In this interview, we have the pleasure of talking to Birkan Gökten and Jonas Becker, founders of JBNG, a studio for product and industrial design based in Cologne. They discuss their design practice and inspirations, the challenges they face as a young studio, and the objects they exhibited at Salone Satellite Milano 2022. They share their wishes regarding the production of these objects and their current project, which involves the development of a new furniture collection.
→ Hi Birkan, Jonas, can you introduce yourself ? What has been your background?
Hi Camille! We are JBNG a studio for product and industrial design from Cologne, with a focus on object and space. We work in the fields of furniture, lighting, accessories and interior as well as on items of everyday use.
After training in graphic design and carpentry, as well as insights into the study of architecture, we got to know each other at university during our product design studies.
Thus, each of our works represents a holistic design process, combining diverse experiences and influences from product design, architecture, craft and graphic design.
→ How would you define your design practice?
There are a lot of things that come together, starting with our already mentioned roots in graphic and product design, architecture and craft. Also it can be very different moments or seemingly banal observations that influence us. Small technical details that develop into something bigger, a rough graphic image that becomes more and more detailed in the process.
We usually approach a topic from several sides, there is no one way we go. When working at the intersection between human and object we like to question the existing context and handling. We also like to quickly transfer our design approaches to the three-dimensional in order to check and develop them. Generally we want our work to be authentic and straight with a functional and sculptural appearance.
→ Why did you choose to start your own studio?
When we met during our studies, we realized that we had a similar understanding of design and so started to work together. Meanwhile we also participated in competitions and received positive feedback from outside. For us, it is important to look at and discuss every design from several points of view. We love to bring ideas to life and we love to see how people interact with our designs. Thus back in 2019 we decided to found our studio in Cologne.
→ Since then, what challenges are you facing?
As a young studio, we are working hard to gain a foothold in the design and furniture industry. We spend a lot of time developing new design concepts and spreading our work.
It’s probably never easy to grow and establish in this industry and it’s even been particularly difficult in recent years because of missing events and thus the missing exchange and productive discussions that drive our projects.
You certainly have to prove your competence first and that is what we’re doing right now. So we’re taking it step by step.
→ Is there an event, exhibition, award or a design that has revealed your work?
During our studies we received the if design talent award for the light object ‚Toca’ what was somehow kind of a starting point for our collaboration. Later our joint final thesis was also supported by a scholarship from Ikea. In general it’s always a pleasure to get feedback from outside. So we’re always super happy to present our work to a wider public. Among other places we exhibited at this years Salone Satellite, what was a special moment for us as we had been waiting for it for a long time.
→ You recently took part in the Salone Satellite Milano 2022. Why is it so important to participate in this type of event? What benefits did you get from it?
It’s always important to meet people in real life. For us as an emerging studio, it’s a chance to present our prototypes to the industry experts and professionals. Seeing objects in real life is much better than online, it’s a proof that the concept works and is feasible. We also strive for objects that people interact with in a functional and emotional way. So it’s super interesting for us to see how people react to and approach the objects we design.
→ What objects did you exhibit there?
In order to show a wide range of objects with different complexity and background, we have worked on several various projects ranging from one-piece accessories, seating and lighting to more complex and multipart systems.
In the field of accessories we showed ‚Apart‘, a mirror object, that animates the observer to interact and experiment with unexpected and surprising new visual points of view. Based on a minimal and targeted use of resources, Apart is made from only one piece of polished stainless steel sheet. In addition to that ‚Profil‘ is a candleholder with the constructive aesthetics of extruded materials. Dynamic, soft and static, straight materials and shapes meet in the cut-out silhouette merging in a contrasting yet unifying way.
In the field of lighting we presented ‚Dyna‘, a sculptural lamp collection of floor and table lamps. Basic geometric shapes that meet in an offset manner form a pure graphic appearance, whereas technical details unfold at the points of intersection.
Further there was 'Karo', a stackable wooden chair made of solid ash and plywood, who's linear outer silhouette is complemented by the inner ergonomic surfaces. Here we have a rhomb shape that supports the backrest and guides the straight geometry of the chair as a basic graphic theme.
The fifth project we presented was ‚Parat‘, a table system focusing on essential needs and ease of use. Its design allows the user to set it up according to their personal needs.
→ Are they edited or open for editing? What are your wishes regarding these objects?
We are currently in discussions about this, but right now all products are open for editing. So we are currently looking for manufacturers and brands who are interested in collaborating on these projects. We would be super happy to find the right cooperation partners to bring these objects to the market and make them accessible.
→ Finally, what is the project that occupies you the most at the moment?
Actually we are developing several projects in the fields of furniture, lighting and interior design. We are also already working inhouse on a new collection of prototypes to be presented during Salone Satellite in Milan in 2023.
→ And your latest design favorites ?
For sure there are many designs and designers with well-known names that we like. Further we are also fans of younger and emerging designers like Pablo Octavio with his blob shelf or Marta Pracht and Beatrice Cadar with their cutlery M/B Nomad.
In this interview, we have the pleasure of talking to Birkan Gökten and Jonas Becker, founders of JBNG, a studio for product and industrial design based in Cologne. They discuss their design practice and inspirations, the challenges they face as a young studio, and the objects they exhibited at Salone Satellite Milano 2022. They share their wishes regarding the production of these objects and their current project, which involves the development of a new furniture collection.
→ Hi Birkan, Jonas, can you introduce yourself ? What has been your background?
Hi Camille! We are JBNG a studio for product and industrial design from Cologne, with a focus on object and space. We work in the fields of furniture, lighting, accessories and interior as well as on items of everyday use.
After training in graphic design and carpentry, as well as insights into the study of architecture, we got to know each other at university during our product design studies.
Thus, each of our works represents a holistic design process, combining diverse experiences and influences from product design, architecture, craft and graphic design.
→ How would you define your design practice?
There are a lot of things that come together, starting with our already mentioned roots in graphic and product design, architecture and craft. Also it can be very different moments or seemingly banal observations that influence us. Small technical details that develop into something bigger, a rough graphic image that becomes more and more detailed in the process.
We usually approach a topic from several sides, there is no one way we go. When working at the intersection between human and object we like to question the existing context and handling. We also like to quickly transfer our design approaches to the three-dimensional in order to check and develop them. Generally we want our work to be authentic and straight with a functional and sculptural appearance.
→ Why did you choose to start your own studio?
When we met during our studies, we realized that we had a similar understanding of design and so started to work together. Meanwhile we also participated in competitions and received positive feedback from outside. For us, it is important to look at and discuss every design from several points of view. We love to bring ideas to life and we love to see how people interact with our designs. Thus back in 2019 we decided to found our studio in Cologne.
→ Since then, what challenges are you facing?
As a young studio, we are working hard to gain a foothold in the design and furniture industry. We spend a lot of time developing new design concepts and spreading our work.
It’s probably never easy to grow and establish in this industry and it’s even been particularly difficult in recent years because of missing events and thus the missing exchange and productive discussions that drive our projects.
You certainly have to prove your competence first and that is what we’re doing right now. So we’re taking it step by step.
→ Is there an event, exhibition, award or a design that has revealed your work?
During our studies we received the if design talent award for the light object ‚Toca’ what was somehow kind of a starting point for our collaboration. Later our joint final thesis was also supported by a scholarship from Ikea. In general it’s always a pleasure to get feedback from outside. So we’re always super happy to present our work to a wider public. Among other places we exhibited at this years Salone Satellite, what was a special moment for us as we had been waiting for it for a long time.
→ You recently took part in the Salone Satellite Milano 2022. Why is it so important to participate in this type of event? What benefits did you get from it?
It’s always important to meet people in real life. For us as an emerging studio, it’s a chance to present our prototypes to the industry experts and professionals. Seeing objects in real life is much better than online, it’s a proof that the concept works and is feasible. We also strive for objects that people interact with in a functional and emotional way. So it’s super interesting for us to see how people react to and approach the objects we design.