Posted by sabine7
Interview | 14 Jun 07 | Comments (2) | Stumble
Industrial designer Daniel Rohr graduated in shoe and bag design in Milan, but has since turned his hand to pieces that involve much more hardware than zippers, buckles and clasps. The screw clamp is the current fastener of choice for Rohr who has been seduced by its multifunctional qualities. The screw spindle tightens the brackets onto the main elements of his designs such as his new table, eliminating the need for other fixtures. The screw clamps are an essential part of the piece, so why hide them? Not difficult to see how a background in fashion could lead to this bold way of thinking, envisaging and then carrying out.
Daniel, how did the idea for the screw clamp series come about? What sort of chairs would you envisage with the new Screw Clamp table? And accessories - would they be more massive or delicate?
A few years ago I wanted to create screw-on table-legs and for the test I used regular commercial screw-clamps. I liked the idea, because on one hand the act of attaching the screw clamps is a functional and mechanical process and on the other hand the screw clamps themselves are sturdy objects of (technical) design – both aspects are becoming easily present and making themselves obvious. So I decided to create a line of furniture, where the screw clamps are used as functional - and design - objects.
In the construction of the table is a certain mechanical and technical dominance. Yet the transparent plexiglass plate appears cool, fragile and translucent, in a certain sense there is a de-materialisation of the plexiglass plate as it vanishes in the light. Therefore I would like to assemble it with sofas or loungechairs in a monobloc character... With its contrast and calmness compared to the table I am thinking about the Nimrod (arm) chair by Marc Newson.
In my profession as a designer I am constantly challenged by various visual impressions. In contrast to these circumstances minimalism is what I like. I think a room should not be overloaded with too many accessories and decorating objects. There should be sufficient space and air for the own character as well as for dreaming and thinking without being distracted. So in my opinion a decent utilization of accessories and objects can help to create different atmospheres, especially if they touch our emotions or express a personal side. Therefore they can be massive or delicate.
The world is already full of ‘stuff’ – as a designer, why do you choose to create more?
What I like about my job is something special... I can preserve the freedom and playfulness of my childhood, the freedom to experiment with things and ideas. Nowadays design is influenced by a multitude of different components like art, culture, nature, material and technical development. With this I see an intense evolutionary process, which to some part can be compared to the biological evolution in nature itself. Everything influences everything by which everything can be seen as one. I am glad to provide some input into this process, to raise new questions and possibly to change some point of views. In fact it's not easy to justify the designers right and destiny to always give birth to new designs. Probably time is the one and only "component“ which will tell if it is the right way and if new perspectives are arising, sooner or later.
this is a beautiful concept, opens a whole range of opportunities
in a word, HEAVY! you definitely can't mount that table alone
Great rough and slick look at the same time.