With her sustainable, functional designs, each given its own special touch, designer Rikke Frost surprises interior design enthusiasts all over the world. We met the Danish designer for an interview and talked to her about her TV appearance on "Denmark's Next Classic" and the CALEO lamp she created with Le Klint. She also shared a few valuable lighting tips with us.
Did you always want to be a designer?
No, but I've always loved beautiful things and good craftsmanship. As a child I did a lot of crafts and painting, but it was only as an adult that this turned into a career ambition.
Where and how do you live?
I live in a 160 m² townhouse in Aarhus, Denmark, with my husband and our two children.
Describe your interior style in three words.
Old. New. Mixed.
Describe a typical working day.
My working days are always very different – and that's exactly what I love about my job. One day I'm sitting researching or drawing, the next I'm visiting metal or wood workshops and working on prototypes and models.
Tell us more about your studio.
My studio is in an old warehouse at Aarhus harbour. It has one of the best views of the city, and I love watching everyday life from there. There are lots of other creative businesses in the area. I share my studio with an architect.
What makes your designs so special?
I always aim to design sustainable, functional and simple pieces of furniture with a special twist. I always try to develop environmentally friendly solutions together with my clients.
Where do you find inspiration?
I often fall in love with materials or production methods, which then inspire me to create new designs.
You've already worked with well-known brands such as Skagerak and Woud. What's particularly important to you in a collaboration like that?
Teamwork. The chemistry between me and the brand simply has to be right, and we have to be able to trust each other.
On the TV show "Denmark's Next Classic", you designed the CALEO lamp for Le Klint. Viewers were able to follow you as you worked – not a typical everyday situation, is it?
On the TV show, we only ever had three weeks for each project. For the lamp, we had even fewer days because of the Christmas holidays, when it's hard to find people to help you. So I thought practically – I had to design something from a material I could manage on my own.
Paper came to mind, so I called Le Klint and asked whether they'd like to work with me on this crazy project. I sent the brand a really bad first sketch. But they said yes anyway, because it was something new they had never seen before.
What makes the CALEO so special?
The folds of the CALEO run horizontally. My original idea was to design a lamp that could be opened up to give off even more light. That idea also led to the lamp's metal arc. The brown lines on the paper emphasise the pleated look, both when the lamp is switched on and when it's off. I'm really happy to be working with a Danish brand that still places great value on traditional craftsmanship.
You've already won several design awards. Which one are you particularly proud of?
The German Design Award for the "Edge Filigree" handle, designed in collaboration with Furnipart. I'm very grateful because Furnipart believed in my vision, even though it was very different from the company's previous work. They took a risk, and we were all rewarded for it. That gave me even more confidence for future projects.
What role does light play in your home?
We never have enough light in our house and are always trying to bring more brightness into our home. When you live in Scandinavia, light is simply essential for well-being.
What qualities does a lamp need to have for you?
It depends entirely on the purpose. A lamp for a cosy atmosphere should impress with its design even when it's not in use. In a workspace, it doesn't have to be a statement light. Task lighting simply has to do its job without drawing much attention to itself.
What should you look for when buying a lamp?
Its function, its surroundings and whether it suits the things already in the room.
What are your personal and professional goals?
I want to keep learning and discovering new things. The day I no longer love my job, I'll look for something new. My dream is to be able to say one day that I've designed a real design classic – something durable that lasts for several generations.
Rikke, thank you so much for your time and this fascinating interview!
http://www.rikkefrost.dk/
