Q&A with the editor and architect-designer behind our new Click Copper Shelf

One of the most exciting trends in contemporary design is the rising number of plugged-in editors launching small but high quality production houses, often bringing together emerging designers and skilled artisans to make limited collections of super special objects. This week, we launched some pieces in our Shop from Berlin-based design company New Tendency. In celebration, we paid them a visit and talked to founding partner and creative director Manuel Goller and architect-designer Sigurd Larsen about their recent collaboration.

Pamono: What prompted the launch of New Tendency?

Manuel Goller: The project has its roots at the Bauhaus-University, where friends of mine and I studied design. Our intention was to create everyday objects through contemporary thinking. We produce high quality, sustainable, and timeless furniture for a digital generation.

Pamono: Why Berlin?

Manuel Goller: We have been washed more or less accidentally to Berlin, but we quickly fell in love because the city is full of inspirations. It has an incredible, unique history, great architecture, a very vital and internationally recognized art scene, and a rather hidden, but omnipresent energy that makes it really special.

Pamono: Sigurd, what drew you to work with New Tendency?

Sigurd Larsen: The collaboration between us started after we met at the Nordic Embassies in Berlin, where we were invited for a kind of “speed-dating” event where creative people from Scandinavia meet and discuss ideas with German institutions and companies. It was a great and pleasant but very short first meeting. It was love at first sight, so we met up again shortly after to continue the brainstorm.

Sigurd Larson showing us the details of the Click Copper Shelf

Pamono: What is it like to work with New Tendency?

Sigurd Larsen: As an architect and designer, it’s a great pleasure to work with people experienced in both design and production methods. This gives an important and interesting inspiration to the details already from the first sketches. Basically, New Tendency is a team of great and communicative people, and since the beginning I had the feeling we would agree on the aesthetics and context of good design.

Pamono: Tell us briefly about your specific design collaboration.

Sigurd Larsen: The first piece we designed and produced together was Click, a boltless shelf system created by folding steel or copper in a way that ensure stability in a simple and clean form. We already have sketches for our next collaboration pending between us.

Pamono: Manuel, where would you like to see New Tendency five years from now?

Manuel Goller: New Tendency will be a global creative framework for people with great ideas and visions.