Designer Frederik Kurzweg first made his mark during his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker and has received several design awards for his unique handmade journeyman’s piece. Motivated by this early success, Frederik chose to pursue a career within design – first at Magdeburg, where he studied industrial design followed by a Master’s degree in furniture design at The University of Fine Arts in Hamburg.After graduating, Frederik Kurzweg established his own design studio, Frederik Kurzweg Design Studio, where his designs balance fine craftsmanship and extensive knowledge on materials with contemporary aesthetics. Frederik gets his inspiration for his designs from everyday objects or constructions – a column of a bridge or a stack of pipes on a construction site. For Frederik, the design process often starts with studying the material and its characteristics.”I seek to consciously and sensibly transform materials into a useful and durable product. Each material has its own characteristics and advantages which you have to acknowledge. In addition to the proportions and colors, the craftsmanship plays a very important part.”