Obscure Objects
Luisa and Moritz, please introduce yourself:
We are Luisa and Moritz, based in Berlin and working collaboratively under the name of Obscure Objects. Luisa is a trained architect and Moritz's background lies in interior and product design. Together we are developing our design approach by joining our individual experiences and skillsets. As a couple we have always been sharing design ideas with each other, till we decided last year to take it a step further and to call it Obscure Objects.
Softies exhibition ©Volker Conradus
#1 Your studio emphasizes unconventional design approaches rooted in materiality.
How would you describe your relationship with materials, and how do you choose them for your projects?
We like to work with materials which are often overlooked or covered in our everyday lives. Especially metals of all kinds are omnipresent in our urban, built and domestic environments.
Our intention is to highlight their raw properties and features to make them more approachable and to elevate their reputation. Therefore our designs always have a playful and not too serious aspect.
#2 Obscure Objects seems to challenge traditional boundaries between art, design, and architecture.
How do you approach the concept of functionality in your designs while keeping an artistic touch?
In general we tend to follow our instincts and ideas freely without setting any boundaries to functionality and discipline. Often the design process starts with a specific form language, other times it's more driven by a certain manufacturing method. Those ways of creating mostly lead us to a function and the final object.
broken wing stool & wing sidetable © Volker Conradus, chunk stool, flight mode burning tray, chunk chair, ©Konstantin Walther,
#3 Could you walk us through a typical creative process at Obscure Objects? How do you decide when a design is „complete“?
Knowing when an objects is finished is one of the toughest parts of the design process. Luckily we are a team of two and in a constant exchange, all projects emerge from an intense communication between the two of us. It helps a lot to have another person's perspective to see whenever a design is going into the right direction or needs some alteration. Sometimes it’s also good to create some distance to your own product to reevaluate new ideas in your own pace without any pressure.
#4 The interaction between the viewer and your designs is central to your work. How do you envision these interactions, and how have your audiences reacted so far?
Interaction matters greatly to us, we like to play with the expectation of others and like to challenge ways things are perceived. We enjoy when people react in a curious and surprised way, sometimes others are uncertain how to read or to feel about them. But either reaction is very valuable to us, we appreciate to be able to evoke any kind of feeling trough our work.
flight mode burning tray ©Konstantin Walther
#5 Innovation seems crucial in your projects.
What materials or technologies are you excited to experiment with in future work?
The combination of technologies and craft is essential in our manufacturing process. Every project involves techniques like cnc milling or laser cutting but there are still a lot more innovative technologies to explore. Traditional craft is equally important to us. We are currently especially interested in leather manufacturing as we are about to release a new item together with NowHow Studio, a japanese brand which is known for their beautiful leather work.
#6 This weekend, you're launching your latest design, the Kado Bag, in collaboration with Nowhow Studio. Could you share more about the inspiration behind the Kado Bag and your experience working with Nowhow Studio?
We came up with the design of the metal shell by playing around with the system of folded sheet metal we often use for our pieces. After the first prototype we got so much positive feedback that we definitely wanted to develop the item further.
We met the two Japanese creatives behind NowHow, Sonoko and Masafumi, already a while ago and immediately thought about them when imagining a high quality leather as a material for an inner bag.
A few months and some prototypes later we could’t be more happy about this collaboration and the result.
The name kado is Japanese and stands for the sharp 90 degree corners of the brushed aluminium shell which are contrasted by the soft and slouchy leather.
Obscure Objects x NowHow - Kado Bag ©Konstantin Walther
#7 How do you see your role as a designer in society?
Similar to the materials we like to use we have the feeling that the role of designers in society is often overlooked. The reality to make a living from your work as a creative can be tough and devastating. We see our role in redefining and expanding the classic definition of designers. With the development of new technologies we no longer need to depend on old market structures, but can independently develop, produce, publish and promote our work. It’s our generation of creatives that can explore and push this development further.
#8 How does your environment (Berlin location) influence your work? Are there any aspects of the city‘s culture, history, or creative scene that inspire you?
Berlin has been an artistic and cultural hotspot for many decades where people have been able to express themselves freely. Experiencing this mindset motivated us a lot to take our wish, to start our own practice more seriously. For a long time the city's focus has been on art and music but we see that the design scene is growing and becoming more visible at the moment.
Pippi & chunk stool ©Konstantin Walther, Portrait ©Thomas Ehm
#9 Who or what inspires or influences you and your work? Is there someone whose work you particularly admire?
We love to go to the hardware shops and flea markets, especially in other countries, to discover the hidden potential of the most ordinary items. But also a good stroll trough our neighborhood and the latest construction sites brings some new inspiration.
#10 Three things that inspire you at the moment:
We both have a thing for dystopian movies and rap music. We’ve recently seen the latest Dune movies and love to rewatch others like Blade Runner, 12 Monkeys or Stalker.
Cor Studios Paris ©Alizée Cailliau
Links
Website: www.obscure-objects.com
Instagram: obscure_objects
Photo Credits: © Alizée Cailliau, ©Thomas Ehm, ©Konstantin Walther, © Volker Conradus
Interview by Lisa Puschmann