Studio Schrofer celebrates over 40 years of "Hands-on Design; Tools for Living". Their approach to the furniture design process is similar to how they cook in the kitchen for a family and entertaining friends. Furniture like food, facilitates the same kind of satisfaction: comfort, warmth, "gezelligheid" - that uniquely Dutch sense of conviviality. There are so many parallels between these two that they could call their design process "Cooking furniture".
CALLAS chair by Studio Schrofer for Leolux.
That welcoming TAH-DAH moment only happens once. A beautifully chaired table visually welcomes guests. The comfort of the chairs determines the duration of the evening. The cuisine determines their satisfaction.
Bocuse, Ducasse and Robuchon, the culinary godfathers who established "good taste", inspired a new generation of urban savvy chef-cooks. Frans Schrofer hopes to inspire a new generation of industrial designers, by embracing new techniques like Virtual Reality. He and his team work with all burners on and sweat the details, addressing the global audience, by employing sustainable materials while reducing waste, re-purposing, refining, re-using/recycled materials and saving time.
At the left ROSA chair by Studio Schrofer for They&Me and at the right Caruzzo chair, winner of the Red Dot Design Award, by Studio Schrofer for Leolux.
Clients are presented with a tight menu – considering their current taste palette - while introducing new ingredients and techniques to expand their horizons. For example for Dutch brand Leolux, a wing chair with expressive ears (CARUZZO); a dining chair with an adjustable back rest to relieve a satiated belly (TAMARINDE); or a cinched waist dining chair to enhance the pre-during-post-dining figure (CALLAS). To accommodate those who enjoy copious quantities of the good life, a relax function was integrated and generously proportioned the headrest (PORTO) for their BoConcept Danish neighbour.
'Looking back, my early personal development, I was more "burn and learn" than draft and craft methodology', says Frans Schrofer, founder of Studio Schrofer. 'I have since learned from my mistakes and know that the key ingredients to a successful design are the suppliers: from the nuts & bolts to frames, foams, and fabrics. Without them, you can't bake your cake. Building upon their innovations supports mine and we all can delight in each other's success.'
Frans adds, 'Doubt looms in every phase of my process: "Is this a half-baked idea? Does it have too much or too little? Can a design be appreciated in its utmost simplicity or does it require an embellishment to add complexity"?' Some of my most successful designs were born in 15 minutes, while others, like slow food, took longer to stew. Good design, like good food, needs perfect timing with abundant patience and the collusion of craftsmen, suppliers, ingredients, management, and marketing to synthesise. If you wait too long, you may miss the moment. If you start too quickly and the concepts aren't fully mature.'
PORTO chair, by Studio Schrofer for BoConcept.
Everyone loves a good design like good food. The ultimate reward for a designer? Seeing that moment of delight when someone exclaims, 'Mmmmm, this is delicious!!!' The entire design team is psyched to re-enter the fiery furnaces of the design kitchen to create another eye-popping, feel-good sensation.
So, pull up a chair, season the day with great design, and let the conversation begin. Bon Appétit!
More information:
Studio Schrofer
[email protected]
www.studioschrofer.com