningful connections with their communities.

02

Spatial Design

Built form and environmental experience

Spatial design represents the physical manifestation of brand experience, where two-dimensional concepts take three-dimensional form. Our approach considers human movement, sensory experience, and environmental psychology to create spaces that communicate effectively.

Whether designing exhibition environments, retail experiences, or office interiors, we prioritize clarity of navigation and richness of experience. Each element is considered for its contribution to the overall narrative and its impact on user behavior.

Our spatial work often incorporates custom typography, wayfinding systems, and environmental graphics that reinforce brand identity while enhancing functionality. The result is architecture that serves both aesthetic and communicative purposes.

03

Curation

Selection and presentation with intent

Curation extends beyond the traditional gallery context to encompass any practice that involves selecting, organizing, and presenting content with intentionality. Our curatorial work includes exhibition development, content strategy, and cultural programming.

We approach curation as a form of storytelling, where the selection and sequencing of elements creates meaning beyond the sum of individual parts. This requires deep understanding of subject matter, audience expectations, and contextual considerations.

Our curatorial projects often explore the intersection of design, culture, and society, highlighting work that advances discourse and challenges conventional thinking. Through thoughtful presentation, we aim to create platforms for meaningful dialogue and discovery.

These practices are not isolated services but interconnected approaches to solving complex cultural and commercial challenges. Through their integration, we develop work that operates simultaneously as functional solution and cultural statement.

Clients

Alexander May Studio collaborates with leading figures and institutions across design, fashion, art, and architecture.

Rick Owens, Dries Van Noten, Frieze, Carpenters Workshop Gallery, SKIMS, Design Miami, Bocci, Art Basel, USM Modular Furniture, SSENSE, ZARA, Edition Hotels, Lemaire, Pierre Augustin Rose, NM3, Inez & Vinoodh, North Six, Locatelli Partners, PIN–UP, Proper Hospitality, among others.

Press

2025

Trend HunterThe Architecture of WorkDecember
Wallpaper*The Architecture of WorkNovember
Workplace DesignThe Architecture of WorkNovember
The London ListLong form interview with Alexander MaySeptember
Nordic KnotsGrand Volumes by Alexander MayMarch
Wallpaper50 of America's Top CreativesFebruary

2024

PurpleCelebrating the Pierre Augustin Rose collaboration with Alexander MayOctober
WallpaperAlexander May on the joys of creative polymathyJuly
Wallpaper50 of America's Top Creatives, photographed by Inez & VinoodhJuly

2023

OfficeAlexander May bonds with Dries Van NotenApril

2022

ArtnetIn Pictures: Alexander May makes its New York debut with a knockout group show on IndustrialismMay
PurpleIndustrialism, a group exhibition curated by Alexander May, New York CityMay
SurfaceIndustrialismMay
W MagazineWhat not to miss during Frieze New York Week 2022May
DominoNew York's Design Week shows prove this millennial trend isn't going anywhereMay
HypebeastAlexander May celebrates the industrialisation of everyday objectsMay
CulturedHow Alexander May is setting the Los Angeles design world apartFebruary
WallpaperFrieze LA festivities kick off with a celebration of handcrafted vesselsFebruary
Interior DesignA Los Angeles exhibition celebrates the poetic form of vesselsFebruary
PIN–UPAt the studio in Los Angeles, Vessels is a metaphorFebruary
SurfaceWhere to see stellar design at Frieze L.A.February
AzureVessels and lamps that stand out from the crowdFebruary
OfficeCoinciding with Frieze LA 2022February

2021

WallpaperAn LA show dedicated to art, design and in-person experiencesJune
VogueAn intimate L.A. dinner to celebrate a new exhibition of objects for the home and lifeJune
Architectural DigestThis L.A. show is ready to reignite the design sceneJune
HighsnobietyLuka Sabbat, Michèle Lamy & Sterling Ruby will make you excited about furniture againJune
HypebeastSterling Ruby, Michèle Lamy and more present art objects in a new exhibitionJune
OfficeA site-specific exhibitionJune
InterviewThe curator Alexander May is breathing new life into LA's design sceneJune
W MagazineMichèle Lamy, No Sesso, and Sterling Ruby unite in a new exhibitionMay