Ontwerpduo

The Dutch natives, Tineke and Nathan, have been designing products under their own name and for others since 2008 with their label Ontwerduo.

The team has now grown and is focusing more and more on their own collections these days, with an annual product collection presented since 2015.

The current collection is all about demonstrating the ‘good ol’ days’, however really questioning if everything was actually better before. Everyone surely remembers the sturdy quality of products from our grandparents' time and the fact that they seem to stick around for a lifetime. The secret behind this was as simple as it is ingenious - these objects were properly thought out and combined well with their intended users. Today, we’re more likely to call something functional or minimalistic - characteristics like these take priority as well as style.

For Novecento the studio has allowed itself to go back to the 20th century and be inspired by old classics. Bringing these pieces back to life had a few rules however, only 10 objects could be used and only local materials for the design.

The mouth-blown glass container is available in various colours and can be closed with a walnut or maple lid.

The plastic mirror uses sand to stabilise its base and allow different angles.

The room divider can be endlessly connected to further modules. The textiles used (Kvadrat) each have a different density and can be displaced to influence the extent of light.

The three tables are made of ash wood with only five legs and can pushed together or apart. Further tables can be added.

The cushions are available in colours Ocker and Pink. Two materials - Wool and Trivera (Kvadrat) - merge into one another.

The candlesticks are solid and indestructible. They consists of 100% concrete and prevent wax from dripping onto the table.

The collection also consists of a wooden cutting board with practical frames, a vase, lemonade carafe and a glass pendant lamp.

Text: Sara Umbreit
Photos: Ontwerpduo