French design studio Unknown Untitled has launched a range of colourful tiles with added functions, offering a more considered alternative to drilling through ceramic when adding wall-hung fixtures.
The modular, customisable UU Tiles system combines standard tiles with multifunctional versions, including one that doubles as a wall lamp and another that can be used as a hook.
Once installed, they sit flush with the tiled surface to create a seamless, integrated look with the three-dimensional elements emerging from a two-dimensional surface.
“To achieve a smooth transition, we incorporated organic forms that maintain control and refer to the liquid state of the clay when poured into the plaster cast,” Unknown Untitled co-founder Sylvain Chasseriaux told Dezeen.
The tiles are produced in a range of vibrant hues that can be combined to create a solid block of colour. Alternatively, the functional tiles can be used to provide contrasting highlights.
The products were developed in collaboration with a Normandy-based ceramics specialist and are made manually using traditional processes.
This involves extruding and die-cutting the plain tiles, while the lamp and hook are die-cast. The pieces are then dried and fired twice – once to transform the raw clay into ceramic and then once more after the enamel has been applied.
According to Chasseriaux, this labour-intensive way of making tiles is rare today, as most manufacturers have switched to fully automated mass production.
The designers had to anticipate the deformation and shrinkage that occur during the drying and firing stages in order to achieve uniformity in size across the various tile types.
“We refined the lamp and hook designs in pursuit of strength while preserving an elegant silhouette,” Chasseriaux explained. “One of our core design principles was that the tiles should be delicate but never fragile.”
Initially developed in 2020, the products are now available to purchase from the dedicated UU Tiles online store for us in bathrooms and kitchens as well as commercial spaces such as bars, restaurants, playgrounds or spas.
Chasseriaux explained that operating the business in this way enables the studio to retain complete control over the design, branding and retail offering, ensuring a more cohesive customer experience while reducing costs.
“We are not currently seeking retail partners because the intricate manufacturing process leaves little room for wholesale,” he pointed out.
“We want the manufacturer’s ecosystem to benefit from the public’s interest in UU Tiles. We aim to see orders that bring the brand to life and ensure its economic sustainability.”
Other innovative tiles that have recently been featured on Dezeen include ones made using waste from the London Underground and a 3D-printed ceramic facade.
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