interview :: lars beller fjetland

This article was published 12 years

I have been a huge fan of Lars Beller Fjetland’s work ever since I saw his little Re-turned Birds at 100{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} Norway 2012. I almost met him at 100{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} Norway 2013, but was too star-struck to speak to him. So when I finally got to meet him at the 100{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} Norway 2014 preview in Bergen last month, I was chuffed to bits. Here’s what we talked about…

When you were five years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?

Honestly, I didn’t have a clue about what I wanted to do when I grew up. I was way more interested in my lego and exploring the growths, bugs and animals in our back garden. The truth is that I was still clueless when I graduated from high school, so it took some detours before I finally began my studies at the Bergen Academy of Art and Design.
Today I’m grateful for all the detours I’ve taken before ultimately finding my true calling. It has probably helped me to gain focus and insight into different aspects of life. Design is much more than just form and function, so any “luggage” you’ve picked up on the way will eventually come in handy. I love what I do, and I really hope I get a chance to do it for many more years to come.

What made you want to become a designer?

My interest for design was born at the age of 18 when I started collecting and restoring classic design pieces that I found in thrift stores, flee markets and dumpsters. I loved to work with and around these objects, as it felt so meaningful and rewarding.

I don’t necessarily think that it was the idea of becoming a ‘designer’ that made me apply for a bachelor in furniture/spatial design. It was more about gaining access to a playground filled with machines, workshops, teachers and craftsmen, where I could explore concepts and Ideas that I had been carrying around in my head for far to long.

Why does wood appeal to you as a material?

Wood is one of the materials that I am really passionate about. It was the first material I ever got to work with, and it therefore represents the very root of my ever-growing passion for designing and creating objects.

There is just something amazing and magical about this material. It retracts and expands according to the conditions it is being exposed to, like a living organism adapting to its surroundings. An understanding of how these forces work allows you to create amazing structures and objects that can last for generations.

What effect did growing up on Norway’s West Coast have on your work?

I am convinced that growing up on the West Coast of Norway has played a big role in moulding me into the designer I am today. I have always lived with nature as my ‘next-door neighbour’, and I choose to believe that this is evident in my work. Growing up so close the to elements of nature really shapes you as a human being, and you become sort of addicted and dependant on it being a part of your daily life. I think my passion for natural materials has its root in interacting with nature as a child.

What inspires and motivates you?

Everything and anything.

How does your design and making process work – how do you get from initial idea to final product?

I tend to initiate my design processes by studying a specific material or material combination. I thoroughly investigate their properties and inherent qualities, and let this set the basis for the rest of the design process.

What’s your favourite part of the process?

My favourite part of the process is prototyping. I find endless joy and pleasure in constructing and perfecting my prototypes. It is in this phase you start to get familiar with your design. You get to feel and experience the surfaces, the comfort and general function. You might end up building five prototypes before your completely satisfied, but it’s all worth it in the end.

What are you most proud of?

That is a tricky question to answer. One of the things that I’m really proud of was my decision to leave business school to pursue my growing passion to design and create. It left my parents and me with some grey hairs, but it was all worth it in the end.

What advice would you give to an aspiring designer?

It is not enough to work hard; you also need to work smart. A good product or a good idea is the essence of what we do, the rest is just smoke and mirrors. Find inspiration “offline” in places were others haven’t even thought of looking. Don’t mimic the current; create tomorrow.

“The end product will always reveal the creators true intention, regardless of how well it is being “dressed up”.”
Exhibit and publish your work. It is hard to get noticed, if you are hiding all you brilliant ideas in a drawer.
Negotiations with a manufacturer can be tuff, and you can easily be tempted to start agreeing to compromises that you are uncomfortable with. It is therefore immensely important to remember that they chose YOU and YOUR PRODUCT for a reason. Stick to your plan and concept without being completely unreasonable. Some compromises can actually lead to a better product.