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The NRIN vessel, made from oil-stained ash and polished cast aluminium. -
A statement Jude pendant at Westbourne Grove. -
The dining space at Miminat Designs’ 2021 residential project in Kuwait City. -
Miminat Designs collaborates with premium brands – for example Kasthall in the Kuwait City project. -
The lounge area at the Kuwait City project, featuring Miminat’s Oscar floor lamp. -
A spiral staircase on Miminat’s superyacht concept “K” leads to a spacious upper deck. -
One of the Japanese aesthetic-influenced lounge areas on “K”. -
Miminat Designs’ Borris collection includes, among other pieces, a console made of ash wood and aluminium; a sofa in tarnished aluminium, Nero Marquina marble and fabric upholstery; a floor lamp (pictured); a dining table in aluminium, tinted glass and Nero Marquina marble; and pendant lights. According to designer Miminat Shodeinde, the collection captures the essence of movement when it ceases. -
The Borris chair.
WORDS Dumisani Mnisi PHOTOS Armand da Silv; Edvinas Bruzas (Nrin Vessel); Supplied
As part of our series on a new wave of international designers, we look at the versatile art, design and architecture of Miminat Shodeinde.
“Fluid, sophisticated and functional” are words used to describe Miminat Shodeinde’s work. “I see design through the lens of art,” she says – and at 28 years old, the British-Nigerian artist and designer is adept at creating spaces and pieces that transcend conventional boundaries. Through her design and architecture studio Miminat Designs, she specialises in luxury residential, commercial, hospitality, retail and yacht projects around the world.
Her work and identity are intertwined, and deeply influenced by her multicultural background. Her creations also exude duality – moving between Brutalist forms and the softness of the feminine. Celebrated globally, she’s earned a spot on venerated design lists, including the House & Garden’s Top 100 Interior Designers & Architects (2023), Elle Decor ’s A-List (2023) and AD Middle East’s 100 (2023). She was also featured in the prestigious book Woman Made: Great Women Designers (Phaidon) in 2021.
Miminat Designs opened its doors while Miminat was studying interior architecture at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland. Her ambitious entrepreneurial spirit comes courtesy of her mother, whom she grew up watching excel in business ventures, and who inspired her to forge her own path with Miminat Designs. Known for her captivating pieces and unconventional approach, Miminat has worked on projects in Portugal, India, Nigeria and South Africa, creating spaces that celebrate functional art.
PROJECTS
Familiar with pushing boundaries and taking risks, Miminat recently released her debut superyacht concept. Simply called “K”, the 40-metre yacht is infused with a Japanese aesthetic and aspects of Italian architecture. “A lot of what I do stems from Japanese design philosophy, as it often centres on space, simplicity, harmony and a deep appreciation for natural elements,” she explains.
Described as a “floating sanctuary”, the yacht features clean, sophisticated lines; wabi-sabi-inspired materials; and a serene colour palette. It embodies the essence of Miminat Designs – contemporary decor, sculptural furniture and statement lighting. The designer points out that, although she wasn’t familiar with designing for water, she saw this as a new challenge and a learning curve. All five cabins, including a VIP cabin and owner’s suite on the main deck, have moody, monochromatic interiors and tiled flooring.
Miminat Designs also recently repurposed a pottery studio into a luxurious commercial office for Giant Ventures. Located in the heart of Holland Park in London, Giant House is a space that is fluid, refined and functional. Using durable materials such as wood, jute and stone, and featuring floor- to-ceiling windows, the office radiates warmth and elegance.
With a carefully composed colour palette of rich mustard, cognac and ochre juxtaposed against multicoloured desks and greenery from the plants, the space carries a youthful, avant-garde energy. “There’s a growing emphasis across all design genres to infuse spaces with personality and intimacy, particularly post-Covid,” Miminat says.
The young creative’s sculptural design pieces also push the boundaries while embracing time-honoured methods of construction. These pieces are handcrafted and hand- finished by a skilled team of British and European artisans.
Her Borris collection typifies this craftsmanship: in it, and through a 10-piece furniture series, Miminat challenges the concept of movement, drawing inspiration from the interplay between motion and stillness. One standout piece is the Borris chair – a study in the contrast between rigidity and softness. The box-like structure of the chair, with sleek aluminium panels, is softened by suede material on the backrest and arms. For Miminat, the pieces are more than just furniture – they fracture the conventional. | miminat.com
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