Aufgabe Null

COLLECTIBLE: What do you think collectible design brings compared to other more massively produced pieces?

Hilaria von Saldern: The intentions of designers creating unique or limited objects are quite diverse. Some research material qualities, while others reflect on society. What they have in common is that they free themselves of economic restrictions that are necessary for successful mass production. The fascination is that this liberation from the market demands allows for truly novel results and intimate dialogue between the designer’s ideas expressed in the piece and the recipient.

C: How do you position your city in the global design market, what makes your city unique, trends?

HvS: Berlin is a fertile ground for creatives in terms of infrastructure and accessibility. It has all the amenities of a capital city while still being comparatively inexpensive. Many visionaries have acknowledged this over the past years, and the city now accommodates a high density of interesting people to meet and collaborate with. The present diversity of talent and professions is refreshing as it makes you feel humble about your own work and simultaneously stimulates you to go beyond

C: Can you talk about a book you recently read that inspires you?

Nikita von Saldern: The poetic language used by Friedrich Nietzsche in 'Also Sprach Zarathustra' to illustrate his ideas about the grandeur and disgrace of humanity was a breathtaking experience. Every page contains striking imagery or observations that ask  to be defined as the intellectual origin of a critical object.

C: Can you talk about a place you recently visited that inspires you?

NvS: Visiting untamed Naples last fall was a wonderful reminder that real beauty lies in authenticity. It’s been a pleasure to learn its inhabitants are proud of their heritage and culture, embracing the city’s edginess as  an important factor contributing to their identity.