What do we need for a cozy home? Designer Joa Herrenknecht about colors, big windows and childhood memories
What we consider beautiful and cozy is closely linked to emotions we feel when we enter a room, which in turn are connected to our past experiences. But if our upbringing influences our taste, how much more must it shape the creativity of designers? A Talk.
Though the pandemic is over, we still spend most of our time indoors. If our emotions and past experiences influences our tastes and sense of aesthetic, how much more must it shape the creativity of designers? Read what furniture and product designer Joa has to say about home trends, nostalgia, childhood influences and role models!
Joa Herrenknecht
Joa Herrenknecht is a product and furniture designer who works in Berlin and Toronto and co-founder of the Matter of Course female design collective. Her upcoming projects include a blanket collection for Metsovaara using RMS-certified mohair and a new wall coatrack system for Metallbude. She also designed sofas and lamps for the Danish interior brand Bolia and others. Her design language is a bold use of colours and graphic forms.
iF: Joa, a lot of things from our childhood, whether it be smells or colors, have shaped our sense of aesthetics and even what we mean by the word "home". How was it for you growing up? How did these aesthetics influence you – both positively and negatively?
Joa: When I was a child first we lived in a small apartment, later on we moved to a house in a small village. There were lots of beautiful old half-timbered houses like are common in southern Germany. The only thing is, they are so dark inside! We had a relatively large garden, which was very important for me. A lot of people in my generation live in the city, far away from where they grew up. Quite a fewmiss the open spaces. That's why city parks are so important! When you're young, you want to move to the city right away. As soon as you have kids, you start looking for more space – and calm. Although I've lived in New York, Berlin and now Toronto, I’m grounded by my childhood in the village. I can understand how Michele de Lucci would choose to move out into the country and work there. But you also need the city. There are so many interesting encounters there. In some areas you feel more comfortable than in others.
iF: Talking about childhood memories: Everywhere you look is Barbie right now – even down to pink and Swarovski crystals in interior design. Is this a return to maximalism or just plain nostalgia?
Joa: I have to admit I haven’t seen the movie and I'm not really that interested in Barbie. No matter, I can’t imagine we'll all be living in Swarovski-adorned, pink-tinted interiors anytime soon. On the other hand, I do believe that color will make a comeback. Not right away maybe, but in five years there’s bound to be a counter-movement to this "gray and beige=greige" trend where all rooms are reduced to the absolute minimum. The natural trend won't last forever, although I think it’s great we're all paying more attention to ceramics and handmade stuff. Maybe we’ll see a kind of fusion: clay walls, but done in bright colors - like India Madavi. But no matter what comes next, sustainability is the most important thing. We just can't ignore it any longer. That's also where design comes in: I believe if we love an object, we will take care of it and keep it longer.
iF: For years, interior designers and architects have tended towards large, bright rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows. Psychologists tell us we're more likely to feel comfortable in smaller, cozier rooms. What are your thoughts?
Joa: We live in one of these houses with a big open kitchen and floor-to-ceiling windows. During the pandemic I noticed two things. Firstly, it feels wonderful to sit there with all the light. But when you live in a house with small children, an open kitchen can also get pretty noisy. Friends of mine are thinking about breaking up the large-format kitchen into smaller rooms. After all, you don't always want go to the bedroom for your zoom calls. It's also a question of how you feel at home during working hours. We spend so much time in the office, whether it’s inside and outside the home. And offices are less susceptible to trendy colors like magenta.
The large window walls are here to stay, though. Daylight is so beautiful but also very important for our mood.
iF: Who are your role models in design and what have you learned from them?
Joa: There are so many. I studied at the Hochschule für Gestaltung Karlsruhe under Stefan Diez, Werner Aisslinger and many other fantastic industrial designers. Then I worked for Patricia Urquiola in Italy and learned a lot from her. Her perserverence was - is - very impressive. She has so much power and energy! In Italy I also learned that 'being a designer' is also a life choice. You can decide how you want to work like you decide to drink good coffee. Also, some great products come about by accident. At that time, we worked a lot, and we also had a lot of fun together. The team was great. Some designers know how to build a great team around them, which in addition to everything else is a great skill.
iF: What more do you want from design?
Joa: I want to work on products or projects that have a long life cycle. That are produced and marketed for a long time and will be around in 10 or even 20 years. As a designer, but also for companies, it's becoming more and more important to think about sustainability. We all need to buy less but in better quality – that’s not a trend, it’s a must!