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Collection by Luke Hopping

What It's Like to Work With 99-Year-Old Design Icon Jens Risom

A new collaboration between Chris Hardy and legendary Danish designer Jens Risom for Design Within Reach is on display now at WantedDesign. The midcentury-inspired Vens (Danish for "friends") storage collection was designed primarily by Hardy, yet bears the indelible mark of the old master. Hardy discusses how he approached the daunting task of designing on Risom's behalf.

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What was the collaborative process like? At first it was just trying to understand who he was. His family would send me old catalogues and brochures, and I'd go through and look for trends in his work. I wanted to get a basic understanding of what's important to him, both in his business and design philosophy, then I'd go to his home and interview him. Finally, when I felt comfortable with who he was, I started looking for ways to put a contemporary twist on his work.
What was the collaborative process like? At first it was just trying to understand who he was. His family would send me old catalogues and brochures, and I'd go through and look for trends in his work. I wanted to get a basic understanding of what's important to him, both in his business and design philosophy, then I'd go to his home and interview him. Finally, when I felt comfortable with who he was, I started looking for ways to put a contemporary twist on his work.
When you began to dig into his work, what details struck you that you hadn't noticed before? Risom's all about the nuance of a piece. It's very Danish. One thing that I noticed in his work, he likes to separate things visually, like floating tabletops that are a little disjointed. It breaks the piece visually.
When you began to dig into his work, what details struck you that you hadn't noticed before? Risom's all about the nuance of a piece. It's very Danish. One thing that I noticed in his work, he likes to separate things visually, like floating tabletops that are a little disjointed. It breaks the piece visually.
How did you incorporate your own style into the finished piece? I was excited by this red laminate that Risom once used and really championed it. At one point, I wanted to put it on the outside, but I ended up toning it down. Instead, we allocated it to details. It's present on the floors of the drawers.
How did you incorporate your own style into the finished piece? I was excited by this red laminate that Risom once used and really championed it. At one point, I wanted to put it on the outside, but I ended up toning it down. Instead, we allocated it to details. It's present on the floors of the drawers.
Chris Hardy and Jens Risom's Vens collection is on display at now at WantedDesign.
Chris Hardy and Jens Risom's Vens collection is on display at now at WantedDesign.