Interview with Ingrid Kulper
Mattahari originates from Matahari which means the center from the sun and was founded by Ingrid Kulper in 2008.
Designer of the Day Interview
28 March 2018
I have been in the industry for about 25 years. I started with designing children's furniture , with the inspiration from nature and the magic of the fairytale world. My most prominent customer was a little princess from Jordan where I did design and create a whole room for her. She loved frogs and I had a hand carved frog on many of the furniture.My educational background is autodidact.I very much liked to make children's furniture and rugs while my daughter was small as it all started with making furniture for her. Much later when she was a grown up I did change for designing just rugs.
I always had an big interest in design and to create. On a trip to Bali where I did have my carved details made for the children's furniture I came in contact with the symbols of sacred geometry. I felt very strongly that I did want to incorporate sacred geometry in my design. I started to experiment and made my first rugs this way.For me a whole new world was opening and since that day my main focus was geometry.
I do think a lot of color combinations and if i see a pattern or form I can start thinking how it would look on a rug. I use digital tools as well as I experiment by cutting and pasting, using my hands adding and switching pieces together and apart.
When designing and creating I feel very much alive and in the now. I actually love the whole process from the initial idea to the end result. Sometimes I have just an idea in my mind I like to try and then time stands still.
One of my skills I think helped me a lot is that I believe that everything is possible,and even if I do not always succeed I do not give up as long as I really have the passion and motivation to go on, even if things look a bit dark.
I am very happy where I am in my process especially with being able to do and designing rugs in this for me very special patterns and formations. I am very interested in alternative health, politiks and ways to expand consciousness. Even if my customers do not really always believe that our wellbeing also can be influenced by form an color especially thinking of the vast selection from the world of sacred geometry. I do believe this and feel very happy to be able to contribute this way. My dream projekt would be together with others designing a varietyof rugs for a spa or Hotel complex.
I feel that the best way to grow your knowledge is to be aware that mistakes are important on the way. This does not mean that you do have to repeat the same mistake over and over again. When I did start up with the children's furniture , I did my self look for producers and now with the rugs I do the same. This is of course a risk and can be expensive. I always had in those days another job to be able to get around.
I would say very shortly but sincere, follow you joy not the money !
It all depends if there are any mails to respond to, any updates to make etc. My most boring task is to finish and send invoices even thou I suppose this should be pleasing. I also connect and go to meetings with interior architects for potential future co creation.
Pinterest I find very inspirational to expand my field of interest.
For me to recognize a good design means there must be a feeling of awe when looking at a beautiful crafted objekt.
I always feel when a design is ready. The most difficult part for me is to decide the color combination. Once one design is ready I always like to go on and do one more and one more. So I do end up with many different possibilities.
I still dream of that project !
The artist I do admire very much is Leonardo Da Vinci. Then the Icelandic Danish artist Olafur Eliasson.In Architecture I admire Zaha Hadids work and also Antonio Gaudi.
Since I started to work with geometry and sacred geometry my life has changed for the better for sure. It makes me feel so much more connected to everything around me and new doors open constantly.Music and form are tightly connected and there are some interesting storys about this.
I mostly work alone and would like to connect with others as well if the opportunity comes up.
Right now I have not come to the point where I can really contribute to society as a designer. I do admire artists and designers who do however.
To participate in A´Design Award and Competition has been a great experience for me. I learned very much by answering so many questions and explaining my design. Also I see this as a great opportunity to reach out and also come in contact with other creative people. There is genuine interest to be of help for all participants from the organizers. I feel very thankful and happy to get the opportunity to eventually become the designer of the day.
Design Legend Interview
21 October 2018
To work with design and construktion of various products makes me very happy. I am selftaught and autodidakt
within this field.
within this field.
My motivation is the feeling of being in a different space when I discover a new pattern or design I like to realize.
It just happened very natural.
I like very much to design different rugs and like to explore both color combinations and new materials and patterns.
The circle and the square in different combinations.
The circle and the square in different combinations.
I would say to follow there joy mainly.
I believe that a great designer is more of a trendsetter. A good designer might be real good in details and quality.
Good design should be of very good quality and giving a sence of admiration and wow to the observer.
Good design can last for many generations and be appreciated again and again.
I would very much like to design rugs for a spa and a hotel
Maybe to get a large order from a nice hotel complex
For me it is a feeling of yes once I get inspiration for a new rug.
Zaha Hadid and Olafur Eliasson
I still wait for it to come to life..
Just being honest with whom they are and what is important for them to express.
I always wanted to become a healer using medicin from nature
For me design is an unique expression, which the designer wants to share with others.
I very slowly followed my love for design and just followed my own desire to create and explore
Difficult to say, I suppose my joy for just going my own way.
To do other type of work just to make a living and still find the time for design and reaching out.
I think that to participate in A´Design Award & Competition is an excellent way.
Maybe hopefully a close co creation with a interior architect for a Hotel
To get lots of happy customers.
A nice well made product.
Beaty combined with practicality and quality creates a better society I do believe.
I am working on a very specific rug tiles which easily can be stored away in a sitting bench when the rugs are not in use during the warm season. Countries like Italy and Portugal have not a rug culture the same as for example countries with colder climates.
I like the mostly all
Always using materials which can last long and which can be recycled.
I think the 3D printing will take over much.
Very different depending on what is included.
First I start to introduce the project to the producer.
To be Authentic .
Both ways around.
I use photoshop, illustrator and scissors mostly
Color has always a large roles also the choice of material.
From where the inspiration did come.
Wow so very well made !
I do believe in co-design for sure but till now I have not stumbled over anyone yet.
Maybe my daughter !
Books about sacred geometry.
I did dream, play and practise.
Leonardo da vinci would be great !
I feel very happy about the unexpected awards and recognition and it gives me the energy to get better and for each project.
Right now I like earthly tones and colors. My favourite place is in Italy and on the Swedish Island called Gotland.
Favourite food: Raw food and vegetarian. Thing and brand I do nor specifically know.
Favourite food: Raw food and vegetarian. Thing and brand I do nor specifically know.
While making a photo shoot on a rug my cat turns up and places it self in front of the camera laying down comfortably.
I am a multi task person so when the right moment, idea turns up I go all deep.
Not at all.
I hope the future will be as great for more of the world population as it is now for us in the western countries.
Designer Interview
10 December 2018
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.
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.
It is a way to express and to share with others.
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.
My favorite rug is inspired from the sunflower and the fibonacci sequence.
It was a large rug for KTH the Royal technical Highschool for the the reception in Stockholm and for the headmasters office.
I Love to use all kind of natural fibers
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.
Color, form and combining materials.
When I design I feel very absorbed and focused. Time is not an issue.
When the design turns out the way I intended I feel very happy and entusiastic.
For me good design is succesful when it is both innovative,practical and appealing to the eye and touch.
How it makes me feel.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
I live in Sweden close to a lake outside of Stockholm in the country side.
I have my own company
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.
The design process is always different depending on which project or design is evolving. The process is also changing many times before realised.
I very much like Danish design and art deco.
I feel i am very much a multi task person so every day is different.
I would say follow your inspiration and joy.
To be a designer an important skill is to be flexible and curious
The golden mean.
To be curious, flexible and adventurous to follow what you want to accomplish even if it sometimes looks difficult at first sight.
I use software, scissors and different applications.
When I design time is not important, it is more a natural flow.
Difficult to answer as it varies with each design and object.
Hotel owners,private homeowners, interiör designers and arkitekts.
Designing rugs.
I like to participate in international exibitions.
I mostly develop my designs myself.
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
People can contact me through my website. www.mattahari.com