Hee Welling

Born in 1974, Hee Welling studied fine art at the University of Art and Design in Helsinki but chose to specialise in furniture design for his master’s degree at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, eventually graduating from the Danish Design School in Copenhagen in 2003. Immediately after completing his studies, Hee Welling opened his own studio.

His design style is firmly rooted in the Scandinavian tradition. Environmentally conscious simplicity is a hallmark of Hee Welling’s work: with form and functionality being the two key criteria in his work, his designs are characterised by simplicity and refinement, as well as ease of use.

Hee Welling’s first major breakthrough was the Hee Collection, a collaboration with the Danish firm HAY on a collection of chairs made entirely of metal. Designing the Hee Collection reawakened his passion for metal, and he began to take an interest in the environmental aspects of furniture recycling. The fewer different materials used, the easier it would be to dismantle the object and thus recycle it.

Hee Welling has since completed further projects with HAY, including another major chair collection, the About a Chair Collection (AAC). The Danish company was looking to design a simple chair, and Welling seized on the idea. There are now more than 80 variations on the original chair, including the About a Stool Collection (AAS). These stools and chairs feature a classic, timeless design, ensuring they will suit any room.

The understated nature of his talent is evident in his Rely chair collection with &tradition. Made from 100 per cent recycled plastic, Hee Welling remains true to his words and his ethics.