STUDIO - Interview with the designer Thomas Feichtner

With STUDIO, Thomas Feichtner has developed a workplace system that is primarily intended to appeal to people who also live their individuality and creativity at work. We talked to him about design in the workplace, the currency of creatives and his dream job as a child.

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO CREATE STUDIO?

Many of my colleagues often put together their own furniture because they couldn't find what they were looking for on the conventional office furniture market. That was my starting point. And then simply asked myself, "What furniture would I like to have in the office myself?"

WHAT CHARACTERIZES THE TARGET GROUP FOR WHICH YOU DESIGNED STUDIO BY BENE?

Creatives don't separate job and private life, working hours and free time. It's not about work-life balance, but simply "love your work." In addition, there are many design lovers in this group who like to have it nice both in their private lives and in the office. The boundaries between home and office are fluid. People want to feel at home there as well as there.

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THE MIX OF DIFFERENT COLORS AND MATERIALS FOR STUDIO?

The colors are coordinated so that they can be combined with each other. My favorite is the plain white. The special feature is in the detail: all the panels are mitered together. This is the first time Bene has used this quality feature, which is actually only found in cabinetmaking, in a series of furniture.

STUDIO HAS A VERY CLEAR DESIGN LANGUAGE, ESPECIALLY WITH THE SWING TABLE. HOW DID THIS FORM COME ABOUT?

I wanted to avoid the tables looking like heavy, stationary machines. As a contrast to the "double" tabletop, i had in mind legs that were as light as possible but still very stable. Derived from the yoga pose "The Tree," the table leg SWING channels static energy back into the table leg.

studio-chair-4-fuss, with castors Upholstered Non-pholstered Premium stackable Chair, Bene Office furniture, Image 2

WHAT DOES GOOD DESIGN CREATE IN THE WORKPLACE?

Friends and family are our daily companions via social media, even in the office. On the other hand, we still read professional e-mails at midnight. Today, the workplace and work performance are no longer located in the same place - a development that office furniture must also deal with confidently. Thus, the workplace is not necessarily "the one desk", but rather an area. And in terms of quality of life, it has to be adapted to all other areas.

IF STUDIO WERE A PERSON, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE HER IN 3 WORDS?

Honest, uncomplicated, individual.

WHAT IS TYPICAL FOR A DESIGN BY THOMAS FEICHTNER?

I fundamentally understand design as a piece of autonomy. In a time when we all wake up to the same ringtone from the same cell phone and use the same software on the computer, it's time for alternatives. Design is an alternative, it is an expression of love for things. The key to carry an idea. Design can be surprising, sophisticated and witty. That's what I want to convey.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO LIVE YOUR CREATIVITY?

Pencil, sharpener and paper.

IS IDENTITY THE CURRENCY OF THE CREATIVE?

Yes. The globalization of information and aesthetics is forcing designers to think beyond the aesthetic design of a product in more complex contexts, to act strategically and to create identity. Future design tasks will be measured not only by their cultural, social, or economic relevance, but also by the extent to which they can reflect critically and interact politically.