Ingrid Kulper

Interview with Ingrid Kulper

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?

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.

Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

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.

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

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.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

My favorite rug is inspired from the sunflower and the fibonacci sequence.

What was the first thing you designed for a company?

It was a large rug for KTH the Royal technical Highschool for the the reception in Stockholm and for the headmasters office.

When do you feel the most creative?

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.

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

When I design I feel very absorbed and focused. Time is not an issue.

What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

When the design turns out the way I intended I feel very happy and entusiastic.

What makes a design successful?

For me good design is succesful when it is both innovative,practical and appealing to the eye and touch.

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

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.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

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.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

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.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

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.

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?

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.

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?

I live in Sweden close to a lake outside of Stockholm in the country side.

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

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.

Can you talk a little about your design process?

The design process is always different depending on which project or design is evolving. The process is also changing many times before realised.

Can you describe a day in your life?

I feel i am very much a multi task person so every day is different.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

To be a designer an important skill is to be flexible and curious

What skills are most important for a designer?

To be curious, flexible and adventurous to follow what you want to accomplish even if it sometimes looks difficult at first sight.

Who are some of your clients?

Hotel owners,private homeowners, interiör designers and arkitekts.

Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

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

Designer of the Day Interview with Ingrid Kulper

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

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.

How did you become a designer?

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.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

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.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

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.

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

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.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

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.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

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.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

I would say very shortly but sincere, follow you joy not the money !

What is your day to day look like?

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.

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

Pinterest I find very inspirational to expand my field of interest.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

For me to recognize a good design means there must be a feeling of awe when looking at a beautiful crafted objekt.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

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.

Who is your favourite designer?

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.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

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.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

I mostly work alone and would like to connect with others as well if the opportunity comes up.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

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.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

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.

Extended Interview with Ingrid Kulper

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

To work with design and construktion of various products makes me very happy. I am selftaught and autodidakt within this field.

How did you become a designer?

My motivation is the feeling of being in a different space when I discover a new pattern or design I like to realize.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

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.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

I believe that a great designer is more of a trendsetter. A good designer might be real good in details and quality.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

Good design should be of very good quality and giving a sence of admiration and wow to the observer.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

Good design can last for many generations and be appreciated again and again.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

For me it is a feeling of yes once I get inspiration for a new rug.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

Just being honest with whom they are and what is important for them to express.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

For me design is an unique expression, which the designer wants to share with others.