We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer Albert Potgieter about their original and creative Coffee Table design work. Albert Potgieter is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original coffee table works.
Albert Potgieter ("AP") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work Moja Coffee Table. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
AP : I wanted to build on a previous design but bring in the solid top in way that is different and still incorporates the different pieces of wood.
AP : I wanted to combine the art world and the functional furniture world a bit more. Bringing in the solid top but still keeping the visual aspect of the art world.
AP : I want to see it in more homes and also continue to build on this design.
AP : About three weeks.
AP : It was a pursuit of an inspiration
AP : The production of this design is done by myself. All my work is handmade. The selling and marketing of this product is done by me or by galleries that represent me.
AP : I designed this piece because of an inspiration and for dutch design week that was coming up
AP : No I designed and built it myself
AP : The Art lover. It is an functional art piece. Designed to be functional as a furniture piece but also on the other side be inspirational and change the atmosphere of your house.
AP : It is built up out of different small pieces of hard wood. Every piece of wood can be seen individually, but together it creates a totally different look. Also I incorporated the process of steam bending giving the wood pieces a special bend that you wont get otherwise.
AP : It came from the goal that I wanted to achieve with this design, being to bring the furniture and art worlds together in one design. The name Moja is Swahili for Unity.
AP : I used paper and pencil and the rest was done visually and by building and making changes as I go along.
AP : The visual aspect and that it is built up by a lot of little hardwood pieces.
AP : No I designed and built it myself
AP : With this particular design I didn’t use so much technology. This piece was designed with paper and pencil, put together with glue and all handmade.
AP : No It was a progression on a previous design and made from an inspiration.
AP : The steam bending and getting everything glued together perfectly is challenging.
AP : I wanted to take a chance and see what others out there think of it. Seeing how it holds up against other designs. Call it research if you will.
AP : I learnt a new technique, steam bending and how wood reacts to tension and that different kinds of wood reacts differently. I also learnt that there is an infinite amount of designs to discover, leading me to continually designing new pieces.
AP : No this is great thanks
