We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ingrid Kulper ("IK").
Mattahari originates from Matahari which means the center from the sun and was founded by Ingrid Kulper in 2008. The belief that color and form in our surrounding contributes to our wellbeing both consciously and unconsciously is the main focus of Mattahari. Using only natural materials like Bamboo fiber, wool and bananafiber in all Mattaharis products. The design is based on sacred geometry and all the different patterns found in nature, like the sunflower and pinecone. Speciality: Unique custom made rugs for projects and private homes
Ingrid Kulper Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ingrid Kulper.
Designer Interview of Ingrid Kulper:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
IK : For me my surrounding has always influenced me and makes me feel. So this is why I always have created already as a child. For my daughter I then created a small hobbit house with furniture. That was the begining of designing furniture for children, much later I discovered my passion for geometry and there the first Rugs was created.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
IK : Matahari means the center of the sun in Indonesia. So the brand namn Mattahari with two t means rug center in Swedish.Matta in Swedish is rug and Hari means center.Mattahari is based in Sweden and we have many customers worldwide.
DI: What is "design" for you?
IK : It is a way to express and to share with others.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
IK : Designing rugs and products that can add a feeling of silence and queitness in the room and in the same create a feeling of wellbeing. I do believe that we are all very influenced of color and very specific forms.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
IK : My favorite rug is inspired from the sunflower and the fibonacci sequence.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
IK : It was a large rug for KTH the Royal technical Highschool for the the reception in Stockholm and for the headmasters office.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
IK : I Love to use all kind of natural fibers
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
IK : I feel the most creative when I decide to participate in an exhibition and give my self time to really explore and go deep in what I like to create.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
IK : Color, form and combining materials.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
IK : When I design I feel very absorbed and focused. Time is not an issue.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
IK : When the design turns out the way I intended I feel very happy and entusiastic.
DI: What makes a design successful?
IK : For me good design is succesful when it is both innovative,practical and appealing to the eye and touch.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
IK : How it makes me feel.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
IK : I feel very strongly that using natural materials which are not harming the environment and are made to las for a long time, if possible for many generations to come.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
IK : I believe that high quality and more natural materials are going to be more and more relevant.Recycling is also a very interesting aspect which I believe will be important when choosing which materials are to be used for the products.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
IK : My last exhibition was at the Stockholm Furniture fair. Another exhibition was in Frankfurt together with a group of different designers in june 2016. The exhibition was called Swedish Roots.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
IK : My inspiration comes from the so called Sacred Geometry and very much from patterns in nature and other surroundings. I can see ideas for rugs in the most unexpected surroundings, which I do not always put in realisation before sometimes later.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
IK : I do not really know how to describe my style, it is always very different and at the same time it is the same source of inspiration, nature and geometry.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
IK : I live in Sweden close to a lake outside of Stockholm in the country side.
DI: How do you work with companies?
IK : I have my own company
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
IK : I believe that each company has there own image and focus on what kind of design they like to be associated with and will look for designers who fit best into that category.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
IK : The design process is always different depending on which project or design is evolving. The process is also changing many times before realised.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
IK : I very much like Danish design and art deco.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
IK : I feel i am very much a multi task person so every day is different.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
IK : I would say follow your inspiration and joy.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
IK : To be a designer an important skill is to be flexible and curious
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
IK : The golden mean.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
IK : To be curious, flexible and adventurous to follow what you want to accomplish even if it sometimes looks difficult at first sight.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
IK : I use software, scissors and different applications.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
IK : When I design time is not important, it is more a natural flow.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
IK : Difficult to answer as it varies with each design and object.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
IK : Hotel owners,private homeowners, interiör designers and arkitekts.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
IK : Designing rugs.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
IK : I like to participate in international exibitions.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
IK : I mostly develop my designs myself.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
IK : I am right now working a project which involves rug tiles and a smart storage where to keep and store the rug tiles in the summer season. As I observed that countries with longe warm summer seasons like Italy, Spain and Portugal are nor so interested in rugs as for example countries with colder climate are. During the colder season in these countries the rug tiles can then be placed easily in the room. The rug storage is also also at the same time a piece of furniture to be used summer and wintertime
DI: How can people contact you?
IK : People can contact me through my website. www.mattahari.com