Larry Tchogninou: Designing Beyond Traditional Notions

Larry Tchogninou, a designer based in Chicago, is forging a unique path in the design world, challenging the notion that all significant ideas have already been explored. Through his studio, Ruptur Vision, Tchogninou actively breaks away from traditional mindsets, infusing his work with a potent imagination that marries functional necessity with artistic provocation.

A Clear Break from Convention

Tchogninou’s perspective is shaped by his architectural education, which he felt often suggested a lack of room for new ideas. This sentiment fueled the creation of Ruptur Vision, a studio explicitly designed to embody a departure from such limiting views. Pieces like his “Knuckle Shelf” exemplify this ethos. Currently displayed at Theaster Gates’s Stony Island Arts Bank, the shelf’s unconventional form was inspired by the profound impact certain books have had on him, such as “Oriki” by Nifemi Marcus Bello and “I Make Shoes” by Salehe Bembury. The sensation of being “knocked out” by these titles translated into a design reminiscent of a knuckle duster, constructed from Baltic birch plywood and aluminum sheets, utilizing friction-fit engineering without visible hardware.

Early Influences and Education

Born in Cotonou, Benin, in 1998, Tchogninou’s fascination with how structures come together began at a young age, sparked by observing his mother build a house. After moving to Paris in 2014, he completed his secondary education and pursued architecture at L’Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris-Val-de-Seine. Four years later, he relocated to Chicago to study at the Illinois Institute of Technology.

Mentorship and Collaboration

A pivotal moment in Tchogninou’s career was his participation in the NikeLab Chicago Recreation Lab in 2019, a summer mentorship program led by the late Virgil Abloh. It was during this period that he met James Langford, with whom he co-founded Points of Sail. Together, they design retail spaces, including a pop-up store in Benin called Tibi, where all featured elements, including aluminum cast stools, were produced in Cotonou by the same artisan responsible for Tchogninou’s sand-casted citrus squeezer, “Beak.”

Challenging Perceptions with Design Objects

Tchogninou’s “Beak” citrus squeezer, shaped like a swan’s neck, is a conversation starter, much like Philippe Starck’s iconic “Juicy Salif.” He embraces the ambiguity of his designs, noting the initial unfamiliarity people experience before understanding the object’s function. This deliberate approach aims to provoke, stating, “Some pieces should be disturbing as well as comforting. We need both perspectives in design.”

Diverse Creative Output

Tchogninou’s aptitude for the unconventional extends to his work with the Serena Williams Design Crew (SWDC) in 2021, where he designed the “SWDC” duffel bag – a soft lilac trapezoid that can collapse into a crossbody bag. In 2025, he showcased several creations at the Benin Pavilion at the World Expo in Japan, including an aluminum cast dish set designed in collaboration with chef Philippe Sonou. While some pieces, like the dish set, are made in Benin, others, such as the “Gbêhanzin” egg holder, are crafted by Tchogninou himself in the US, involving laser-cut forms from a Chicago-based manufacturer that he then manipulates.

Key facts

Tchogninou’s work offers a fresh perspective for the design community, highlighting the potential for innovation by questioning established norms and embracing diverse cultural influences. His ability to create objects that are both functional and thought-provoking resonates with an audience interested in the evolution of design and its cultural impact.

Source: Wallpaper – Self-described polymath Larry Tchogninou is here to design differently – https://www.wallpaper.com/design-interiors/larry-tchogninou-designer-profile-one-to-watch