Fritz Hansen’s new CEO and artistic lead on design for good
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New appointments at design manufacturers won’t herald the identical headlines as they do at trend homes, however they definitely carry as a lot accountability for a model’s route of journey. In life at present, ‘enterprise as regular’ doesn’t fairly reduce it as a modus operandi for any model. Response is essential to survival due, variously, to tough economies, labour prices and complicated provide chains, materials and technological advances, to not point out the local weather emergency and revolutions within the social habits of youthful generations.
The ‘Swan’ lounge chair by Arne Jacobsen, designed in 1958
(Picture credit score: Fritz Hansen)
Danish model Fritz Hansen was based in 1872 and has weathered its fair proportion of adjusting occasions in 153 years of life. And whereas there may be a lot to be mentioned for endurance, such a mighty again catalogue of still-popular design icons that Fritz Hansen counts in its portfolio can stifle the motivation for recent pondering and innovation.
That is the mandate within the in-trays of the model’s new appointments: CEO Henrik Steensgaard and artistic director Els Van Hoorebeeck. Each appointed up to now 12 months, Steensgaard held earlier roles at Vipp and Hay, and Van Hoorebeeck labored at &Custom and The Workplace Group. Each arrive at Fritz Hansen with appreciable expertise and experience in combining enterprise and artistic fortitude at dynamic manufacturers.
Fritz Hansen’s just lately appointed CEO Henrik Steensgaard and artistic director Els Van Hoorebeeck
(Picture credit score: Fritz Hansen)
We had been delighted on the alternative to talk with the pair of their first interview since Van Hoorebeeck’s appointment was introduced in early February 2025. It’s early days, in fact, however there’s already palpable pleasure on the potential vitality that such a double rent may usher in.
Wallpaper*: You might be each comparatively new appointments at Fritz Hansen. How are you discovering the roles?
Henrik Steensgaard: I joined in March 2024. I’m discovering it improbable up to now – superior folks and the duty is the correct mixture of daunting and energising.
W*: How do you describe the well being of the corporate?
HS: General the well being is sweet. As with so many manufacturers within the business, we face headwinds in lots of markets. There are points of our personal enterprise that we have to work on, however we’ve got a robust heritage to construct upon, so the guts of the model is wholesome.
Arne Jacobsen’s ‘Collection 7’ chair in manufacturing at Fritz Hansen, 1956
(Picture credit score: Fritz Hansen)
W*: What are the necessary points that you’re engaged on?
HS: We’ve got an especially wealthy historical past, a robust heritage and a powerful archive. You will get misplaced down there! I’m very pleased with working for an organization that has performed such a pivotal position in Danish design historical past. Maybe we’ve got been too busy being an ‘necessary model’ that we’ve got forgotten to be revolutionary. It’s outstanding that, despite the fact that design is on the core of our model, till now we’ve got by no means had someone representing design on the prime stage of the corporate. In all my earlier roles up to now, I’ve partnered with inventive administrators who’ve introduced me large pleasure and some gray hairs. It’s best to by no means underestimate the dynamism, vitality, pace and creativeness such a task brings. That is what drives innovation.
Els Van Hoorebeeck: I used to be not conscious of the extent of the archive earlier than becoming a member of Fritz Hansen. The chance for storytelling is thrilling. Understanding what we’ve got been good at up to now is a vital place to begin for brand new designs sooner or later.
W*: Henrik talked about it is a new position. How do you perceive your accountability?
EVH: Beforehand the position was solely centered on product design, while 1740000765 my position is becoming a member of design along with all points of the model – from product design, to launching, to buyer expertise to storytelling.
Sketches for the ‘Pelagus’ out of doors furnishings vary by Be aware Design, 2024
(Picture credit score: Fritz Hansen)
W*: Would you describe Fritz Hansen as a values-driven model?
EVH: High quality is one in every of our core commitments – we don’t compromise on high quality. Lots of our merchandise have many lifecycles. The standard of the items means they final. The standard and the truth that these designs are timeless, not trend-driven, means they endure.
HS: After we discuss values we discuss craftsmanship too. Lessening the environmental footprint of client firms has been a priority of mine for years in my work. At Fritz Hansen, high quality and endurance are necessary elements for longevity. The very best factor we are able to do for our grandchildren is be certain that the issues we make can final. We now extra absolutely embrace second, third and fourth lives in our merchandise.
EVH: Folks count on longevity now. We’re extra curious and extra demanding. Design is an funding and also you wish to move well-made furnishings down generations. It’s necessary we inform these tales as a part of our model promise.
The ‘Pelagus’ out of doors furnishings vary by Be aware Design, 2024
(Picture credit score: Fritz Hansen)
W*: That is definitely necessary for the historic archival designs in your portfolio – how do you guarantee your new works have an analogous energy?
HS: We’ve got 4 priorities in our work going ahead. The primary is to maintain our heritage related, underlining the longevity and intrinsic worth for the buyer and the atmosphere. The second is to deliver innovation again onto the agenda with a dedication to delivering fascinating up to date merchandise. Thirdly, we’re embracing circularity in a basic method. We personal two thirds of our manufacturing and so we’ve got the chance to make vital influence in our personal circularity. Our fourth precedence is to seek out renewed relevance within the delicate or ancillary mission market.
EVH: Fritz Hansen began as a producer, and has since grow to be a design model. I feel it’s necessary that we discover our identification comfortably as a mix of each.
Henrik Steensgaard and Els Van Hoorebeeck
(Picture credit score: Fritz Hansen)
W*: Past a little bit of soul-searching, the place do you see potential progress from a market perspective?
HS: We’ve got vital alternatives in a number of markets. Asia is powerful, however there are nonetheless ample alternatives in chosen international locations. We’ve got been current in North America for years, however are lastly beginning to see optimistic growth. We’re sturdy in Northern Europe, unsurprisingly maybe, however there may be potential for creating the foothold in the remainder of Europe. This is among the advantages of getting such a robust portfolio of traditional designs. We owe it to Arne (Jacobsen) and Poul (Kjaerholm) and all our different designers to proceed to increase their legacy.
W* What does good design imply to you?
EVH: My private view is that it has the facility to evoke feelings, good or dangerous. And even when you don’t like what you see, you must be capable to have an appreciation for the way it has been made, or what the intention has been. If design leaves you feeling detached, then that’s not ok.
HS: For me, design ought to deliver pleasure. It ought to encourage a lot pleasure that you have to be moved to look after it. I additionally love the concept a product has many lifespans. Good design is really enduring.
