Sustainably going against the grain

In conversation with designer Felix Stark

Müller Small Living has been working with Felix Stark for a number of years. The multi award-winning designs produced by the Cologne-based industrial designer are characterised by a matter-of-fact elegant form based on the motto "form follows function". The PLANE and NOOK beds are great examples of the designer’s principles. We spoke with Felix Stark about sustainability to get his views on the topic. 

You are convinced that fleeting trends are unable to achieve lasting satisfaction among users. Could you perhaps break down this idea?

Many products are designed to be replaced at relatively short intervals. In this sense, they are intentionally conceived to trigger impulsive buying. When they fail to perform both in terms of appearance and quality in the long term, customers are left unsatisfied. It doesn't take long for the need to replace furniture with something new to arise. By contrast, a timeless, high-quality piece of furniture is something personal that can accompany you throughout your life, gaining value through the memories it holds.

Can you take us through the development process: How did the idea for the PLANE range come about?

I always found the notion of having a bed and a separate bedside table a little hectic. To me, clear, calm design is what we should aspire to achieve in the bedroom. With this in mind, the idea behind PLANE was to unite a bedside table and bed in a organised, harmonious form.   In a similar vein, the NOOK bed offers far more than originally meets the eye yet is characterised by functional elegant design. Do you have a special process when coming up with designs? Do you prioritise aesthetics or functionality and use when getting started?   The way I see it, aesthetics are just as much a function as ergonomics or durability. At the end of the day, only a piece of furniture that you like will be functional. When designing NOOK, I also focused on the storage space at the head of the bed and the option to stow cables. The final form then took shape based on these requirements.

How important is sustainability to you and how do you manage it in your private life?

Sustainability is very important to me. That's why I also work as a lecturer at ecosign, an academy for sustainable design in Cologne, alongside my work as a designer. I also try to save resources wherever possible in my private life. For example, I don’t have a car and try to eat as sustainably as possible.