Inspirations from the Magazin world

Product designer

Because good design takes longer

The Gerdesmeyer & Krohn design studio has been in existence since 2015 and is known for its clear, aesthetic and functional design line, which demonstrates great ingenuity. The two Cologne-based designers have developed five MAGAZIN products for MAGAZIN: the BOKS wall shelf, the BLOK table trestle and the STAPLER, KNICKER and FALTER shelves. The BOKS wall shelf is large and sturdy and can be used individually or stacked on top of or next to each other. Its unusual trough-shaped design prevents contents from slipping out on all sides and also ensures a high load-bearing capacity. BLOK table trestle is a strong support, with its sturdy crossbar made of solid ash both an architectural statement and a stable offering. STAPLER, KNICKER and FALTER are attractive and functional shelves made of folded sheet steel.

In brief: Interview with Christoph Gerdesmeyer

What is the most underestimated factor when designing a product?
Definitely time. It takes time to develop a good idea. It takes time to find a suitable partner. And it takes time to get the product ready for the market. We stand for democratic design, which means that we want as many people as possible to be able to afford our products. To ensure this, we have to keep a close eye on every part of the development process. And that takes time.

In which steps do you get from the idea to the finished product?
Once we have defined a problem, we make the first sketches on the iPad. If the idea holds water, it is further elaborated in the 3D model and we build prototypes: from cardboard, wood or metal, as well as with the 3D printer.

Why do you work with MAGAZIN?
We share the same attitude: we want to design good, sensible products that people can afford. Achieving this in regional production and in small quantities is a major challenge. MAGAZIN is the right partner for this.