Christian Kroepfl

Specialized in Design.

Christian Kroepfl

About Christian Kroepfl

Born in Dornbirn (Austria), Christian Kroepfl studied architecture and urban design in Vienna and Paris. In addition to his work as an architect in Vienna, he also develops unique furniture and design objects, whose clear and timeless form language as well as detail precision have now become his trademark. As a result, designs like the KT11, have advanced to become design classics in a short time. Several of his creations have won international design awards (Red Dot Award, International Design Award, Good Design Award, German Design Award, Iconic Award …).

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Christian Kroepfl

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?
Actually I wanted to become a designer when I was a teenager but I preferred to study architecture and urban planning at the university. Becoming a designer happened randomly, I was asked to the design a few tables...
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Well, I'm the only member in my studio, but I often work together with other architects and designers.
What is "design" for you?
The clarity of design and the deliberate restraint to the essential is the most important thing to me.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I like creating things with a clear function that help people, I'm not a sculptor.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
This is constantly changing, it's always the product I'm working on.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
There is always a certain tension, it's always a work in progress. Sometimes the production method changes, so there are little differences,... It is a never ending story, I love it.
What makes a design successful?
There are different point of views: If I'm happy with it, it is a success for me. If it sells well, the distributor is happy and thinks it is a success...
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
It must fulfill its function and you must see that: this can be comfort or representation,...
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Actually it is not only about beauty, it is about making people's lives easier.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last exhibition was in October 2016 Prague - Designblok, in May 2017 you can find some of my products for palatti at the "moebel austria" in Salzburg, Austria.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
As an architect I think always about function; combined with certain materials - the form follows logically. Products must work properly.
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 think I do not have a certain style, products are developed by their functions and given materials. Of course, you can call this style, I don't. A personal style is not important to me.
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?
It is more about the personal environment, the country is simply a part of it.
How do you work with companies?
Sometimes I get a direct inquiry, sometimes I offer a design to a company.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
I start with hand drawings and models, the computer is part of the second step, then starts prototyping,...
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
pencil, aquafix (Austrian brand of transparent paper), desk, "Wiener Stadthallensessel", computer
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Never work for free! If somebody doesn't want to pay you for your work, he or she is not a professional. Avoid these people, they are only trying to use you!
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
On one side it is about creating things, one the other side it is about paying your rent. It's like anyone else's life.
What skills are most important for a designer?
ability to focus, technical understanding, empathy, business efficiency, and passion
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
A pencil, paper, rubber, PC, and an excellent monitor, of course!
What was your most important job experience?
Designing a garden city with 160 flats for an 90 years old famous Austrian architect called Roland Rainer, when I was a young architect.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
I prefer designs with a clear function. I'm just that kind of type.

Designer of the Day Interview with Christian Kroepfl

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I've been working as an architect for more than 20 years for different companies now, designing furniture always was part of these projects. I designed whole town districts as well as doorknobs. Looking back actually, it was logical that someday I would design furniture series.
How did you become a designer?
I was able to make beautiful drawings at an early age. I was drawing a lot together with friends. I remember us sitting at a friend's house, his father had many huge old electrical plans and we used the backs of these plans for our drawings. Also I was interested in art and design already as a young boy. Sometimes I skipped school with a friend to visit exhibitions in Zurich or Basel - I grew up in Austria near the Swiss border. Becoming a furniture designer happened coincidentally, I worked on an architectural project and I was asked to design a series of tables. Three months later we presented them on the Vienna Furniture Fair...
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I always start with pen and paper. These two and imagination are the most useful aspects of any design - the rest is nice to have. Sometimes I make models. In the second step I use the computer for 2D drawings to check my thoughts, then I check again with paper and pen. Drawings in 3D I use in the next step. If you start too early with 3D, it's very dangerous. Your brain must design the project and it's easy to be deceived as a designer by nice forms in 3D. Never forget the sections at this point!
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I like the outdoors, hiking, skiing, camping, travelling... When I was a boy scout, the most useful thing I learned is to need as less as necessary and enough as possible.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
At the moment I’m working on a sofa and children furniture. The current project(s) always is/are the most beautiful and enjoyable one(s).
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Never work for free! Remember, you are well educated professionals and those guys who want your work for free get a lot of money for cheating you.
What is your day to day look like?
I don’t have a daily routine. Every day is different, although I wish I had more time to develop.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I don't follow trends intentionally, it really happens. But sometimes I get an assignment by a client who follows these trends.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
A design is never ready from my point of view, you can always optimize it. But there is a certain point, and you feel, that it is impossible to really make it better reasonably or you feel that it's getting worse. Then stop or go back, rethink! Maybe it's really finished?
What is your biggest design work?
Every work is unique in it's way. My favourite design is the table KT8. It's so simple and simultaneously elegant.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Emotional but true. Well, I'm still a boy-scout, I guess: "Try and leave this world a little better than you found it, and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate, you have not wasted your time but have done your best." Robert Baden-Powell
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
Honestly, I must determine that many design competitions are outrageously expensive. I used to say, that if I were born again, I would start a religion or a design competition. But I think that you guys are really interested in design, you want to bring something further and you really try to support the designers. Chapeau!

Extended Interview with Christian Kroepfl

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I studied at the UT Vienna and the "L'Ecole Nationale Supérieure d'Architecture de Paris La Villette (ENSAPLV)", and worked in several offices.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
Actually I wanted to become a designer when I was a teenager but I preferred to study architecture and urban planning at the university. Becoming a designer happened randomly, I was asked to the design a few tables...
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
It is all about functional design. I like to design everyday's objects.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I don't think that I'm a design legend. Never work for free! If somebody doesn't want to pay you for your work, he or she is not a professional. Avoid these people, they are only trying to use you!
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
It must fulfill its function and you must see that: this can be comfort or representation,...
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
First of all good design simply works. If you invest in a good design objects like a table, the chance is high that it doesn't only satisfy your needs. It will also increase its economical value.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
Glenn Murcutt, Josef Frank, Roland Rainer, Adolf Loos, LC, Sverre Fehn,...
Who is your favourite designer?
I don't think that there is a greatest design, I do have a preferred one - it is a table called KT8 made of wood: a solid wood table supported by a simple delicate wood truss. The use of traditional wood joinery, in combination with a well-conceived construction method, allowed for a 20% reduction in the wood cross sections that one would ordinarily expect on such leg structures.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
The clarity of design and the deliberate restraint to the essential is the most important thing to me.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
family and friends, especially Harald Gorbach, Nik Smutny, Zdenek Svoboda, Tomas Nekula, Petr Suman, Hana Tumova, and all the other guys from SWN

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