A portray of a furniture designer
He has drawn everything from shelves, drinks cupboards to beds for almost 30 years.
A successful furniture designer.
His name : Helge Schultz
He does not think muck of computers
In the autumn of 1965 Helge Schultz realized his dream when he was apprenticed to a furniture designer, who was considered as one of the best in Denmark, However it was not all members of his family, who were enthusiastic about it. His father, who was a master cabinetmaker hoped, that he would carry on the family business. But young Helge Schultz much rather wanted to draw-and it also happened the way with an impressive success.
The beginning is always difficult
At the drawing office he worked hard and he learned all the tricks in the business. The pay was not that good-a little pocket money. But the experience was worth more than money. He was admitted to the school of arts and crafts in Copenhagen in 1969 and graduated after three years. At the school almost all of the teachers warned against to go in the furniture business. They said, that the business was highly connected with great risks and disappointments. But Helge Schultz and a couple of others from his year group did not follow that piece of advice. They wanted to try their strength on the requiring and difficult world of furniture.
Schultz moved back to Odense. He soon got a job at a design office, where he had to work one day a week. This gave him a great deal of time to work on personal projects. But after a short period of time he was so busy at the design office that the personal projects had to wait.
After having worked six years for the same firm he was hired by an upholstered furniture factory. He finally got the opportunity to realize his own ideas on the side. In 1984 be became an independent furniture designer.
A frequent and popular guest in “Wohninspiration”
This catalogue can draw on the result of many years’ work and his experiences. The fact that there are represented more pieces of furniture designed by Schultz in “Wohninspiration” in comparison with any other designer, simply indicates his talent and his importance. At first it might look like as if, he is very productive. Schultz is of the opposite opinion. He says, that his strength is the great amount of time he invests in one piece of furniture compared with most other designers. For example, he does not think much of computers when he works. Pen and paper on the other hand are fascinating. One has a concrete touch with the finished piece of furniture when it is drawn, he thinks. For Helge Schultz the process of making a piece of furniture is long and intensive. It takes between 4-500 hours to finish one chair. Most often it takes 9-12 months from the actual idea of a design until the end product can be bought in the shops. One the way a lot of changes and adjustments are made. If one ignores the consumers’ wishes and demands, one will not get old in this business, Schultz says. One simply cannot just do what oneself likes. Furniture is first of all an article for everyday use and therefore it has to be comfortable in every way.
From sketch to sofa
The process typically starts with an idea. Schultz draws a sketch and presents the design. Then a complete drawing is made with information about every single detail. On the basis of that a prototype is made, that is a finished piece of furniture in real size. The changes are done, and afterwards a so-called “fair model” is produced – the pieces of furniture, which are showed on the fair for the first time. This is the moment of truth. If the buyers do not like the piece of furniture, it will not be manufactured. But if they do like it, the first step towards a success is made. The furniture buyers often have suggestions for changes, which are made after the fair. Now the only thing to do is to start the production and keep one’s fingers crossed for a positive response from the consumers. If a fair is good everything is excellent, says Schultz. On the way one has slaved and worked very hard – and made an effort in every single way, but without a sales success everything has been vain.
Perseverance
Helge Schultz is first of all known for his perseverance. His care and precision for every detail and his will for making durable furniture of fine woods. Pieces of furniture, which not only look beautiful but also quickly, become a natural part of a families’ everyday. Schultz has for many years designed sofas, armchairs, secretaries, chest of drawers, wardrobes, drinks cupboards, tables, and sofa, chairs, beds and display cabinets. He has almost tried everything, but one never is dome, he thinks. New ideas and new ways of making the ambience more existing are always on the way. |
