Morten Linde – the 'lead in the pencil' at Linde Werdelin Design Studio – part 1
by MTF (Dr Melvyn Teillol-Foo, PuristSPro)
‘Danish Design’ is a descriptive term, an early root of‘Scandinavian Design’, that describes a functionalistic style of design and architecture that was developed in mid-20th century. Many Danish designers were influenced by the German Bauhaus school and used the new industrial technologies of the period to design buildings, furniture and household objects, imbued with ideas of functionalism and simplicity. Many of those designs have become iconic and are still in use and production. Famous examples are the egg chair, PH lamp and the Sydney Opera House.
‘Scandinavian Design’ appeared in the 1950s from the three Scandinavian countries (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), as well as Finland. It is a design movement characterized by simple designs, minimalism, functionality, and low-cost mass production. The last criterion fitted well with post-war austerity and the ever-looming threat of assimilation by the U.S.S.R. The Lunning Prize, awarded to top Scandinavian designers between 1951 and 1970, made Scandinavian design a recognized entity with a defined profile.
The core themes of modernism and functionalism resulted in beautiful and functional everyday objects that were affordable to all in post-World War II Scandinavia. In the 1950s, a Scandinavian social democracy became the ideological background, while the increased availability of new low-cost materials and methods for mass production allowed the execution of Scandinavian design, best illustrated by Ikea products made from form-pressed wood, plastics, anodised or enamelled aluminium and pressed steel.
It is upon this design background that I approached the meeting with Morten Linde, the eponymous half of the instrument and watch brand – Linde Werdelin. I was interested in the why, whom and how of the design process at Linde Werdelin. Although the brand headquarters is in London, where Jorn Werdelin resides, the design studio and prototyping laboratory is just outside Copenhagen in Denmark.
Linde Werdelin (LW) first came to my notice in before 'Baselworld 2008' when PuristSPro secret reporters checked them out to see what all the fuss was about two Danes and a watch & instrument brand that made the 'Biformeter' and 'Land Instrument'. The products were used on expeditions up Mt Everest and to South Pole. There were three lines of the Biformeter – Gold range, Elemental range and Two-Timer range. The reports were positive and we decided to keep a PuristS’ eye on their progress.
The weather was wet and cold in this northern city when I flew in. It had been sunny a few days before I arrived and sunny again after I left; I was not amused! Copenhagen (København) means ‘merchants’ harbour’ (buyers' haven) and much of the city is on or near water. It is amongst the world’s top rated cities for quality of living but also the 7th most expensive city to live in. 36% of commuters ride bicycles and they are not deterred by rain!
Armed only with a camera, voice recorder and Morten Linde’s resume, I set out into the suburbs of Copenhagen and discovered that not all Danish taxi-drivers spoke English. We eventually found the design studio next to a school in a residential neighbourhood.
Morten Linde Resume
Morten Linde MDD, born 1965.
1989:
Employed by Fuquda Environmental Design in Osaka, Japan.
1990:
Graduated from the School of Arts and Crafts, Copenhagen.
Employed for two years with David Lewis Design, involved in the design of Bang & Olufsen products. Co-designer of the latest stereo hi-fi system, Beosound 9000, and Beosound Centenary, which was awarded the Danish Design Centre 1994 ID Prize.
1992:
Opened own design practice.
1995:
Worked for the Swiss watchmaker Tag-Heuer.
Design of the "Dect-Z" telephone for KIRK Telecom. 1st prize in a restricted competition, resulting in design collaboration with KIRK Telecom products.
1996:
Awarded 1st prize in a competition for the design of the Copenhagen Park Bench together with Leif Hagerup and Søren Ulrik Petersen.
Awarded the Erik Herløw Travel Grant by the board of the Danish Design Centre.
1997:
Teacher at the Department of Product Design at the Danish Design School.
Invited to exhibit at "SE" (The Autumn Exhibition of Danish Cabinet Makers) at the Danish Museum of Arts and Crafts – armchair made in collaboration with the artist Pernille Iben Linde.
1998:
Design of the new Dect telephone for KIRK Telecom and presented at Cebit Fair 1999.
Contracted by the Swiss watchmaker Tag-Heuer.
Presentation of four watches at the Basel Fair 1998 designed for Mondaine Watch.
1999:
Worked for Hewlett-Packard France.
Designed watches for MEXX Time. A collection of 140 designs presented at the Basel Fair 2000.
2000:
Won restricted competition for Bang & Olufsen Medical.
Won restricted competition for the telephone manufacturer Kirk Scantel.
Awarded international German design prize IF 2001 for the Kirk Telecom telephone "Dect 30-40".
Concluded 1-year course in organic psychotherapy, C.O.P.
2001 :
Awarded 1st prize in a competition for the design of a picnic kit (PicPac). The competition was arranged by the Danish Arts Foundation, Trapholt Museum and the Danish Design Center.
2002:
Two new watches designed for Georg Jensen presented at the Basel Fair:
"Bank" – the sailor's watch has two outer cases. One to face the demands of the sea with a shark skin strap, a digital function and a solid case made of titanium. The other version is made for every-day life and is a classic analogue watch made of stainless steel with a beautiful hand-stitched calf skin strap.
"Endurance" – a watch for the contemporary active woman in constant motion. It should be able to endure a bit of everything and look equally good and natural in a boardroom, at a reception and in the kindergarten. "Endurance" was awarded the German IF Prize 2003.
2003:
"Dect" phone designed for Kirk Telecom. The "Dect" phone is made for rough professional use e.g. hospitals and building sites.
Formed watch company "Linde Werdelin "with Jorn Thagaard Werdelin.
2004:
Glasses and sun-glasses designed for Georg Jensen; a collection of 11 models in each category.
2005:
"Nd 1" phone designed for Kirk Scantel. The "Nd1" phone is made for personal use.
"Biformeter’ – watch concept that combined an analogue watch with an attachable sport instrument designed for Linde Werdelin. Linde Werdelin won the Red Dot Design Award for the Biformeter.
Here are some of Linde Design studio projects to illustrate the broad range of products that Morten has been involved with.
ARRIVAL
When you arrive at the design studio, you are stricken by the starkness of it all.
Danish Design is a reality and not just seen in high-brow magazines or luxury channels on cable television.
The entrance leads straight up a staircase that splits into left and right wings of the building. Of course, it seems natural that a furniture architect would place a chromed steel and white leather chair on the landing!
The colour scheme is basically white, off-white or beige in the studio. It does have a clinical or laboratory feel or maybe it makes the space brighter and bigger in appearance? They do have a lot of dark winter 'days' here and it probably saves energy to reflect light off the interior.
Having said that, there is some playfulness in the green polka-dots that also evoke a grounding in nature.
Another reason may be the higher incidence of melancholy at these Northern latitudes with the hypothesis that reduced light exposure messes with your melatonin enzyme production, so vital for circadian rhythms and mood.
Could that be the reason for all the Scandinavian countries liking whitewash walls on bleached wooden floor finishes?
Now, I'm a little worried about meeting a Danish designer.....what are they like?
Will he mess with my mind? From his resume, you can see a psychotherapy qualification.
Onwards...........to the 'Conversations with Morten Linde - part 1'
Regards,
MTF
This message has been edited by MTF on 2011-10-01 12:59:35