I met design collective Trefjøla in Olso for the 100{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} Norway preview and was impressed with the simplicity of their proposition – chopping boards made from reclaimed wood. Add to that a bunch of talented Norwegian designers and makers and you’ve got a recipe for a success. I caught up with the founders to find out more…
What’s the most important thing to know about you?
Trefjøla, is a new Norwegian-based brand that will breath life into the highly overlooked but essential kitchen utensil — the chopping board. By taking ownership of one of the world’s most basic products for cooking, Trefjøla seeks to position itself as the expert on chopping boards. The main ingredients of our recipe will be: history, sustainability, different materials, Norwegian handicraft, functionality, customisation and modern design. The brand launched at 100{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} Norway in September, where we showcased a series of premium cutting boards from different Norwegian designers. Our objective is both to design and make new types of cutting boards as well as sourcing older ones and bringing them back to life. The Trefjøla initiative is created by three partners: Hole Design, renowned for its expertise in wood making, the value of handiwork and sustainability; Anti Inc, a multi-award winning design and brand building agency, who also works at the forefront of Norwegian creativity through international magazine A New Type of Imprint; and Noord, which presents and market contemporary design objects rooted in the new Norwegian design-identity.
What inspires your work?
Our love for wood and food, and the general idea of what a wooden chopping board can offer to different situations in either your private kitchen or a restaurant, to be used as a serving platter or a single plate. Our first collection of premium chopping boards from Trefjøla are inspired by small food plates, used mainly in the Sixties and Seventies as a side plate, usually to hold a piece of bread- back then these were normally made from teak wood. Designers Lars Ernst Hole and Henrik Bie have challenged the traditional use of materials introducing two or more types of wood to each board, in a combination with different metals. This encourages people to use the different sides of the boards for different foods. The result is a versatile product aimed both for traditional use as a side plate, and as a small, handy cutting board or a mini serving platter.
Talk me through your design and making process.
The process of developing the first collection started with an exploration of the simple and clean shape, based on the old classic food plate. From there Lars and Henrik Bie tested and researched sizes, thicknesses and shaping the edges for the optimal look and feel. The main challenge was to establish how the different woods go together and their relation both to each other and to the metal lining.
What’s your favourite part of the process?
The starting point – creating the idea, and then seeing it as a finished and functional product that fulfils the expectations you had at the starting point!
What’s your favourite tool and why?
The pencil, an analogue tool that allows us to move ideas from the head down to a piece of paper.
Tell me about a really good day and a really bad day in the life of Trefjøla.
A good day: When you discover your product in use by a person you’ve had no influence over having purchased your product.
A bad day: Having developed an idea, only to discover it doesn’t work after all.
What defines good design?
Functionality and good use of materials, preferably with a sustainable profile.
What are you most proud of?
We are proud of our initiative with Trefjøla and look forward to starting something new — a Norwegian brand with international potential.
What advice would you give to an aspiring designer?
Don’t make it to complicated!
And finally, what’s your favourite colour?
Black and white, and all the shades in between.
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- interview :: made by michael
- interview :: nordvink
- interview :: james molkenthin
- interview :: richard hardy
Product images: Nancy Bundt. Team and founders image: Veronica Mike Solheim
