I met Sanna and Anne of Danish design studio Nordvink at Northmodern in Copenhagen at the beginning of this year and was immediately captivated by their simple yet functional approach to design. Six months later, I finally pinned them down to find out more about how they work…
What’s the most important thing to know about you?
We are Sanne Kyed and Anne Nørbjerg, two upcoming designers from Denmark, and together we have started the design company Nordvink. Nordvink focuses on aesthetic and functional products designed for everyday life. The products have a Nordic touch with a playful combination of materials and colours creating contrast in the simple individualistic design.
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
At the age of five, we did not think about adult life, we just liked to play. When we grew older, maybe at the age of ten, Anne wanted to become a designer and Sanne wanted to become a professional dancer.
And now?!
We still like to play and dance and we will finish our masters in design at the Aarhus School of Architecture this summer.
How did you first get into design?
We started working together on a project in our third year at the Aarhus school of Architecture. We made lamps and candlesticks for the school’s Christmas market and six months later we started Nordvink.
What inspires your designs?
Everyday life, intelligent products for everyday life, design that solves a problem and combining aesthetics and functionality.
How do you overcome creative block?
We take a step back and start sketching in another media or start asking each other questions about the design. Often this helps us to continue.
Talk me through your design and making process from initial idea to final product?
Often we get inspired looking at spaces and the everyday life of people. Then we start brainstorming, sketching manually (drawing and making small models) and digitally, mocking up, testing it, making changes, testing it, finishing it.
What’s your favourite part of the process?
The starting point of the project and the entirety of the project.
What’s your favourite tool?
The link between 3D-programs and models (model making to understand the real proportions and 3D-programmes to go crazy).
Describe a really good day and a really bad day in the life of Nordvink.
A busy day is a good day and things like new collaborations, new ideas, product launches make a day good. Bad days are all-nighters and too much paperwork.
What are you most proud of?
Our design DryUnder, which solves one of the problems in everyday life. DryUnder is a piece of space-saving balcony furniture, which works by combining a balcony table with a drying rack.
What advice would you give to a new designer?
Would it be a cliché to say ‘Just do it.’? Don’t be nervous about showing your design. It will never become something if it stays in your mind or hidden in a drawer. Take the chances you get, they will always result in something – maybe not the original purpose, but perhaps a contact for future work.
What was the best part about taking part in new design show, Northmodern Copenhagen, earlier this year.
The response to our products and talking to other companies and consumers was fantastic. It was also great to meet other new designers. Networking is really important when you’re starting out. We also really enjoyed experiencing all the inspiring up-coming designers, new designs and seeing the design of other stands.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
