Design is a fundamental value at Viefe. We firmly believe in it and in the differentiation and functionality that it can add to our products. That’s why we design all our knobs, handles and wall hooks in Europe in collaboration with designers from all over the world, always looking out for talented designers who can bring a different and groundbreaking angle. The German design studio Kaschkasch, founded by Florian Kallus and Sebastian Schneider, is one of the newest collaborators in our knobs and handles catalog for 2022, with their versatile and elegant designs of the models Luv and Conic.
We’ve spoken to them to find out more about their way of working and their career path which has led to the creation of their characteristic style mixing straight linear shapes and beauty with practicality and elegant soberness. The elegance and practicality of their creations has allowed them to collaborate with design companies with a renowned international reputation.
Kaschkasch, tell us a little about your career up to now.
Florian: My career started with a trainee as carpenter where I discovered my interest for material, construction and interior design or let’s say I discovered my interest for the way people live furnish their homes. After my time as carpenter, I did a trip to Asia and north Pacific where I discovered different ways of working in the field of furniture making mainly with wood. Back home I started to study product design (where I met Sebastian). We founded Kaschkasch right after university – super motivated and extremely naive.
Sebastian: My career started similar to Florians. I did a trainee as carpenter and started studies in 2008 where we met. Due to our background, we started doing mainly furniture. But we are super curious, and I personally love to discover permanently new fields. So now we are working in the fields of furniture, lighting, accessories, handles, trade fair stands and still a lot more to come.
Can you name any work that you are especially proud of?
Florian: Of course, these chances from time to time but right now I’m super proud of the folding chair Colo we did your Karl Andersson from Sweden and the LUV handle we designed for Viefe 🙂
Sebastian: It’s hard to pick just one project. We’ve done so many projects in the last years I’m proud of.
How and why did you start to collaborate with Viefe®?
We are working in the field of handles for quite a few years already and when you look around within the world of handles Viefe is one of the best and biggest companies. In the first conversations with Viefe we all had the feeling that it was the logical consequence that kaschkasch and Viefe are collaborating now.
Describe to us the design process behind a product.
Everything starts with a dialogue. We talk about the company and the topic we are working on and from there we start the research and the creative process. Once one of us has a first idea we talk again and make 3D models, 3D prints, sketches, mockups and so on… Especially when it comes to handles the usability is an important topic for us. How do you grab a handle? Is it nice to touch? We noticed, everyone in our studio is grabbing a handle in a slightly different way. So, the design concept is just the first step. It has to proof in use.
What inspires you?
Florian: People, life, misunderstandings, art … and many, many other things!
Sebastian: That is so different from project to project. Sometimes Florian inspires me, sometimes research takes me to a good idea, sometimes I’m inspired during sketching or doing mock ups in the workshop… But for me personally more important than the first initial idea is what can we get out of this particular idea. And that’s where the real work of our team starts.
A material… Wood.
A shape… The circle.
A colour… Blue.
A finish… Anodized.
The perfect handle is the one that… speaks for itself and works super intuitive.
Which is your favourite part of the house?
Florian: Kitchen and living room, eat and relax 🙂
Sebastian: Bathroom – my bathtub is my sofa 😉
Which of the products that you’ve designed for Viefe®, gives you the most satisfaction? Why?
We’re super happy with the LUV handle and knob we designed for Viefe.