Embracing Decay: The Art of Impermanence in Design

Art is more than just expression—it’s a journey, one that begins with a simple sketch and evolves into something tangible, something you can interact with daily. For Otto Monsted of Precious Decayy, that journey started in their childhood with drawing and later expanded into product design. Every project still begins with a sketch, a nod to their roots, and a step toward creating pieces that are both functional and artistic.

How did you start your artistic process?

I started my artistic process in drawing, I've been drawing since I was little, and when I was a teenager I got into designing products and objects as I wanted to have a piece of art that I could interact with daily. I start each project still by sketching out the idea, its a part of the process I could never lose as it's where I began.

What was a challenge in the creative process that you have learnt to overcome and how?

A challenge in the creative process I've learnt to overcome is pushing through moments of self doubt. I try to make sure that I don't lose passion for designs when i reach a difficult stage or get criticism. It's taken a lot of time more than anything to learn to persevere through and just make the product I'm happiest with.

If you could give your younger self one word of advice what would it be?

If I could give my younger self one word of advice it would be to keep pushing myself. I took a break from design for a few years all because of self-doubt, and I try to remind myself now to just keep on working, learning, and improving.

What message would you like to convey to your viewer?

I would like to convey our current spot in the world, as we sit on the brink of the future I want to highlight this intersection between manmade and natural goods- how everything that exists at the moment is slowly becoming sterile and overproduced, losing what made it special. I suppose in a sense it's choosing to come face to face with the decay around us and finding beauty in embracing it. An example of this is how fabric rips, concrete cracks, and metal rusts, nothing is permanent and everything will eventually decay.

I try to show this in my work by using materials that will decay within the time that the consumer will have it, my early projects were made from carbon steel, so over time it would rust according to how the user interacted with it and cared for it, the metal picks up fingerprints in the rust which creates a cool effect.

However, some of my projects take a different approach instead of preserving the decay. My installation for Monash University features a 3m long knit piece that has tears and other stretches in it, which are preserved in place.

In a world that’s becoming increasingly sterile and overproduced, their work seeks to highlight the beauty of impermanence—the way fabric rips, metal rusts, and concrete cracks. These natural processes tell a story, one that evolves with time and interaction. Explore these narratives through my designs, available now in our shop, including free shipping in Singapore. Follow them on Instagram to stay connected with their creative journey.