I am a big of a fan of concrete, and of contrasts, so when I came across EK Design‘s concrete and leather Icon Lamp I was instantly smitten. I was delighted to get the opportunity to talk to Katharina Eisenkoeck about her work and what inspires her.
What’s the most important thing to know about you?
I have a secret admiration for curious objects that are old and have a good story to tell.
Good things to know on a daily basis: for friends, don’t feel offended if I don’t pick up the phone, there is no reception in my workshop; and for people wanting to do business with me, try and involve cake and tea and things will sort themself out!
What inspires you?
Firstly the people and places around me, but secondly I’d say problems inspire me. They encourage me to try and think of new ideas. It’s part of a designer’s job to work out solutions to a constantly changing lifestyle that creates new requirements. For example, I developed a flexible, cordless lighting system (the Nomadic light) that uses a specially designed charging method that allows the user to carry the lights around and use them according to their needs.
How do you overcome creative block?
I go for a walk. As soon as I’m even just a few meters away from the studio fresh ideas start to pop into my mind and I suddenly see things more clearly. If that doesn’t work, I venture to my favourite coffee shop. Ideas seem to come to me naturally when I’m surrounded by hustle and bustle.
Describe a really good day in the life of EKDESIGN and a really bad day.
A good day would start with in the studio around 9am opening my mail account and finding an empty mailbox. I would put some music on and immediately start working on my products. I have this bad, but happy habit of ignoring everything around me when I am working on my products. A perfect day of course would end with meeting friends for a drink in the pub around the corner.
A bad day would be a whole day spent working in front of the computer which often leaves me in a bit of an aggravated and edgy mood that makes me feel like I haven’t achieved much that day.
Why leather and concrete? What’s so special about those materials?
I started working with leather and concrete during my MA course where I challenged myself to explore materials that I haven’t worked with before. I’ve always been intrigued by those two materials and loved their very opposing characteristics. Leather won me over especially since I can modify the materials qualities and characteristics and employ it in a way as two completely different materials.
Tell me how your design process works from initial idea to final product?
Usually a new idea derives from a conflict and desperation of solving a certain issue. It can be something I have been thinking of for years. Regarding the work with leather and concrete it started off with some rough thoughts and the urge to explore them in depth. After that each following project naturally developed out of the other, which is why I see these later products as part of a larger on-going topic.
What advice would you give to an upcoming designer?
Being proactive seems to work out quite well. No one is going to call you; make your own opportunities.
What are you most proud of?
It would be a collection of events and things that I did in the last year or two. Leaving Austria and setting up my own studio was one. Another and perhaps a by-product of the first would be my ability to channel my strengths and successfully push through a hard time.
And finally, what’s your favourite colour?!
For me there is no such a thing as a favourite colour, it is something that depends on mood. Would you ask me on one day I would probably pick a different colour on another day. What I am more interested in particularly when it comes to my work are shades, textures and the feel to a certain colour within shifting light conditions. Colour also depends on light and contrast and the way you employ it. So, I think colour is a shifting and changing entity.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
