Born in Denmark, Judith Byberg moved to Italy at the age of 13 where she attended the high art school first and then graduated from Milan’s Politecnico, becoming an architect. From 1989 to 1994 she worked at Carlotta de Bevilacqua’s studio by focusing on interior design, graphics and exhibit set ups. Later on she designed several kitchenware products for Piazza and Virutex Ilko. She left Rome in 1995 to move on the shore of Lake Maggiore where she started a new phase of her work by focusing on natural materials, like felt, and the actual hand-making.

From Denmark to Italy: a journey through design.
«I was unaware of such journey at first, as I was just 13 when I left Denmark toward Italy. Only after graduating I realized I had a double identity within my professional DNA, both Italian and Scandinavian».

What do you mean?
«My education was 100% Italian and this affected the first phase of my work, yet more recently I discovered (or re-discovered) my inner Scandinavian taste which enhances essential forms and projects, tending not to add elements but to take something off».

Describe your architecture philosophy.
«I deal with different fields by keeping the very same aim and language. Forms are smooth and organic, colors are vivid, matter shows. My projects start in my head to get born in my hands, in fact most of my works are self-produced, following the typical Scandinavian tradition. Each design item, lamp, piece of cutlery is a little invention of mine, matter beyond form. To me a project must depict an idea, tell a story».

You and your creations seem quite tied.
«Yes we are. When starting a project, my first step always involves talking to the actual people who will be physically working on that, as well as the client. I need to understand how to fulfill the client’s taste and needs and how to create the perfect feel. I put clients in the spotlight because that is the source of any item or set up. I don’t want to please the mass but the specific person that comes to me, just like I work on matter instead of form ».

How did you start using felt?
«I ran into this material almost by accident and now it belongs to my deepest and most stimulating work. Felt is an ancient, wild, natural material as it is originated from raw wool and still has actual grass fibres in it. This allows me to work in a eco-friendly way as well as directly handling what I work on to best express my manual skill. With my hands I turn felt into items, walls, unique pieces».

Which product best represents you?
« The Uovo (Egg) lamp, which has a well known natural shape but my own signature in terms of material and purpose. I like lamps because they express the so called hyggelig which is the Danish term for the homey place where the family gathers. Moreover, Uovo is biodegradable, the opposite of waste, as it can become fertilizer just like any organic garbage, without polluting or wasting space ».

What about your future projects?
«I’ve been working on the so called “instable seat” since 2007. The idea is to create something the merges the natural instability of human beings, as they were born to move, and the supporting-function of a chair. I’d like to create something that both supports and follows through ».

How can you do that?
«I’m working with physiotherapists and IT professionals to create an ergonomic seat that can be customized through a software based on the needs of the single user ».

A quite tricky project…
«The first prototype is finally on its way, I will present it on the occasion of the next Fair in Bologna».

Photo Courtesy: Benedetta Mossini, Judith Byberg, Rasmus Byberg

Info: judithbyberg.com