Creating Distinctive Identities and Clean Minimalism with Johannes Lindner Design
Creating Distinctive Identities and Clean Minimalism with Johannes Lindner Design
German Designer Johannes Lindner Finds Beauty and Meaning in Modern Simplicity
Name:
Johannes Lindner Design
Photography:
Courtesy of Johannes Lindner Design
Words:
Caroline Meeusen
The German designer Johannes Lindner founded his eponymous studio out of a deep interest in modern design. His work mainly focuses on modern products and furniture design, and he creates commissions for a wide range of Scandinavian and international design companies such as Skandiform, Flensted, Pierre Junod, Present Time, and others. Focusing on quality and craftsmanship, Johannes Lindner Design “embodies products that are appealing in a timeless and functional way and have a strong identity,” the studio notes. Functionality, aesthetics, clean lines, and a perfect choice of materials are combined into coherent and striking design projects with a clear visual expression and modern simplicity.
Having studied architecture at the RWTH Aachen University, Johannes now lectures at the University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt, sharing his aesthetic with his students. His process focuses on essential, functional needs, and basic human interest and behavior which results in minimal and simple, yet significant spaces, with which the studio has won several awards through the years. Johannes Lindner talks design philosophy, inspirations, and creating strong identities.
Photography by Marcus Lawett
VISUAL PLEASURE Magazine:
How did you end up in the creative field? Did you always know you’d go in this direction?
Johannes Lindner: I always had a feeling for aesthetics and materiality, and based on this I developed a strong interest in architecture and design. That design and architecture serve a purpose is what makes these disciplines so appealing to me.
What led you to the founding of your studio?
It was driven by a sense of simplicity and a deep interest in modern design that endures through quality and craftsmanship. I was impressed by the wealth of experience and the high level of competence of the manufacturers. The desire to develop products together with them and my expertise in architecture studies led me to found my own studio in 2014 and since then I have been implementing designs in collaboration with a variety of international companies.
What was the basic principle or starting point for your studio when you started?
I find happiness in clean and minimal spaces and simple aesthetics, not in luxury, rather the opposite. My design philosophy is to create objects that are functional, minimal, and characterized by simple elegance and timelessness; working with honest materials that last.
Does your background in architecture influence your designs and if so, in what way?
Working in architecture strongly influences my design approach. Architecture requires a complex and overarching concept, structure, and order, but on the other hand, there is an environment and atmosphere. An object, on the other hand, has to fit into several milieus and has to offer something new and different, a design statement. Yet the creative approach is a similar one; in both, the process of working is shaped by functional needs and basic human interests and behaviors. Understanding the complexity of architecture helps me to focus on the essence of the concept while constantly refining the design ideas.
How do you create a strong identity in your works?
It is a simplistic approach to design, I try to develop objects that revolve around clear ideas with a graphic visual language and well-balanced proportions and moving objects towards more obviousness to achieve a strong and distinctive identity.
What inspires you in life and for your work?
I get inspired by everyday life, traveling, but also studying other creative fields like art and photography and working in both fields, architecture and design. I am inspired by the people I talk to in companies and by seeing how they produce. Many of them have been doing their work for generations and their knowledge and approach to craft can be a vital source of inspiration.
What sort of object or project is still on your design bucket list?
I would like to continue to concentrate on furniture projects, but perhaps also move more in the direction of architecture. It is important for me to focus on sustainability. As designers and architects, we have the opportunity to find solutions that are sustainable and relevant. These values are becoming even more important for my work because the impact on the environment is increasing more and more and with it the way we deal with production.
Photography by Ivo Mayr
“My design philosophy is to create objects that are functional, minimal, and characterized by simple elegance and timelessness; working with honest materials that last.”
