[caption id="attachment_9105" align="aligncenter" width="600"]DoshiLevien The East London designers of Doshi Levien: Nipa Doshi and Jonathan Levien[/caption] KE-ZU has recently welcomed two new designs from the UK based duo Doshi Levien with Shanty for bd Barcelona and Rabari for Nanimarquina. Both of these products bear the Doshi Levien stamp,a visual appreciation of the talented design duo. Appreciating Doshi Levien’s work can best be done by understanding their story. The pair met serendipitously while studying design at the Royal College of Arts in London. Nipa Doshi was awarded a scholarship to RCA after studying at the National Institute of Design in her native home of India, a place that surrounded the young creative with vernacular materials being used in traditional methods. In contrast, Jonathan Levien grew up in Scotland amidst his parents’ toy factory, developing a high understanding of industrial design material and production. Both upbringings were set to form their later design work. [caption id="attachment_9104" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Doshi Levien for Tefal Doshi Levien for Tefal: a series of cookware which sought to bring traditional international cookware to a modern, contemporary market through material composition and design[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9110" align="aligncenter" width="600"]oshi Levien for bd Barcelona with Chandlo: a dressing table designed to be viewed from all angles. The shape of the mirror reflects a bindi, traditionally worn on the forehead of Hindu women. The name Chandlo means “moon shape”, another name for “bindi” Doshi Levien for bd Barcelona with Chandlo: a dressing table designed to be viewed from all angles. The shape of the mirror reflects a bindi, traditionally worn on the forehead of Hindu women. The name Chandlo means “moon shape” or "bindi"[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9097" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Chandigarh for Moroso, a collection of furniture conceptualized from the work of modernist Le Corbusier in the Indian city designed of the same name. Chandigarh for Moroso, a collection of furniture conceptualized from the work of modernist Le Corbusier in the Indian city designed of the same name[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9115" align="aligncenter" width="600"]ipa Doshi on the Doshi Levien Rabari rugs for Nanimarquina with the Paper Planes chair by Doshi Levien for Moroso. Rabari was launched at Salone Milano 2014 Nipa Doshi on the Doshi Levien Rabari rugs for Nanimarquina with the Paper Planes chair by Doshi Levien for Moroso. Rabari was launched at Salone Milano 2014[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9112" align="aligncenter" width="600"]Doshi Levien's Shanty for bd Barcelona, conceptualized from the construction of shanty towns of developing countries. Shanty was launched at Salone Milano 2014 Doshi Levien's Shanty for bd Barcelona, conceptualized from the construction of shanty towns of developing countries. Shanty was launched at Salone Milano 2014[/caption] Doshi Levien are armed with a full repertoire of skills and thought-processes: from traditional hand crafted arts to large scale manufacturing.  The two set out some fourteen years ago to utilise these skills in practice and their products always invoke a sense of understanding of manufacturing techniques combined with interesting material composition.