“I consider all my works as tiny bits and pieces of a larger, greater story, with each project sharing the same seminal idea, material palette and aesthetics through time and functionality”, so Danish designer Cecilie Manz points out relating to her latest adventure engaging with the Hi-Fi system world soon to be unveiled in Milan. She already worked with furniture design brands of the likes of Fritz Hansen, Lightyears, Muuto, Georg Jensen, Iittala, Offecct. Born 1972 with a delicate and refined soul, she was recently awarded Designer of the Year by Maison & Objet, and is going to launch a fresh new product conceived for Bang & Olufsen at the company’s showroom on corso Garibaldi, 2 concurrently with the Milano Design Week 2018.
For the occasion, we met her to discuss her creative process and latest collaboration with the Danish Hi-Fi manufacturer, which is already well-known for a wildly experimental take on technology and avant-garde design.
What inspires you the most?
The project itself is a good starting point, definitely: everyday life, nature, a day off. There, I often find my major source of inspiration: ideas come less from the pensive wait and more from the tireless work, drafts and repeated attempts. To me a strong, solid, adequate and functional starting idea is crucial to guarantee the project’s success, well before stepping in the physical prototyping phase. My approach is built around simplicity and the development of pure, aesthetic and narrative objects.
How did you start collaborating with Bang & Olufsen?
I got a phone call and an invitation to visit their HQ. I am pretty keen on meeting my clients personally, since you get to understand the brand’s actual nature, the people who have been working there for years, plant and equipment they normally use – in other words, a company’s genuine essence. I made immediately clear that I would need a fair amount of freedom in order to translate my personal perspective on the project. Beolit 12 results directly from this act of trust, and its prevailing materials – aluminium, leather, polymer – stand at the core of B&O Play.
How do nature, design, and technology intertwine?
Nature and technology have always been tightly linked, while design comes straight as a consequence: take raw materials, their rendering process etc.
How would you define your ideal design object?
A perfectly balanced mix of functionality and aesthetic approach.
What do you expect from the upcoming Milano Design Week?
Hopefully, a wave of innovation, as usual.
We later asked her about a bunch of juicy details of her own home.
Do you think the way we live the domestic space has changed significantly?
Nowadays, compared to 200 years ago, it seems like people invest much more time and efforts in their homes. Today, not just wealthy people ask for beautiful houses, as the quest for beauty is getting increasingly democratic to the extent that pleasant-looking objects may be available to anyone.
As for me, I’ve always fulfilled my personal needs and aesthetic sense, and I think that’s the best way for anyone to feel at home.
Is there a privileged house corner you’d rather spend all your time in?
I believe the dining table is the beating heart of the house. Everything happens here: sharing food, playing, working, spending time together.
Which objects do you intentionally ban from your house?
Oh, there’s many… Any object that is useless, not functional or lacking of a fair dose of sentimental value could happily be binned.
Your best-loved object.
A coffee table I did design many years ago and yet never entered production. I always put a vase of fresh flowers on it.
An artwork you’d die to have at your place.
If only I could afford a painting by Agnes Martin…
Is there anything you’d like to buy?
It would be nice to say nothing…
One thing you would change about your house.
Oh well, it bears the name of “everyday life”. The aspects I dislike the most are tidying up, cleaning up the mess, doing the laundry etc. But I would change nothing anyway.
What is the thing you enjoy the most at home?
Being with my family.
In apertura: La designer Cecilie Manz
