I started working specifically with product development in 2009, but have had ties to the furniture industry since 1999. By nature I have always been creative, insightful and curious which caused me to choose to study as an industrial designer. This background and my experience in the industry, has given me a strong skill-set and thorough understanding of the development process. My knowledge and experience can be divided up in the following areas:
Project Management: I understand the complete development process and plan the necessary steps that must be taken according to the scale of the product I am working on. Every detail is taken care of or allocated to the appropriate partners. This often means finding solutions to challenges I have not tried previously. Using a concise report method and clear communication, I ensure a smooth collaboration is achieved and deadlines are kept.
Sourcing: A big part of getting the right quality is to find the right supplier to begin with. Over time I have built up a good supplier network that I have used in my previous jobs or found independently and kept in contact with for future use. I understand when it is necessary to have production close at hand or exported over a greater distance. I base my decision about where to produce on a combination of cost benefit, quality performance and delivery stability.
Material and Production Knowledge: I keep myself up to date with the developments that are made across a wide range of industries. I am fascinated by material properties that can be exploited in new ways to make innovative products or bestow new value or use to a material that seemed taken for granted. Be it discovering a use for waste cork or burnt terracotta, I love finding the limits of materials and stretching them to new possibilities. I have also created new products with clients that were based not on a specific design but on the best possible combination of raw material and production technique and capacity.
Communication: I am bilingually fluent in Danish and English and have a solid understanding of Swedish and can understand most Norwegian. I have always been able to communicate accurately in person, via a translator or in drawings. I am used to making clear and concise reports to establish agreement and ensure progress.
Negotiation: A large part of my work has involved negotiating prices, quality levels and delivery schedules. I am diplomatic and keep focus on a common goal. I am certain to document agreements and keep a positive ‘can-do’ attitude to encourage a strong working relationship.
Quality Control: I have been responsible for setting quality tolerances and carrying out controls on productions of several different products. In close collaboration with the manufacturer, I find a common agreement on what is achievable and how the client’s requirements are satisfied. Requirements are always set to measurable tolerances and realistic material properties.
Research: During my career I have had to find information and knowledge to solve a problem that cannot be found online. This included finding the original production methods and tooling used for an old design, to help a modern factory to reproduce the item precisely under official license. I have tracked down original drawings and documentation to settle disputes about design rights, and also found forgotten products that could be relevant for the contemporary market. My work has brought me into contact with retired craftsmen and to the deepest archives at various museums and libraries.