INTERVIEWED BY Lindi Brownell Meiring
We caught up with designer David Krynauw, the creative behind the local solid wood furniture studio, ahead of his talks at the Business of Design conferences in Cape Town (11 – 12 October) and Johannesburg (18 – 19 October).
When did you know that you wanted to be a designer?
As a kid, I wanted to be an inventor. I was raised in a home where we were encouraged to make things as opposed to buying things. Not much has changed. I became a designer by default but I will always be an inventor at heart. My need to invent inspires my will to design.
What do you love most about working with wood?
Wood is the most versatile medium on earth. It possesses such diverse qualities which sets every piece apart from the next. It is incredibly strong, with a strength to weight ratio stronger than steel. Wood is sustainable and has the potential to be used more widely in construction. I think that it is entirely underrated as a material. It is a privilege to be able to work with it daily.
Tell us more about the chapel you recently completed. Is it the first of many David Krynauw-designed structures?
The chapel is a proof of concept and will serve as our first showroom in Morningside. This method of production can be applied to an endless array of products where the size of the structure depends on the sum of its parts. Our intention is to use this tool in order to develop various solutions ranging from living pods, event structures and buildings to interactive play equipment and anything you can think of.
Which one of your designs have you most enjoyed working on, and why?
Every designed project possesses its own unique challenges. New development pushes the boundaries of the current frame of work, which is always enjoyable and a great privilege to be able to do. My journey thus far had several highlights ranging from the Haywire that showed me what it is to push the boundaries, to the proof of concept for Kas 1, which was a defining moment for our production method that we currently use. Onto our first building and hopefully many more exciting projects to come.
Why is a conference like Business of Design important?
I think it is important because you get the opportunity to inspire and be inspired. There are a lot of learning curves involved in starting and growing a business in South Africa. We have a unique stance in the world of design. The more we can learn from each other and stand together, the stronger we will grow as an industry. This, in turn, will make us greater as a country on a global scale.
What’s next for 2017?
I am currently working on a new piece to be released with Southern Guild at Design Miami, which will be exhibited at the start of December. Other than that, we are also opening our showroom in Morningside and finalising our first building. Exciting times!
View David’s work at davidkrynauw.com.
*VISI reader offer: Pay only R3 500 instead of R3 950 for the two-day Business of Design conference in Cape Town (11 – 12 October) or Johannesburg (18 – 19 October). To take up this offer, email tracy@businessofdesign.co.za with VISI as the subject. To view the full programme in each city, visit businessofdesign.co.za.
