Interview with Chris Herbold
Chris Herbold founded vanory with his passion for light to create the perfect atmosphere by innovative smart lighting products.
Design Legend Interview
21 October 2019
Originally I am an engineer specializing in lighting technology, but I have always made the connection between the passion for technology and the passion for beautiful things. For example, I have been involved in the development of forms that offer both technical and aesthetic advantages in lighting technology.
I like to be surrounded by beautiful things myself and I enjoy it every day. But it is even more enjoyable when others enjoy my things.
It was my own decision.
Due to my (lighting) technical background, I mostly design decorative or technical luminaires. For the future, I wish that related things, such as controls, will be added.
Fight for your dream! (I am still doing that...)
A great designer creates designs that last forever (or at least for a very long time ...). A distinction is therefore hardly possible in the present, but time shows it.
Surprise, peculiarity, attraction, balance, excitement - these are terms that I associate closely with really good design and that help me with the evaluation.
The ability to make people happy - every day. It does not matter if it's about form or function. If everything fits together, you will be happy about the product.
I would like to develop the design of even more lights, which enchant people with special lighting effects. I would also like to work with big brands to bring the design to many people - but that is not a question of time ...
A huge light installation has been developing in my mind for a long time. I hope someday is time to put it into reality.
Special technical components that support the design or even determine it and make it special.
There are many, like Alvar Aalto, Eileen Gray, Christian Dell, Rennie Mackintosh, Rosemarie and Rico Baltensweiler, Gio Ponti, Egon Eiermann – just to name a few.
If you look at the designs of the above people, you will find a lot of great things. I like them because they all have a peculiarity that at surprise first and rejoice every day.
These are for sure the luminaires of the vanory Estelle family. They combine traditional materials and craftsmanship with innovative lighting technology. This creates special lighting effects that are surprising and always inspiring.
Going around the world with open eyes, collecting inspirations, trying things out, rejecting them, starting afresh, adapting, having fun.
I would do exactly the same - develop technical things. But they would not be so nice.
For me, design is the combination of many aspects of a product, such as its function, shape, materials, workmanship and usability. In my designs everything is focused on the user and suits him and his needs.
The people around me: my family, my friends and colleagues. During the development of new projects, questions arise constantly and it is important to discuss them continuously in order to achieve at a perfect result.
The people who told me early "I like that" or "I do not like it" - that gives courage and motivation for further developments.
I cannot remember obstacles. I have gone my (technical) way and the design has evolved over the years to accompany it.
Digital media today offers so many possibilities for presentation, but it is still only a reduction of the overall design. It is only fully understood when experienced in reality. But the digital media can animate to want to experience it in reality.
Always new surprises.
Normally, I should not wish that, but it would be great to get one of our luminaires back in 50 years with a request to fix it for the use within the next 50 years. Then I'm sure it has a timeless design…
Things to love for a long time.
Design can help here on several levels. It makes a society more sustainable, it connects people and cultures and it transcends borders.
At the moment I am working on several projects of vanory. We will soon expand the Estelle family but also build a whole new family - with great lighting effects.
These are definitely the luminaires of the vanory Estelle family, because we have received so much positive feedback for the products and have often heard that people have fallen in love with Estelle.
I do not expect a big change, but a continuous development. Especially with regard to the rapid progress of new manufacturing processes, I see exciting things coming our way.
I think everything that makes products "smart" will become even more of a focus in design. At vanory, we deal with smart lighting products, but the integration and control makes it really good for the user. This will be an important task for the design.
That strongly depends on the project. The Estelle family of smart luminaires for example was a way of about two years as there was development of hard- and software that goes together with the product design.
Normally I start with some sketches but then go on very fast with a functional prototype to see how it feels in reality.
Both are very closely related, but in my opinion the design usually sets the trends, because good design is necessary to create trends.
Technology is often the beginning and provides the basis for inspiration and ideas that will be translated into products later in the design process.
Pen and paper, later also CAD and virtual models. The 3D printer also helps us a lot to consider all the details in product development.
A very big role, because it's part of the design and can make a design great as well as destroy it.
I'm glad when people are curious and ask, "how does that work?". Then I realize that they are dealing with it and want to know all the details.
At first I'm happy and excited. Then I try to find the reasons for that and start a kind of analysis.
The nature. It offers so many inspirations and suggestions for good design. If I am not satisfied with a detail of a design, then I take a look at nature. It always offers a way to solution.
My family, friends and colleagues. Every design needs many discussions before it is finished.
Mainly books and essays on buildings all over the world. These often give me inspiration and ideas for new things.
I always start and develop new projects - learning by doing.
All the people I mentioned above (question 12).
I have not been known as a designer for so long, so every award is something special for me. I hope that will always be the case.
Object dependent, by the sea, apples, autumn, Estelle, vanory
Several years ago, we developed a design for easy lighting control. To test if it's really easy, we worked with older people. That was nice and fun and a complete success.
There are many things that make a nice day. This can be, for example, a presentation of a design that inspires people or even a day in the studio where work is done until late at night. The motivation at the beginning of the day is to know at the end of the day that something has been created that lasts.
Not for me, but for others…
It will take a lot of effort for people to continue to live well on earth, but I am sure they will succeed and have a good future in harmony with nature.
Are you interested in our products and projects or just want a coffee? Just come by in the vanory manufactory, Karlsruhe, Germany.
Designer Interview
21 October 2019
I am an engineer specializing in lighting technology, but I have always made the connection between the passion for technology and the passion for beautiful things. For example, I have been involved in the development of natural inspired shapes that offer both technical and aesthetic advantages in lighting technology. That's the perfect connection for me, because it brings several benefits.
Vanory was founded in 2017 as a spin-off from the KIT Lighting Technology Institute (but we are working on other design related projects for about 10 years). We are a team that works on specific products. Since this year we are located in historic buildings on the former slaughterhouse of Karlsruhe. There we set up our studio and the manufactory where our products are made.
Emotion, surprise, attraction, balance, excitement - these are terms that I associate closely with really good design.
Luminaires. Due to my background in lighting technology, I mostly design decorative or technical luminaires.
These are definitely the smart luminaires of the Estelle family. These combine traditional materials and craftsmanship with innovative lighting technology, bringing surprising effects of depth into the room.
This was a special luminaire for demanding environments such as oil rigs.
In developing the design of Estelle luminaires I have dealt a lot with glass. In the future I hope to be able to work even more with this great and versatile material.
When I'm out and about in nature.
Since I have a lot to do with the design of technical products, the ease of use is an important point, followed by the seamless integration of technology into the formal language of the product.
Motivation to create something new and excitement as the result will look like in the end.
Joy that an idea has become reality but always self-criticism in the search for improvements.
The ability to make people happy - every day. It does not matter if it's about form or function. If everything fits together, the design will be successful.
A design must surprise and touch me. It just has to be understandable and memorable. If it carries emotions then it is very good.
Design connects people and different cultures and design has an impact on the environment. That is why it is important when working as a designer to consider these aspects in every detail to design sustainable products.
I think everything that makes products "smart" will become even more of a focus in design. At vanory, we deal with smart lighting products, but the integration and control makes it really good for the user. The usability will be an important task for the design.
The nature. It offers so many inspirations and suggestions for good design. If I am not satisfied with a detail of a design, then I take a look at nature. It always offers a way to solution.
Technology is often the beginning for my designs. It provides the basis for inspiration and ideas that will be translated into products later in the design process. When I see a technology that impresses me, I remember it to create impressive designs.
I live in Karlsruhe, Germany. I am sure that will affect my designs, because they are all based on technical fundamentals. This relationship to engineering is probably very German. The good thing is that there is a lot of technical knowledge. Maybe the design aspect suffers a bit from that.
My current designs are made by vanory. We design and manufacture there. But we have also worked together with other companies, mostly in combination of design and technical development.
That's difficult to say because I've never been in the situation. I think the emotional basis is an important one in design, because the design influences and expresses the company very much.
The process often starts from the technical side. Then possible forms are developed. The integration of technology into the formal language plays a major role here. Virtual and real prototypes are built and tried a lot before the concept is finished. Then all the details are worked out and improved step by step until everything is perfect.
That is easy to say: My luminaires, my chairs, my sofa, my toaster and my elephant
Every day is different, but my days usually start early when it's still quiet in the city. Then I know that I can take full advantage of the day to have created something at the end of it that lasts.
The best part of it is that you can use your creativity every day to create something new. But at the same time, that can be difficult because you have to rely on creating something new.
I often look into nature and use it as inspiration. Nature brings so many beautiful solutions.
There are many properties like: Enthusiasm, creativity, curiosity, imagination and emotions
Pen and paper, later in the process also CAD and virtual models. The 3D printer also helps us a lot to consider all the details in product development.
I start early in the day and do everything important before I take the time to work on new designs.
That strongly depends on the project. The Estelle family of smart luminaires for example was a way of about two years as there was development of hard- and software that goes together with the product design.
“How does that work?” I'm glad when people are curious and ask that. Then I realize that they are dealing with it and want to know all the details.
The most important thing about my job is the feedback. It is not a single event, but a recurring one. Every design generates feedback and every feedback is important for every design.
My designs are usually implemented directly as products at vanory. But I have already worked out designs for other lighting manufacturers.
Building first working prototypes as one can imagine how the final product will feel and look like.
At vanory, we will further expand the Estelle family of smart luminaires and soon also start a new family with a different focus.
Both: I develop the concept and the basics myself and then get feedback from the team. The feedback is implemented and there are many loops until everything fits perfectly.
Not yet ...
At any time: chris@vanory.com
If you are in the vicinity, you are welcome to visit vanory for a coffee. We are always happy about guests.