I discovered Michael Daae Christensen’s work at Northmodern in Copenhagen at the beginning of this year, and then met him in person at the Stockholm Furniture Fair in February. Despite still being a student at Denmark’s TEKO, (part of VIA University College), he has already established his own studio, Made by Michael, and has work in production. I was keen to find out more…
What’s the most important thing to know about you?
That’s a tough question, but I think it must be that I am really focused on what I do and what I want to achieve in my life. I’m really guided by my own ambitions.
When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?
One of the first things I remember wanting to be was an architect. My parents were expanding our house when I was growing up, so I would sit and draw buildings and interior plans of how the house might look. I liked drawing, so I also drew cartoon characters and many other things. I knew I wanted to be something where I would get to use my hands.
And now?!
Now I really just want to continue becoming an even better furniture designer and hopefully be able to do that for a living.
How did you first get into furniture design?
It’s actually a funny story. I have always known I wanted to work with something creative. At school, I worked a lot in fashion design, thinking that was what I wanted to do. But at some point I had to write a design paper about Verner Panton, and when I researched him and his work I got so inspired that I started drawing furniture instead of clothes. Then, a year later I applied to TEKO Design School – Furniture Design and that’s where I have been studying for the past three and a half years.
What inspires your designs?
My designs are inspired by my own everyday world and the things and problems I encounter there. I am really focused on functionality and designing a simple product with a unique look and surprising details like alternative ways of joining furniture. But sometimes inspiration also just hits you out of the blue when you see something.
How do you overcome creative block?
I go do something completely different. Something fun. Something that helps me get my thoughts away from the problem in front of me. It might be partying, watching a movie, playing table football, going to the gym, visiting some friends, taking a nap or just working on something else instead.
Talk me through your design and making process from initial idea to final product.
It usually starts with an overall idea of what I want to work with. It could be a theme, a problem, a concept, a material, an inspiration source or a special approach to the design at hand. Then I start putting up some boundaries to create some limits that I want to work within. That helps make the process more focused and direct. After that I can start to research the job ahead. For instance, my last project revolved around reading, so I researched reading habits, reading environments and all the reader’s needs. I can then subtract the most useful knowledge and use it further in the idea state, where I draw, make models, and try to come up with a starting point. During this phase, I do a lot of evaluating to compare ideas and increase the strength of the final idea. When I find the final product I want to create, I will make more specific models, 3D drawings, 1:1 mock ups and test how the furniture would work as a complete piece. When I feel everything is tested and I am satisfied with the result, I start with the final prototype. And as always, when you then test the final prototype, there will always be something to develop. A work is never really done in my head. Of course, there are many steps behind each of these, it’s usually really chaotic and not a very linear process!
What’s your favourite part of the process?
Going from the drawings and 3D models to actually testing the product in 1:1 in the workshop. Seeing your initial idea come alive and making it yourself. I love to work with the material myself, even though I don’t have a carpentry background. You need to know the materials you work with, and I learn through my hands.
What’s your favourite tool?
That must be a pen and paper. Because that’s where all the designs are “born”. But if I had to choose a more handy tool it would be a hand router, because it’s really useful!
Describe a really good day and a really bad day in the life of Michael Daae Christensen.
A good day is when I go to sleep and feel really satisfied with the progress I made that day. It might have been a shitty day, but if I end on a success and the whole day leads me to that, it would still have been a good day. And a bad day is one of those where everything goes completely bananas and nothing works the way it’s supposed too.
What are you most proud of?
Without wishing to sound like a narcissist, I must say that I’m really proud of what I have achieved with my short furniture career so far. I would’ve never guessed I could have come this far, already looking back at when I started.
What advice would you give to a new designer?
Keep working on your dreams even if they seem far away! It might not always work out the way you planned it too, but good things come to those who work their asses off!
Further reading for the especially geeky:
