"Most of my tasks are self-initiated" says Daniel Rybakken
One of the simplest ways to land thrilling design commissions is to be proactive about pitching concepts to manufacturers, in response to Norwegian designer Daniel Rybakken.
Talking to Dezeen forward of Stockholm Design Week, Rybakken stated that a lot of his best-known tasks resulted from him reaching out to a model with a proposal.
“Most of my tasks are self-initiated,” he stated. “When you’re a scholar you assume that folks will simply name and assign you items, however virtually all the pieces that I’ve accomplished has been as a result of I began the dialog.”
Rybakken has been established on the worldwide design scene for over a decade. Primarily based in Gothenburg, Sweden, he has created merchandise with producers together with Italian lighting model Luceplan, Danish homeware label Hay and Finnish furnishings firm Artek.
The designer stated that, although he usually makes the primary transfer, he finds manufacturers actually open to listening to his concepts.
He factors to the Arbour Couch, which he and fellow Norwegian designer Andreas Engesvik created for Hay, for instance.
“We approached Rolf Hay”
It was solely after the pair pitched the idea to Hay co-founder Rolf Hay that they discovered he was a fan of their work.
“We approached him saying that we wished to do a settee,” stated Rybakken. “On the assembly, he stated there was no one else in Scandinavia he wish to work with extra. I believe he was telling the reality. However individuals are busy. You must be the one to succeed in out.”
Rybakken stated that when manufacturers do give him briefs, they are usually too just like tasks he has already accomplished.
For instance, he has been approached by lighting producers to work on lamps which are “not copies, however within the type of” designs he beforehand developed with Luceplan.
The designer believes he would have been pigeon-holed as a lighting designer if he hadn’t taken the initiative to share concepts with furnishings producers.
“I needed to make the transition from designing lamps to furnishings myself,” he stated. “Individuals solely see what already exists; if you wish to do one thing else, it’s a must to take that step by yourself.”
Rybakken is debuting a brand new product at Stockholm Furnishings Honest – the Ypsilon Bench, an out of doors seat developed with Norwegian street-furniture firm Vestre.
Out there in each linear and round kinds, the design consists of two strong glulam wooden beams that angle in the direction of each other to create a extra comfy and supportive seat.
Rybakken first got here up with the thought in 2005. It stayed in his thoughts till the summer season of 2022, when he determined to pitch it to Vestre. “They instantly favored the idea,” he stated.
Vestre’s expert manufacturing crew helped Rybakken to develop an progressive metal leg that could possibly be produced from a single folded sheet of metal, with none want for welding.
Nonetheless the form of the bench continues to be the identical because the designer’s first prototype. This meant the product could possibly be fast-tracked from idea to launch in underneath a yr.
“I’ve a variety of concepts in psychological storage”
“My course of may be very thought-driven,” stated Rybakken. “Some designers begin by drawing, and see what comes out of the drawing. However I like to begin with the general construction.”
“I’ve a variety of concepts in psychological storage,” he added.
Additionally at Stockholm Design Week, Rybakken is presenting Shelter, a marooned pavilion designed to symbolise the plight of refugees.
Upcoming tasks embody new furnishings merchandise with Artek, Luceplan and Japanese model Karimoku, that are all as a result of launch in Milan within the spring.
Rybakken believes his profitable observe document with manufacturers is a results of designing with himself in thoughts.
“You would possibly say it is egotistical, however I do not design for different folks,” he stated. “I’ve myself in thoughts as the top person. I believe I may be my most sincere once I do this.”
Ypsilon is on present at Stockholm Furnishings Honest, which runs from 7 to 11 February as a part of Stockholm Design Week. Browse our digital information to the pageant or go to Dezeen Occasions Information for extra structure and design occasions going down all over the world.
