Vienna, as the hometown where my passion for design started, has influenced me since the very beginning. There, I have learned the basics of tailoring and the trade. My studies taught me to work conceptually and precisely. But above all, Vienna influenced me to work in a minimalist and very clear way. On the other hand, London influenced me with its openness, different cultures and rapid developments. I was encouraged to work in a more experimental and exceptional way, with different materials. 

Austrian designers are down-to-earth. They work in a very conceptual and clear way, with an emphasis on craftsmanship, functionality, wearability and a bit of Austrian tradition.

It was a fantastic experience. I got to meet many interesting designers from different countries with different backgrounds, as well as talking to a lot of important people that were interested in my work.

Since last year, I have shown Portable Compulsion at a joinery’s showroom in Vienna for two months, as well as my new collection Framework at International Talent Support 2016 in Trieste, as part of the accessories award I have received last year. In September, Framework was showcased at the Robert Dodd Showroom during Paris Fashion Week. 

Yes, definitely. In the last couple of years I have developed a strong interest in the variety of human characteristics and their causes, and translated those into concepts. I find it really interesting to create collections that are related to my customers on a psychological level.

Yes, that would be really interesting. For the collection I researched storage possibilities and the habits of people in their houses, and figured out which places would be good for storing a handbag. That research was a permanent guide for the designs of this collection. But there are a lot of other places that products could be designed for and thus inspire the aesthetic of the bag. It would be exciting to work closely with the customer in order to create individual pieces for their own habits, and to document the direct outcome.

For the concept of this new collection, I went one step further from my previous collection. While with Portable Compulsion I was creating handbags that fit certain places at home, for my new collection, I designed already-integrated storage possibilities, so that the handbags can be stored anywhere, not just at their specified places at home. That was the starting point of the concept.

No, I always try to find a balance between furniture, product and fashion design, so that my products can be used in a multifunctional way. Most of the pieces of Framework can be separated from their wooden storage possibilities. In that way they can either be used as an accessory, a piece of furniture or both at the same time.

The thinking process to my previous collections didn’t change that much in the last couple of years. I always took inspiration for the concepts from humans and their behavioural patterns. But for the last accessories collections I have very strongly integrated the people themselves into my thinking and finding process, by observing, talking and documenting.

Occasionally I might go back to fashion for some individual pieces, but mainly I will stay in the field of accessories and product design, because of the feeling that I can explore and experiment more within these fields than within fashion, and because of my love for the materials.

Yes, for my purposes definitely. Wood is a fantastic building material that has been used for thousands of years. You can create anything out of wood because it is soft enough to work with but still hard. It is naturally beautiful, sustainable and we have enough of it in Austria. 

Thanks to the International Talent Support 2015, I had the chance to work with Samsung on a special project, creating a phone case and a bag for the Samsung Galaxy S6 phone, related to my collection Portable compulsion. Both pieces were exhibited during ITS2015 in Trieste, where I presented my work to the Samsung Team. It was a very special experience to work with such a big company.

I’d like the idea of collaborating for some individual, unique pieces or collections with some other brands, such as Building Blocks, Hay or Noon Studio. 

I guess it is his ability to combine simplicity and commerce with an experimental and innovative design that inspires me the most. His pieces are simple but never basic. I also like his approach to fashion, from art to architecture, film and theatre.

As already mentioned, I like to be inspired by other sources, not necessarily the fashion related ones, but rather by other people and friends, their habits, their ways of thinking or acting and their needs. Also architecture, woodwork, furniture and interior design have a big influence on me.

To have a bigger, shared studio in Vienna that can be used as a showroom, some stockists throughout Europe and an online shop.