Creative couples often form a small powerhouse, and this is certainly true of Miriam Aust and Sebastian Amelung: The two met at Kunsthochschule Kassel and on graduation founded their own studio in 2011. With “Like Paper”, a luminaire made of concrete that nevertheless looks like folded paper, they take typical material properties to the point of absurdity – and bring a smile to our faces. Their latest trick, living room furniture in a DIY look that they presented at the Salone Satellite 2014 in Milan, demonstrates their feel for things devious and delightful: The angle of the large wooden standing lamp can be adjusted by a counterweight – in homage to traditional approaches, so the power duo from Kassel quip.
Aust & Amelung
Photo © Minu Lee, Merlin Laumert
Whowhatwherewhenhow?
01
Where would you like to live?
Miriam Aust: Our work does not bind us to a specific place. I can imagine any number of things, including remaining in Kassel.
02
Your favorite character in the history of design?
Sebastian Amelung: I don’t really have a favorite designer. There are any number of works and designers who fascinate and inspire me in many ways.
Miriam Aust: For example, Alvar Aalto’s tea trolley. It’s a product that was designed not only in line with functional aspects as it also has a narrative, semantic level. It’s great if every detail of a product is justified in terms of its function, and yet there’s scope for a playful approach to shapes and proportions.
03
Which qualities do you admire in a designer?
Miriam Aust: I love the liberty designers have to constantly immerse themselves in new topics. Essentially, the discipline is very unspecific. Each topic we work on teaches us a lot. For me, designing also means researching, exploring, trying things out.
Sebastian Amelung: And that means that you sometimes become an expert in areas you would not have expected at all.
04
What do you enjoy doing most?
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05
Your main personality trait?
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06
Your biggest mistake?
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07
Your idea of happiness?
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08
What do you find really annoying?
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09
Your favorite material?
Sebastian Amelung: Our favorite material keeps on changing, as we choose a suitable material depending on the application. It gets exciting if the material is chosen not just with a view to its technical properties, but also the associations that go with it.
10
Your favorite flower?
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11
What kind of music do you listen to when you work?
Miriam Aust: At the moment we’re listening to the music made by our fellow studio user, which is almost always the case. It’s a mix with music by Horace Silver.
12
Which design achievement do you most detest?
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13
Which talent would you like to have?
Miriam Aust: Getting to the point, easily and leisurely.
14
Can you describe your present state of mind?
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15
Your motto?
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