Cecilie Manz | Essential & Clear Designs | Duravit
Cecilie Manz
“I deal with things in which I see a meaning. My starting point is always a clear explanation, and that is where the justification of my creations can be found. Function is essential, and if I can’t articulate a good reason for a new product, then it’s better not to create it in the first place.” - Cecilie Manz
Cecilie Manz was born in 1972 in Odsherred, Denmark. She encountered design during her childhood in the ceramic workshop of her parents, both artists involved with design. Her career began in 1992 with an academic education at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts - The School of Design, where Cecilie Manz specialised in furniture and everyday objects. Very early on she became interested in functional and conceptual design, which took her as a foreign exchange student to the UIAH, University of Art and Design in Helsinki. A semester abroad at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki increased Manz’s awareness of the characteristics of Scandinavian design. In 1998, just a year after graduating from the Danish School of Design, Cecilie Manz founded her own company, which has been the focus of her work ever since. She is very successful with her designs of lamps, furniture and accessories for the home; she works with well-known manufacturers such as Bang & Olufsen's B&O Play, Fritz Hansen, Fredericia Furniture, Nils Holger Moormann, Lightyears, Georg, Jensen Damask, Iittala and Muuto. Cecilie Manz’s products are exhibited all over the world, and her creations are to be found in the permanent collections of institutions including the Museum of Modern Art (New York) and the Design Museum Danmark. She has received several major awards for her conceptional design.
Interview
Interview with Cecilie Manz
Ms Manz, you originally wanted to study painting. How did you become a designer?
It's true, I did want to study painting. Today, I still love the smell of oil paint. When I was preparing my portfolio to study art at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen, someone asked me why I wasn't also applying to the School of Design. I didn't see myself there, but I submitted my portfolio anyway. I was accepted for the design course but not for the Royal Academy. I was happy in a way, but I was of course also disappointed. So I told myself I’d give it a go for two or three months. If I liked it, I'd stay and, if not, I could always leave. And I loved it – and so I stayed.
You opened your own studio one year after finishing your studies. How do you work?
I've always liked working alone. Perhaps because I haven't yet found the perfect partner, I don't know. I can become very absorbed in a project and that is precisely what I like so much about my work. I simply can't hand over this intense involvement to anyone else. At the moment, my work situation is perfect: I have a small team. I always have the last word.
Your designs are extremely minimalist. Do you see your work in the context of your Danish roots?
Definitely. I believe that our roots are in our blood and our culture defines us. People in the north tend towards austerity and this is reflected in classical Danish design. I try to limit my objects to the essentials. So my work is a good reflection of my temperament.
What inspires you to create your designs?
I think a lot! The thing about inspiration is that it mainly happens internally. I'm like a filter and everything that I absorb in terms of textures, images and atmospheres flows through me. Ultimately, I can't say it was this or that painting or this or that music that inspired me directly.
You say you shouldn't design anything that makes life complicated: that would be poor design? How can you be sure that your products live up to this claim?
When I design a chair or a small spoon, I take it home with me and try it out for myself: hardcore testing. This is really important because, if it doesn't work for me, why should it work for you? And if it doesn't look good in my house, how could it look good anywhere else?
How did you experience working with Duravit ?
The trips to Hornberg were really special. In Denmark, we have lots of coastline and no mountains, the highest point is 200 metres. It felt like an adventure when I waited on the platform for the train, surrounded by all the mountains. I felt that Duravit was an established part of this place and this very special atmosphere also influenced my work with Duravit.\nI very quickly realised how much expertise Duravit has, how much knowledge and how many years of craftsmanship!\nI was delighted to work with all of this and to experience this commitment. You literally have to walk through piles of Kaolin and other ground materials of porcelain to get to the meeting rooms! But that is actually what makes all the difference to me: the connection to the material.
It's true, I did want to study painting. Today, I still love the smell of oil paint. When I was preparing my portfolio to study art at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen, someone asked me why I wasn't also applying to the School of Design. I didn't see myself there, but I submitted my portfolio anyway. I was accepted for the design course but not for the Royal Academy. I was happy in a way, but I was of course also disappointed. So I told myself I’d give it a go for two or three months. If I liked it, I'd stay and, if not, I could always leave. And I loved it – and so I stayed.
You opened your own studio one year after finishing your studies. How do you work?
I've always liked working alone. Perhaps because I haven't yet found the perfect partner, I don't know. I can become very absorbed in a project and that is precisely what I like so much about my work. I simply can't hand over this intense involvement to anyone else. At the moment, my work situation is perfect: I have a small team. I always have the last word.
Your designs are extremely minimalist. Do you see your work in the context of your Danish roots?
Definitely. I believe that our roots are in our blood and our culture defines us. People in the north tend towards austerity and this is reflected in classical Danish design. I try to limit my objects to the essentials. So my work is a good reflection of my temperament.
What inspires you to create your designs?
I think a lot! The thing about inspiration is that it mainly happens internally. I'm like a filter and everything that I absorb in terms of textures, images and atmospheres flows through me. Ultimately, I can't say it was this or that painting or this or that music that inspired me directly.
You say you shouldn't design anything that makes life complicated: that would be poor design? How can you be sure that your products live up to this claim?
When I design a chair or a small spoon, I take it home with me and try it out for myself: hardcore testing. This is really important because, if it doesn't work for me, why should it work for you? And if it doesn't look good in my house, how could it look good anywhere else?
How did you experience working with Duravit ?
The trips to Hornberg were really special. In Denmark, we have lots of coastline and no mountains, the highest point is 200 metres. It felt like an adventure when I waited on the platform for the train, surrounded by all the mountains. I felt that Duravit was an established part of this place and this very special atmosphere also influenced my work with Duravit.\nI very quickly realised how much expertise Duravit has, how much knowledge and how many years of craftsmanship!\nI was delighted to work with all of this and to experience this commitment. You literally have to walk through piles of Kaolin and other ground materials of porcelain to get to the meeting rooms! But that is actually what makes all the difference to me: the connection to the material.
Design by Cecilie Manz
Awards
Material science
Storage in the bathroom: eight ideas for creating more space
Reference
En suite bath
Inspiration
The Dream Bathroom of Sebastian Herkner
Reference
White bathrooms: classic and elegant
Reference
Natural bathroom
Inspiration
The Dream Bathroom of Bertrand Lejoly
Technology
Toilet Paper Facts
Designer
sieger design
Inspiration
Think big: Big little bathroom
Designer
Antonio Bullo
Technology
Duravit Rimless®
Technology
Durable Materials
Technology
Bathroom furniture manufacturing
Designer
Christian Werner
Reference
Gray Bathrooms: Tips for Trendy Bathroom Colors
Reference
The Luxury Bathroom: Inspiration and Tips
Inspiration
The perfect washing area
Material science
Design that creates space
Inspiration
Bathrooms in size XS
Inspiration
A wealth of forms for individual bathroom design
Designer
Frank Huster
Inspiration
The family bathroom
Inspiration
The Dream Bathroom of Christian Werner
Designer
Philippe Starck
Inspiration
A bright and breezy start to the day with the right washing area
Reference
Black bathrooms: stylish simplicity
Inspiration
Matt surfaces
Inspiration
Decorating the bathroom
Designer
Antonio Citterio
Reference
Marble bathrooms: a classic aesthetic with a new look
Inspiration
Finishes
Technology
Martian House
Reference
Timeless Autumn
Inspiration
The perfect showering area
Technology
DuraLAB
Designer
Matteo Thun & Antonio Rodriguez
Inspiration
Color in the Bathroom
Reference
Vintage bathrooms
Inspiration
Color up your everyday
Technology
Ceramic
Inspiration
Bathroom design for now and forever
Technology
Saving energy and water in the bathroom
Inspiration
Thinking big in small spaces
Technology
Plants for the bathroom
Inspiration
Happy D. 20 years
Inspiration
Bathroom Floor Plans
Reference
PHASE DANCE
Material science
Five organization tips for your bathroom
Designer
Kurt Merki Jr.
Reference
Seamless bathrooms: tile-free and super trendy
Reference
Twelve Senses
Designer
Casambi App
Material science
Descaling faucets, shower heads, etc.
Designer
Phoenix Design
Material science
Painting the Bathroom: how to make your new paint job a success
Inspiration
Bathtubs with a door
Material science
Keeping clean!
Reference
Natural stone in the bathroom - natural, aesthetic, durable
Inspiration
The bathroom as a tactile experience
Reference
A sauna in the bathroom: pure relaxation
Reference
Hygge: Danish lifestyle moves into the bathroom
Technology
Hygiene in the bathroom
Material science
Cleaning bathroom grout
Technology
Accessible bathroom: for the elderly, wheelchair users & disability-friendly
Designer
EOOS
