Design | Scales by MUT design, Gleaming White with a Taste of Bright Color

“Scales” by Spanish design studio Mut are tiles inspired by the vibrant light that reflects off fish scales when they are underwater. However, the studio took that idea and advanced it into the fantastic with vibrant, unnatural colors peeking from the edges of gleaming white tile. The set is comprised of eight different colors.

Above image: Photograph by Asier Rua, courtesy of the studio.

The tiles don’t appear to lay flat. A little extra volume on the reverse side causes the tiles to rise off the surface, exposing more color. Against a surface with many of these tiles, this creates a fantastic optical effect in which the neon blazes through in varying degrees of boldness. Of course, if you look at it from an angle, the tiles take on the layered look of fish scales. The tiles are approximately 12 x 12 cm each.

The set was made for Grupo Peronda in 2014, designed by Mut’s founder Alberto Sánchez. He states of the tiles: “The color on the rear side tinges the white smooth surface of every piece once they get together. When assembled, the pieces suddenly make the optical miracle happen: some of them naturally irradiate colorful sparkles over the others…”

“Scales” was a finalist for Wall Tile of the Year in the 2015 TTA Awards.

Mut was founded by Alberto Sánchez in 2010. The studio states that they love nature and craftsmanship and seek reinvention through their work as they attempt to give everyday elements new forms of expression. In addition to the award for Scales, the team also won a Red Dot Design award in 2014 for product design, and their Nautica Chair was a finalist in the Best of the Year Awards for outdoor seating in 2013. They’ve exhibited in Stockholm, Maison & Objet Paris, Toronto, and Hong Kong, among other cities.

What do you think of this optical trickery in contemporary ceramics? Let us know in the comments.