Interview with Guideline

Guideline is a furniture design house with attached manufacturing facilities. It was founded by myself, Christoph Karl and my partner Roan Snyman in 2011. Our aim is to produce high quality furniture pieces for hospitality industry but also the domestic market. We believe in sustainability through a long product lifespan which reflects in the quality of our products.

Design for me is not just about beautiful things. It is part of life in many aspects. The world has become a "smaller"place and design is now a global matter with regional influences compared to the past where design was very often categorised geographically as Scandinavian or African design.

It has to be chairs. There are very few furniture pieces that are as challenging to design. A chair gets moved around, has to be strong but light and elegant at the same time and has to provide comfort, requirements that are not easy to achieve in one piece.

The Tulip chair, the functionality and simplicity combined with the organic detailing and it's elengant lines make hgtis chair may all time favorite.

It was my Journeyman Piece when I completed my apprenticeship as a journeyman in cabinet making. I was 20 years old.

I love would. It's a material that is 100% natural and has found its match in any artificial materials.It's strength and natural beauty keeps on fascinating me every day. Modern woodworking technology as CNC machines enable us to push boundaries in terms of designs and are a great tool to combine traditional workmanship with modern production methods.

Out in nature South Africa's vast and raw nature with a clear mind spinning around ideas.

Functionality, which in terms of a chair design is first of all comfort achieved by optimised ergonomics.Considering the environment of use is important. The item has to "work" in its future space in any aspect.However, I also consider commercial viability as important in order to make the design accessible for relevant market.

Mostly excitement, sometimes paired with a bit of anxiety until I've found out how the design is received.I design furniture for people to use, so their feedback is crucial to me.

Seeing a design realised is a very satisfactory experience. When people use your design and see the value in it by buying it is very rewarding.

A design is successful when it improves people's life in the broadest sense. In our case that means when someone buys our products and puts them into daily use.

Function then form, the standard Bauhaus rule that never lost its relevance.

Improve people's life! That also means create a sustainable product without harming the environment. We live in times of quick consumption. The most obvious way to preserve our resources is to produce products that have a long lifespan through quality and timeless design. We use the hashtag #futureantiques for a reason.

As mentioned earlier, through social media and global communication design has become a international community that anyone can access. Design has relevance in many different aspects of our life and awareness of that fact is growing.Different regions will add their flavour to a global movement.

The last exhibition we've participated in was held 2016 in Cape Town, South Africa by Southern Guild and was called "Woodwork". We are planning to exhibit at IMM Cologne in January 2017.

I'm drawing inspiration from many different fields as architecture, nature to automotive designs. I found Instagram to be a great tool to share and get inspiration from across the Globe.

Its'hard to describe your own style but I've been told one can see my Northern European roots and Bauhaus influencedup-bringing in my designs. I would call them classic contemporary pieces. I love to add an organic details to clean architectural lines.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa for the past 10 years with no ambitions to leave. Being German, my origin has a clear affect on my designs but Cape Town, being a cultural melting pot, left its impression as well. One of the daily obstacles we have to overcome is the lack of availability of raw materials which makes it sometimes harder to realise a design as envisioned.

I co-own Guideline with my partner Roan Snyman which makes the process from conceptional design to production of a final product much easier than having to design for other companies.

I would say a good designer needs to have some kind of practical background in actually making a product.That helps the designer to understand that the manufacturing process better which is crucial make the design commercially viable.

It all starts with a thought or idea in our case often triggered by a client's enquiry. I then sketch on paper until I have the concept presentable to my technical design team. They will then with my guidance convert this into 3-d computer renders to details. Once the engineering process is complete the prototype will be made for adjustments and approval.

my daughter Swan, 3 years (nature is the greatest designer), Tulip chair, Horizon table, Alessi cork screw, my car Mercedes Benz

Wake up 7am, Have coffee with my daughter Swan with lots of love which is the foundation for my day.I arrive at my office which is at our factory around 8:30am and check my emails first. The rest of my day is mainly meetings with either clients, my designers or production. Most of my creative design work is actually done after hours or on the weekend. Back home usually around 6pm.

Do your homework! Design involves experience which is usually gained by putting in the hours. You're not designing to win awards, to be featured in a magazine or for other designers. You design for your clients, so listen to what they want.

The instant feedback to your work and the fact to be able to see the fruits of your creativity being used is a great feeling.However, sometimes one wishes for people to see more value in the actual design process than just in the finished product.

Design for people, not for your ego!

To be able to listen. It's an industry full of big egos, put yourself in the background and prioritise your client's needs.

South African red wine, pencil and paper, Rhinoceros, Tom Ford book and Instagram

We've created a business with a great team. Core philosophy was to empower people in the process of growth so that the business grew underneath us. Through that I'm not involved in daily operational tasks which enables me to do what I do best, being creative.

From the idea to the final product approximately 2-3 months. In emergencies we made it happen before in 3weeks.

"How much will it cost me?" An important aspect of design work is to have a commercially viable product.

my apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker in Germany

Sohohouse London, New York, Amsterdam, One&Only Hotel Group, Sun International South Africa, Puroplan Finnland

Designing furniture pieces as chairs and tables is definitely what I enjoy most. It's my field of expertise and I understand the entire process from the initial design sketch to the production of the final product. Furniture is an essential part of people's life and a trade that is thousands of years old.

The plan is to grow Guideline as an international furniture brand and supply our furniture across the Globe.

I work very close with my partner Roan Snyman as a team. We both see things from different angles but great respect and understanding for each other. I do most of the conceptional design and aesthetics while he contributes with the technical realisation of the design. However, being a Mastercraftsman I still share with him my skills and traditional woodworking knowledge.

It's a design we've finished just recently, the Horizon dining table. An exciting project where we've combined steel and woodwork using our in-house facilities.

P: +2721 534 0334 cell: +2781 731 2660 email: christoph@guidelinemnf.co.za Instagram: @guidelinedesignFacebook: Guideline MNF

We are looking for distributors or retailers worldwide ;)