As seen within the April 2023 World Interiors situation of Wallpaper* and accompanied by his iPhone snaps, we speak journey, inspirations and design discoveries with German designer Sebastian Herkner.
Interview: at house with Sebastian Herkner
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
Wallpaper*: The place do you at present dwell?
Sebastian Herkner: I’ve lived in Offenbach for greater than half of my life. It’s town the place I studied product design and established my design studio. Along with this house, my husband and I’ve a small house in Berlin to flee the studio routine occasionally.
W*: Are you able to inform us about your metropolis?
SH: Offenbach was the German metropolis of leather-based manufacturing. Well-known manufacturers together with Goldpfeil and Montblanc have manufactured wallets and luggage right here. Because the decline of the trade, town has tried to reinvent itself and discover a new identification. I discover this spirit of optimism very inspiring.
Herkner’s eating room, with, proper, his ‘Tricolore’ vase for &Custom, and, in background, an art work by David Schiesser
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: How would you describe your own home?
SH: Our house is all the time altering. We love to purchase crafted objects on our holidays; an previous marriage ceremony chair in India, bowls in Bangkok or a ceramic head in Sicily. They all the time remind us of particular moments and present the fantastic thing about manufacturing.
W*: What’s the story behind your favorite piece of furnishings?
SH: The Boat of Life was a gift from shut buddies for my fortieth birthday. It was made for me by Indigenous folks from the Colombian Amazon, and it reveals the great and dangerous encounters in life. There are squirrels on prime of the boat. Squirrels are literally operating round our studio’s courtyard and the craftspeople didn’t learn about it.
From prime, a bowl from Herkner’s grandmother, inexperienced plate from Morocco, bowl from Thailand, bowl by Betty Montarou, and Herkner’s ‘Mati’ tray for Zana
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: How do you begin your days?
SH: That is much less romantic. I watch the information and skim emails on my telephone whereas mendacity in mattress.
W*: What do you do to calm down?
SH: I catch a practice to Berlin for an extended weekend, and go to galleries and cycle with buddies across the metropolis to find the structure and historical past. I’m not an individual who can calm down by doing nothing. I want meals for my thoughts.
An Indian marriage ceremony chair
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: What are you studying in the mean time?
SH: I’m heading quickly to Kathmandu in Nepal, to see the manufacturing of hand-knotted rugs, so I’m studying some books concerning the nation and tradition to know it higher.
W*: Wallpaper* got here for dinner, what would you prepare dinner?
SH: Let’s do one thing native from my house area, like Maultaschen, these large Swabian ravioli you discover in Stuttgart.
A Sicilian Testa di Moro vase on Herkner’s balcony
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: The place do you discover inspiration?
SH: I believe inspiration is in all places. The larger situation is to translate it into a singular and accountable design, that may then turn out to be a companion for generations.
W*: What are you engaged on in the mean time?
SH: The presentation idea of a brand new color palette, referred to as Treasures, for German wall paint firm Caparol Icons.
W*: What’s your subsequent large launch?
SH: A brand new outside lighting assortment, referred to as Class, with Spanish firm Vibia throughout Euroluce at Salone del Cell 2023 (18-23 April). After greater than two years engaged on it, I’m excited to current the designs to the general public.
View from Herkner’s home
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: What do you take pleasure in most about your collaborations with manufacturers?
SH: It’s all the time a really private determination to decide on the precise companions you wish to work and share design concepts with. It’s not concerning the title or the turnover, it’s extra on a human degree. An intense relationship will end in profitable merchandise. I like to go to the workshops to know the person course of behind the scenes, and to debate prospects with the craftspeople. That’s why it’s essential and in addition a privilege for me to journey to all my shoppers and their manufacturing services, from Colombia to Taiwan.
W*: What’s the final object you obtain?
SH: A small garlic press by a Greek producer that I discovered in a retailer in Paris.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: What journey are you most trying ahead to?
We’ll go to the US for a number of weeks this summer season, to journey across the Midwest, visiting states like South Dakota, since we all know the east and west coast effectively already.
W*: What’s your most up-to-date design or artwork discovery?
SH: The Gallery Weekend in Berlin, which is held on the final weekend of April – it’s my favorite artwork occasion of the 12 months. There are lots of new exhibitions and open artist studios.
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
W*: What recommendation would you give to the following era of creatives?
It’s not related to dwell in one of many large design cities like London, Paris or Milan. An important factor is to really feel comfy and free to foster your personal creativity and distinctive design language.
W*: In case you hadn’t turn out to be a designer, what would you’ve been?
SH: A chef. I believe designing and cooking have quite a bit in widespread. You want the precise instruments and great substances in addition to fantasy. It’s about creating feelings you possibly can expertise with your entire senses.
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Sculpture from St Petersburg
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
Herkner’s Bell Aspect Desk for ClassiCon
(Picture credit score: Courtesy Sebastian Herkner)
