SCANDINAVIAN DESIGN SINCE 1856

ABOUT THE DESIGN PROCESS

20,000 times a year, we bring a fork and spoon to our mouths when we eat. This number is of course approximate, but it gives gives you an idea of how important cutlery is to our way of life. Knives, forks and spoons are utensils with practical functions, but cutlery should also be designed to be pleasing to the eye and comfortable in the hand. in the hand.

Many ideas, considerations, tests and hours of work go into creating a beautiful, functional and perfect design. Gense's new cutlery Norm is created in collaboration with Jacob Jensen Design, and we asked Jakob Kjær Nielsen, the company's Global Design Director at the company, Jakob Kjær Nielsen about the design process and the thoughts behind it.

How does a design process start?

A design process always starts with an overview and understanding of the brand's and the end user's wants and needs. These form the framework for generating ideas and solutions for a series of concept proposals.

Where do you find inspiration?

We find inspiration in our surroundings and our encounters with the brand, experts in the given field and the end user. We can also look for inspiration in product categories and technologies used in other sectors and come up with new applications of existing materials and technologies.

What considerations have you made in terms of materials and surfaces?

There are always some functional and aesthetic considerations when choosing material, surface and colour. Does the surface hold up well, does the colour match its surroundings, and can the material withstand the situations the product will be exposed to.

What challenges can you face in the process?

The biggest challenge is to always keep in mind that you are trying to create something new. Henry Ford said something like this: ‘If I had asked what the users wanted, they would have said a faster horse’. We shouldn't just listen to the brand and end users, but we also need to rethink and innovate and discover new solutions that people hadn't even imagined. We need to be able to see situations with fresh eyes and not because ‘that's how we've always done it’.

How do you try out different solutions?

We use physical models, either created on our 3D printer or in porridge, cardboard or wood. Physical models are an important part of our process. It gives you a quick insight into whether the functionality works, whether you intuitively understand the product and it is correctly proportioned. Both in terms of human interaction and the aesthetic whole.

How do you know if the idea will last?

When the end user is happy with the product, not only at purchase, but also after many years of use. We want to make products that last and make sense now and in the future.

When do you know when the design is finished?

For that I will borrow a quote from Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, who says: ‘A designer knows that he has achieved perfection, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing more to take away.’ That's a very good principle.

What do you do if you get stuck?

If you ‘stall’, you try again, take a step back and look at the the problem from a new angle. We have each other (the designers) internally in our three departments and our customers for sparring, so the idea generation process always runs relatively smoothly.

Which part of the process is the most exciting?

Every part is exciting in its own way. The beginning, where you investigate and learning, the idea generation where you create and use your newly knowledge, but probably the best part of the process is seeing the endeavour the effort being embodied through a physical or digital product, that brings joy to the people who will subsequently use it.

How does it feel to see an idea become a tangible product?

Enriching the everyday lives of others is a great feeling, whether it's functional, aesthetic or both. We see the products throughout the process using 3D printers and physical models, but it doesn't beat testing and seeing ‘the real deal'.