Exploring Spatial Design With Multidisciplinary Creative Lilo Klinkenberg
Exploring Spatial Design With Multidisciplinary Creative Lilo Klinkenberg
From Florals to Fashion studiolilo Is Doing It All
Name:
Lilo Klinkenberg
Photography:
Courtasy of Studio Lilo
Words:
Marissa Stempien
Sometimes it’s hard to see the big picture. When creating a multidimensional space there are so many elements that come into play, that for some it can be overwhelming. But for Lilo Klinkenberg, seeing the big picture is a talent. The Kreuzberg-raised multidisciplinary artist found her passion for creativity and design early in life and used her genius and know-how to carve out a space for herself within the design industry. Her eponymous firm, studiolilo, was founded to give her the creative outlet to design events, incorporating everything from floral and spatial design to costume design and styling. And the shortlist of her clients more than proves her artistic capabilities. Converse, Spotify, Adidas, Nike—they’ve all hired her to transform spaces into one-of-a-kind locations for dinners, parties, and workshops.Her work is conceptual and intentional; every element feels necessary and purposeful. Whether it’s calculated minimalism or exaggerated luxury, she finds a way to make it her own. Here, she tells us exactly what triggered her creative brilliance and how she experiences and reimagines the spaces around her.
Visual Pleasure Magazine: Can you tell me a bit about how you got started in style and design? Was this something you always knew you wanted to do?
Lilo Klinkenberg: When I was a kid I had the dream of becoming a fashion designer. I was 16 when I went to England to do my national diploma in fashion design and started studying fashion at UdK Berlin [ed note. Universität der Künste Berlin] straight after. During my studies, I slowly realized that I need more than “just” clothing to express myself as a designer. It became more about emotions and creating an atmosphere.
I’ve started to expand my craft and form my visual identity by merging multiple areas of design. During my studies, my siblings and I opened a restaurant where I was thoroughly involved in designing the space which paved the path towards interior design. We started renting out the space for private and corporate events, which often came with the demand for floral installations that I did myself and started developing a newfound passion for. I became fascinated with the art of designing spaces to create experiences for people to enjoy. I didn’t want to let any of these disciplines go as they feed off of each other, which is why I combined the arts working with floral installations, spatial design, and styling.
As a multidisciplinary design studio that works with style, florals, and space, how do you marry these concepts together to create one streamlined design?
For me as a designer, it’s really important to include different materials and disciplines in a design. Especially as the controversy between materials, forms, surfaces, and colors create interesting projects. Working in so many fields at the same time is actually enhancing my creativity. Through that, I get to know more and more materials, different views on spaces and shapes, as well as colors that work together (or don’t).
I have always worked on several projects at the same time and really need that variety to feel free and not get the feeling of restricting myself.
Photography by Shauna Summers
Do you work on individual disciplines within each project, knowing that they will work together in the end, or do you work on everything together, considering it all one cohesive project?
Depends. I often work on many projects with different disciplines at the same time. For me, it’s interesting to see how one discipline can feed the other. So basically I work on everything at once, but I never know in the beginning how I will combine them in the end or how one project can inspire the other or the next.
As a floral and space designer, how do you hope that your projects will be received? Are you hoping to evoke a feeling or leave a lasting impression, or do you see your work as more of a backdrop for the memories and experiences had in that space?
I am a super sensitive person. Not in a bad way, but my heart is really open to experiencing all kinds of emotions—especially on a visual level. When I see something I always have an immediate reaction—like it makes me feel a certain type of way or it reminds me of a feeling I had before—often taking me back to my childhood when new feelings evoked on a daily basis.
Do you see your designs as more conceptual or functional?
My goal is to create a spatial experience. Whether the functionality or conceptual side predominates depends on the project. Is there design without concept?!
Photography by Conrad Bauer
You’ve worked with some big-name brands to create some amazing spaces. What has been one of your favorite projects to work on and why?
Thank you. One of my favorite projects has definitely been “Safe House.” The guys from Gate Store in Kreuzberg asked me to create an installation about nature in this day and age. In times where climate change is undeniable and humankind is destroying nature almost everywhere on this planet. Is there still a safe space for nature to grow and glow?
In this installation, I used a glasshouse—clearly built and manufactured by modern technology and mankind—combining that with nature. Building a greenhouse, where nature is definitely the winner—winning back the space, destroying what humankind has built—so it’s the other way around.
Using two completely different materials, putting these in contrast, and being able to do that in a blank space was a great experience.
You work within so many varying design fields. Do you have a favorite medium or discipline? Is there a creative subject you have to explore that you’re hoping to try in the future?
My favorite medium is definitely flowers and plants. I feel like there is so much more to explore and I’m always super curious and excited to see what kind of beauty nature is able to create. Bringing that beauty into spaces and shapes that you wouldn’t expect is one of the things I love the most. In the future, I would love to explore that even more.
Photography by Marius Knieling
Photography by Conrad Bauer
