"We strive to break away from conventions"
The valet stand JAMES is a prime example of modern furniture design combined with outstanding quality and unique character. The design for the special clothes storage, which is intended to replace "the chair", was developed by the renowned design studio BUDDE from Cologne. The work of Johannes Budde and Meike Papenfuß, who founded the studio in 2019, is characterized by a consistently innovative approach. Thus, the valet stand JAMES also represents the design philosophy of the creative duo. In an interview, they revealed exactly what this is based on and the importance of JAMES within it.
Photo: Benni Janzen
How did the collaboration with Metallbude come about?
Meike: "As a young design studio, we are always interested in collaborating with exciting, emerging furniture brands. Shared values and a similar corporate philosophy play a central role for us in the selection of cooperation partners. After an initial exchange, it quickly became clear: this is a match! We bring different strengths and expertise to the partnership. While our focus at BUDDE is on design, we appreciate the expertise of
Johannes, how would you describe your own design philosophy?
Johannes: "Clear and self-contained. Unobtrusive, but anything but conformist. - This is how the trade press describes our designs. The design philosophy of BUDDE is based on the fact that a design always stands out through a single basic idea. Our signature is consistent in the sense that everything superfluous is avoided. We always design furniture integratively and holistically with a view to future use or where the design is to take place. We strive to free ourselves from conventions and to question how a piece of furniture is actually used and lived with in the long term. In addition, our designs are characterized by a certain degree of interaction.They should be both haptically and functionally tangible for the user and ideally not only fulfill a practical function, but also surprise and inspire
How or where do you find the ideas and inspirations for your designs?
Johannes: "Inspiration and ideas can actually be found everywhere - on travels, in nature, in conversations, music, but also in everyday life. For me personally, silence is also very important. The best ideas often arise just before falling asleep. When I work on a new design, I try to incorporate short naps, which initially feels wrong because you want to be productive. But I believe that this letting go is important in order to really perceive and reflect on your own thoughts.In everyday life, a kind of mental "noise" often arises, in which everyday problems are often louder than a subconsciously dormant design idea."
How did the design of JAMES come about?
Meike: "JAMES was created from the observation that almost every person has this one chair in the corner of the bedroom or dressing room, on which worn clothes pile up. Actually, no one ever sits on this chair. It is not only not an interior eye-catcher, but also impractical, and we wanted to change that. We asked ourselves what an object would have to look like that is usage-oriented and at the same time a modern eye-catcher in the interior design. We optimized or reduced the shape to what it needs and thus reinterpreted the classic valet stand.With a humorous association to the "pile of clothes in the corner", JAMES is an exciting one-line sculpture and a practical piece of furniture at the same time."
By the way: Is JAMES still a piece of furniture or already a work of art?
Johannes: "One could say that modern furniture design is art with function. While classical art often creates a distance to the viewer, as it hangs behind glass and is not allowed to be touched, our design is meant to be actively used in everyday life. Good design is approachable, useful and invites interaction. Therefore, we would say: JAMES combines furniture and artwork."
