CLAUDIA OVAN: The concept of essence is at the basis of the stylistic research of many designers: what is your thought about it?
SYLVAIN WILLENZ: Design is a very complicated matter; there are so many things to take into account when designing, from sketch to product, so I think that by definition it implies the idea of rationalization, hence the essence. But every designer has his own way of dealing with it. Personally, I endeavor to come up with ideas that are simple, or let’s say, essential, but that nevertheless bring in something new and subtly surprising. I like a well balanced, well proportioned design, round like a good wine, not too heavy, not too light. Simplicity, in my sens, contributes to a feeling of well-being.
CO: We read that your design is reductionist: tell us what it is and if it contributes to make your style unique.
SW: Indeed, and by reductionism I don’t mean minimalism. What I love is the idea of efficiency and intelligence of a product and how it’s made. I like to address the design, but also to challenge the conventional way of making something. And this requires a certain pragmatism, which in the end simply feels like common sense. But it’s not easy to come up with such ideas; the most simple things are the most difficult to realise.
A good example is my TORCH light, designed for Established & Sons in 2008; instead of a conventional assembly, I reduced the number of elements to the most essentials; an enclosure and a diffuser… no screws. This not only made the design language of the lamp more readable, but also made its production extremely efficient. The same applied for my Hard Drive disc designed for Freecom in 2011, and this same reductionism applies to the UPON chair for Zilio A&C. Through thorough analysis and design iteration, we managed to challenge the conventional way of assembling a backrest to a frame, resulting in an essential and pure solution.
CO: 2020 marks the beginning of a new collaboration between Sylvain Willenz and Zilio A&C. What were the assumptions that made you choose each other?
SW: Zilio A&C and I had been talking for several years about doing something for the collection. I think the match was instantly right as we share the same design vision and language. Working with Mentsen and their art direction, was also a very good match as they understand and appreciate my way of thinking and my design style. In the end, it’s all about a good dialogue and exchange of ideas; if it is a nice conversation, the result will be right too. And so it is.
CO: Upon: How was this project born?
SW: The project was born very naturally, because there was an interesting brief and need. I really appreciate when companies have identified the sort of thing they need or they are missing in their catalogue. Instead of working in the dark, you are therefor working with a shared target. In this case, we knew from the start that the objective was a tubular metal frame and plywood parts chair, for use in residential as well as soft contract market. Then it becomes a question of research, thinking of alternative solutions, and staying in tune with our aesthetics or those of the client.
CO: Behind Upon there is a careful and intelligent detail study: the backrest is attached by a hidden joint to a tubular metal frame, making the two parts almost floating. Was this the biggest challenge in making this chair?
SW: Absolutely, this was the key detail of the chair. The most important and most difficult. And if we were to make the chair based on this detail, it had to be magical. So this is why we pushed the idea and technology even further. The resulting backrest tapering to a mere 6mm on its edge is a very impressive result, in terms of design, but also in terms of execution and manufacturing.
CO: This year has been problematic, with personal and professional difficulties for everyone. What future do you see for the design and furniture industry?
SW: It’s very difficult to predict how things will evolve. What’s for sure, is that there is change and we’ve all realised that we must change a lot of our habits in our lives. We’ve all learnt to reduce and slow down. Reductionism in our old habits might surely be the key to a better living.
