Raffoul and Moussallem met while studying architecture at the Lebanese Academy of Fine Arts in 2006 and founded their studio in Beirut in 2011. Gaining global recognition across interiors, furniture and product design, they opened a second office in Milan in 2021, followed by another base in San Francisco in 2023. The duo approaches design with precision and sensitivity, also collaborating with artisans who push the boundaries of contemporary craft. Through their refined use of materials, transforming elements such as carved wood and marquetry into powerful visual statements, the pair has defined an aesthetic that is subtle, layered and distinctive.
David/Nicolas’ work resists attachment to a single style or era, instead forming an alloy of lived experience and personal research. The complexities of Beirut remain deeply embedded in their practice, which draws inspiration from the city’s architecture, photography, music, design and craftsmanship. The Supernova collection merges oriental geometry, lost civilisations, antique furniture and robotics, while also featuring intricately hand-carved boiserie and hewn travertine tables inlaid with esoteric symbols wrought in brass. Balancing nostalgia and familiarity with a contemporary, forward-looking spirit, the design duo creates objects and spaces that feel both timeless and distinctly modern.
Their ongoing dedication to craftsmanship and innovation has earned David/Nicolas international acclaim, including inclusion in Architectural Digest’s AD100 list of top global designers, multiple Wallpaper* awards, Monocle magazine’s Top 20 Makers in the Design World and a place on AD Collector’s Best Designers in the World list.
