“MoMA Design Store is one of the most sublime design destinations in the world. I feel constantly inspired by the dialogue we’ve had in the past, and keep having today.”—Mette Hay, HAY co-founder
The HAY Story
Founded in Copenhagen in 2002, HAY is a design brand with a clear ambition: to make good design accessible to more people. Inspired by art, architecture, and contemporary culture, HAY creates contemporary furniture, accessories, and lighting together with leading international designers. By uniting these influences with sophisticated industrial manufacturing, the brand delivers high-quality products that remain true to its mission of offering well-crafted, functional design for modern living.
The Founders
Mette and Rolf Hay are guided by their passion for furniture, lighting, and everyday objects. They continue to lead the brand’s creative direction together with international designers—Rolf focusing on furniture and lighting, and Mette on accessories. Mette employs her keen eye for color when choosing each season’s palette, and the hues often range from soothing pastels and muted tones to bright pops of color and unexpected combinations.
Why We Chose HAY
Danish design is often associated with a focus on function and simplicity: clean lines, uncluttered and unfussy, but generally with a higher-than-average price point. HAY, founded in 2002 in Denmark by husband-and-wife team Mette and Rolf Hay, was born with the idea of offering thoughtful, functional, beautiful and high-quality designs at accessible prices. It’s an approach that parallels MoMA Design Store’s philosophy of democratizing good design.
HAY Design in MoMA's Collection
HAY is represented as a manufacturer in MoMA’s collection with several objects, such as the Prince Chair, a 2002 design by Louise Campbell. Devised for a competition to create a chair for the Crown Prince of Denmark, its seat resembles an unfolded paper cutout. Another design in the collection, Stefan Diez’s 2013 Rope Trick Lamp, is inspired by power transfer coils common to CNC hardware.
Popular Categories include HAY Furniture & Lighting
HAY’s fresh interpretation on Danish design focuses on ease of functionality and bold use of color, which is seen throughout their furniture and lighting. The designs are both bold and clean, and are produced with high-quality industrial manufacturing. The HAY team works with international designers to realize their visions and transform unconventional ideas into beautiful, livable furnishings for your home.
Popular designs include Jasper Morrison’s Table Clock, a tabletop version of his iconic wall clock. The colorful collapsible storage bins—a customer favorite—are useful for organizing items in your bathroom, home office, kitchen and children’s room. The crates easily fold and open in seconds, thanks to a patented hinge and lock system. The HAY Outdoor Market by Jasper Morrison Shop combines functional design with the nostalgic utility of classic camping gear.
International Collaborations Within the HAY Design Assortment
HAY works with established and emerging designers who are located all over the world, such as Jasper Morrison, Clara von Zweigbergk, George Sowden, Inga Sempé, Iskos-Berlin, Lex Pott, Sebastian Wrong, Ana Kraš, Muller Van Severen and Shane Schneck. Some of the designers who have created products for HAY are represented in MoMA’s collection: Nathalie du Pasquier, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, Naoto Fukasawa, and Stefan Diez.
