Table Talk With Ben Kirkby
Ten years after Grafunkt first introduced &Tradition to Singapore, this beloved Danish brand is back into our fold. To celebrate this full-circle moment, we sat down with Ben Kirkby, &Tradition’s brand manager for Asia Pacific and Mainland China, to learn about his favourite products and what lies ahead in the near future.
Describe &Tradition in three words.
Classics, (and) new icons. We’ve got products by the masters that were designed 50-80 years ago, and these sit so well against products that we hope will be the classics. These classics, in their day, weren’t necessarily designed to be an icon, but because of their purposeful approach and design, they have ended up lasting for such a long time that it does become an icon.
L-R: Flowerpot VP9 table lamp, Little Petra lounge chair
What is purposeful design to you?
The product needs to enhance your life in some way, such as to make something easier or to fill a gap. It could even be something that cheers you up or puts a smile on your face, like with Jamie Hayon’s Momento. I love the story of how the narrow hole at the top of the vase causes one to stop and think about the arrangement and which flowers to put in. It makes us pause, slow down and make room for reflection. That’s purposeful design, too.
Why do you feel &Tradition as a brand has resonated with so many people around the world?
With everything today moving at such a fast speed, our designs, which have lasted a long time, have a way of slowing you down. As you become invested with our products and their stories, they then become part of your life. It’s no longer just a chair or table.
Do you have a favourite &Tradition product?
I love the Flowerpot VP4, because how can you not love the Flowerpot? But I’m really growing attached to Thorvald at the moment. It’s the outdoor collection designed by Space Copenhagen. After not having a balcony for many years, I’ve just moved into an apartment in Shanghai with one. It’s now my little haven in the city centre, plus I love the story of how the designers took inspiration from the Thorvaldsen’s Museum and its beautiful sculptures and put that into a product. It’s a very elegant way of taking you somewhere else.
L-R: Flowerpot VP4 table lamp, Thorvald table and chairs
What’s one under-discovered &Tradition product?
I’ll pick one light and one piece of furniture. First, the Tripod lamp. It was designed in the 1950s but was never put into production until &Tradition launched it. It’s a story of how we’re not just looking at products that have been produced before; sometimes we look at past sketches too. The Tripod had been in the collection for a number of years, and then it was re-engineered so it now has a swivel, which is a big, functional improvement.
Second, Shuffle. It’s one of the first designs specifically briefed for &Tradition’s collection. It’s sculptural, playful, functional, and it reminds us not to take things too seriously.
L-R: Tripod HM8 standing lamp, Shuffle MH1 side table
What can we expect from &Tradition in the near future?
Next year will be the 100th anniversary of Verner Panton, so there’s likely something around that in the future. There will be some pretty funky Flowerpot colours coming up and we’re also finding new typologies.