“I deal with things in which I see a meaning. My starting point is always a clear explanation, and that is where the justification of my creations can be found. Function is essential, and if I can’t articulate a good reason for a new product, then it’s better not to create it in the first place.” – Cecilie Manz
Cecilie Manz is a Danish designer who founded her studio in Copenhagen called ‘Cecilie Manz Studio’. Cecilie Manz Studio designs everything from furniture, tableware, lighting to electronics and other homeware products. An important part of her work and approach is experimental prototypes and sculptural one-offs.
She has a neutral but warm colour palette with simple lines in the design. Her main motto is to make high-quality products with maximum efficiency and sensibility towards design as well as materiality.
Following is a list of ten product designed by Cecile Manz:
1. Tøjtræ | Cecilie Manz
Tøjtræ was designed in 2000 and manufactured by PP Møbler in 2008-2013.
Tøjtræ is a tree for clothes. It is made in solid maple. It has detachable parts which can be assembled with ease at home with the help of screws. Tøjtræ is a balance of simple minimalistic lines for a simple and practical purpose.
2. Spectra
Spectra was designed by Cecilie Manz for Holmegaard in 2007.
It is a stack of colourful vases in different sizes. They are transparent and are made in mouth-blown glass. They have a unique shape and a minimalistic approach to their designs. They stand out without drawing too much attention from the flowers that are placed in them.
3. Moku
Moku is a minimalist collection of furniture made in solid Japanese beech. It was manufactured by Actus / Nissin Mokkou in Japan in 2016.
The collection includes a chair, bench, and table for everyday life. The chairs can come with or without upholstery, and the wood can be lacquered. The unique aspect of the table is that it is designed asymmetrically with a half-circle on one end of the surface, which allows a fifth individual to sit comfortably, while the other end of the table is straight to lean against a wall to save space.
4. Plint Coffee Table
Plint Coffee Table is a wooden coffee table which was designed for furniture brand Takt in 2020.
The inspiration for this table comes from plinth which is an architectural element.
Plint Coffee Table is a piece of collapsible furniture which does not require glue, bolts or screws to assemble. It is hinged with full-grain leather and joined with two wedges. It only has two components which are—the tabletop which folds to form the legs and the base. The users can assemble this table themselves by securing the two components together with leather loops and wooden octagonal rods. It is made in three types of wood namely Oregon Pine, Kalmar Pine and Oak.
5. Separat | Cecilie Manz
Separat is a room divider designed by Cecilie Manz for Nikari in 2018.
It is made in solid Northern pine or European ash. Naturally tanned leather is used as hinges between the wood. It is made of thin pine panels which have vertical wood grains. Due to the naturally tanned leather between the panes, it is easy to fit it into different spaces. It can be used in a dressing area, office space or at home to separate two spaces. Separat helps in using the space more efficiently without disturbing the vision as it blends beautifully.
6. LUV
LUV is a series of washbasins, mirrors and bathroom furniture designed for Duravit in 2017.
The LUV series has a unique design which follows a strict geometry making it timeless and elegant. It has clear lines and edges and smooth forms. It showcases a lot of her roots and the culture she comes from.
The three sizes of oval basins, with and without tap hole platform, all have very thin rims made from the unique DuraCeram® porcelain. There are options for the glazed exterior such as satin-matte white, grey or sand tones. The tables have drawers and have a painted finish while the tabletops come in quartz stone or solid wood.
7. Caravaggio
The Caravaggio is a series of lamps which were designed for Lightyears in 2005.
The collection has pendants, wall, floor and table lamps in its range. It comes in matt finishes as well as the original high gloss finish. The lamp’s name comes from a Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio painting because Cecile found similarities in the characteristics such as the dramatic light and shadow and the use of red.
It has a modern look with plain finishes and simple lines. The minimalism in the lamp makes it stand out.
8. Degree
Degree was designed for Reform in 2018.
It is a kitchen design with subtle details which create an overall classic yet modern look. It has a clean finish due to the lines. It is veneered in Oregon Pine by arranging the grains on the veneer in a 45-degree angle.
Cecilie Manz has compared it to a hatch in a drawing. Degree is made in three finishes- painted light grey, painted white and veneered Oregon pine. The handle too is in a 45-degree angle at the corner thereby forming a triangle. The attention to details from the cover to countertops makes it a unique design.
9. Beolit 20
Beolit is a speaker designed for Bang & Olufsen in 2020.
It is an updated version of the original design from 2012. It includes wireless charging on the top tray, longer battery life and a hatched hole pattern with a colourful backing fabric. They have used high-quality full-grain vegetable-tanned leather for the handle. It has elegant detailing using premium materials making it a durable and high-quality product.
10. Rugs | Cecilie Manz
Cecilie Manz has created four rug designs for Fritz Hansen in 2020 in collaboration with Milan rugmaker CC-tapis.
The rugs are hand-tufted in India and coloured using acid-free dye. There is a subtle three-dimensional tactility to the rugs as the tufts have varying heights. These rugs are made 100% from wool. To finalise the colours she created paper collages. The monochrome carpet acts as a backdrop to anything that is placed on it while the colourful carpets create an ambience all on their own.
