Georg Mengel in a candid chat with Design Connect on his design inspirations and the products he exhibited at Salone Satellite 2022.
When it comes to good product design, what is your take?
To me, good product design is simple and has a purpose or fulfils a function. Furthermore, good product design has a language that is easy to understand. It is akin to a clear program with proportions that are in balance with one another. The design vision of my brand Mengel is minimal and elegant, focused around human interaction.
Since I was a part of the construction and mining industry, concrete was readily available. As a construction material, concrete has a different role to play, and somehow our perception of what concrete is and how it can be used seems limited by its application as a construction material. As a product designer, I think concrete has a much wider and more versatile application, which in turn led to the inception of my first collection of concrete furniture. The playful and provoking pieces designed using thin and precise cast concrete make us doubt if it is concrete at all. The surface is silky smooth, contrasting with the rough and unpolished bottom of the table.
What led you to be a designer in the first place?
I had an interest in design from a young age; however, sticking to the conventional track, I became an engineer, while still designing furniture in my spare time. Eventually, the drive was unstoppable, and I implemented all my knowledge about materials and technology to support my design ideas and went on to become a full-time designer.
Throughout my professional career, I have gained substantial knowledge about concrete as a versatile material resembling nature’s rock. I believe concrete is an underutilized material beyond the realm of infrastructure, and it represents a longed-for balance in the landscape of interiors, compounding the contrasts of the modern home.
As a Danish designer, what is your take on the global design sense?
I have great respect for styles and programs even if they are not my taste. Simplicity inspires me, and I consistently observe how it is articulated in other design traditions. More so, since it can serve as a powerful inspiration to me.
What was your experience at Salone Satellite like?
Salone Satellite was an absolute pleasure — an intensive marathon of interesting, inspiring, and intriguing conversations with brands, the press, designers, and architects alike. It was a great opportunity to get feedback on the products and talk about opportunities as well as the design vision and aspirations. Many stopped in astonishment at the simple design of my products and had to touch and question if my creations were, in fact, made of concrete. This reaction, which I got to witness, was priceless.
Can you tell us about the products you exhibited?
I exhibited two core products from my collection and one design model. The core products of my Mengel collection are tables of concrete, and I exhibited two tables in different sizes and functions. True for both of them is the modest way in which they seek attention. I think this is what intrigued many to stop by the stand and look at the tables. In addition, I exhibited a design model of a side table in oak and concrete — a clever interplay of two materials without any visible joints.
Going forward, will you offer custom-designed products too? Are you planning to design new products as well?
Over the next twelve months, I will introduce a minimum of three new products in addition to our current collection.
Photo Credits: Paw Poulsen and Frederik Lykkeberg
Connect Online: Instagram @m3ng3l
