Photography: Courtesy of Louise Roe
01 / 02 / 2022
Organic materials and well-chosen tones contribute sculptural and architectural values to the work of Louise Roe. Sophistication and simplicity, combined with a modern avant-garde approach, characterise the collections of the brand that bears the designer's name.
Ana Rita Sevilha: What's the story behind the brand and what are its foundations and values? Louise Roe: When I design, I always think in conceptual terms – I see my products as a whole. I consider my creations within the context of the brand's collections. Materials are very important to me: they should be honest, organic and of high quality. I think products should bear a personal touch and contain an intrinsic "why?". I am inspired by graphic, architectural and artistic work, and I always strive to do my best when I create a product. This is the backbone of my work process, because even before I start thinking about costs, what interests me is the creation of appealing objects. I would say that the colours and tactile expression are Scandinavian, while the shapes bear obvious international influences.
ARS: The Louise Roe brand includes a diverse range of objects. What connects them? LR: The tactile nature of each product unites them. Although in some cases they might contrast with each other, they do complement each other. The smooth and shiny with the matt and rustic, as well as black and white, for example.
ARS: And how do each of these objects emerge? LR: They are the fruit of inspiration. The ‘balloon vases’, for example, were designed while I was watching The Great Gatsby. ‘Pirout’ originated when I wanted to create an asymmetry and it was developed by modelling it in foam. ‘Silhouette’ was created by hand, the result of the dynamics between shape and movement.
Six months ago I started using foam clay to shape and create my products. It is a material that offers a unique and fast perspective of the product in the physical world.
I think that much of my inspiration springs from details, which can be from a building, a magazine, a piece of furniture or an object. That small detail can be integrated into a process and eventually materialise in a product. But the product comes before the story. When the product is created, the story emerges. The magic arises when we see the object because it is at that moment that we can tell if it has something.
ARS: The Louise Roe brand includes a diverse range of objects. What connects them? LR: The tactile nature of each product unites them. Although in some cases they might contrast with each other, they do complement each other. The smooth and shiny with the matt and rustic, as well as black and white, for example.
ARS: And how do each of these objects emerge? LR: They are the fruit of inspiration. The ‘balloon vases’, for example, were designed while I was watching The Great Gatsby. ‘Pirout’ originated when I wanted to create an asymmetry and it was developed by modelling it in foam. ‘Silhouette’ was created by hand, the result of the dynamics between shape and movement.
Six months ago I started using foam clay to shape and create my products. It is a material that offers a unique and fast perspective of the product in the physical world.
I think that much of my inspiration springs from details, which can be from a building, a magazine, a piece of furniture or an object. That small detail can be integrated into a process and eventually materialise in a product. But the product comes before the story. When the product is created, the story emerges. The magic arises when we see the object because it is at that moment that we can tell if it has something.
ARS: There is also a "Capsule Collection". What makes it distinctive? LR: When we present a "Capsule Collection", we are not taking its marketability into consideration, we only focus on the design and spend a lot of resources, time and money on this. For us, in this type of collection it is crucial not to simply limit ourselves to commercial objectives. We allow total freedom in the act of creating something that is beautiful and unique. And this is something that only a few people can do, because the craftsmanship that goes into these creations requires a lot of effort.
For more information, visit atelier LOUISE ROE website.
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