Sebastian Herkner

Sebastian Herkner’s work is characterised by a blend of traditional craftsmanship and new technologies. Born in 1981 in Bad Mergentheim, Germany, Sebastian Herkner has since become an international design icon. It was whilst studying Product Design at the HfG in Offenbach am Main (University of Arts and Design) that Herkner began devoting himself to designing pieces that blend different techniques, traditional craftsmanship and new technologies. From the very start of his career, he has sought to highlight the beauty of materials by focusing on small details and contrasting different cultural contexts.

‘There is a sensibility and an identity in my work that emphasises function, material and detail. I draw upon and interpret characteristics from diverse social and cultural contexts and incorporate them into new artefacts. This approach infuses even the most everyday objects with respect and character. In this way, things that appear to be opposites can be appreciated.”

Following an internship at Stella McCartney in London, he learnt to develop his sensitivity to materials, colours, structures and textures. Whether in his furniture designs or interior architecture, Sebastian Herkner demonstrates his boundless curiosity about different cultures, with balance and intuition.

Throughout his career, the designer has collaborated with numerous furniture brands. One such project is his Circo outdoor furniture collection, created in partnership with the Colombian and German brand Ames. Each piece is produced in limited quantities to maintain high quality standards and to preserve the traditional craftsmanship that is so important to Herkner. Ethnic textures and colours feature in another collection of chairs, Cielo, created for the same brand. The hand-woven strands give each piece a unique character, whether used indoors or outdoors.