A Conversation with...Rebecca Hein of Hein Studio

What were you doing before opening Hein Studio? Tell us about your journey as an artist and designer.

I’m an educated fashion designer and worked in fashion for several years with high end brands before we had the kids. I had 3 children in 3.5 years and stayed at home with them for 5 years. In that period, I developed at deep understanding of how important your home is, the functionality and flow of it, and the importance of being surrounded with inspiring pieces. One day, it was as if I was struck by lightning—I felt a need to create an interior design company where I could create unique designs and share them with the world. Luckily, I have an amazing husband who was on board with the idea. It’s now a few years later and he is CEO of our company while I run the creative part.

What does Scandinavian design mean to you?

Timeless designs in high quality.

Where do you find inspiration for your designs?

I have always been very inspired by mother nature; I find many of our organic curves, shapes and textures from stones, rocks and the ocean. From an aesthetic point of view, I am very inspired by Japan and mid-century architects and I always somehow try to create designs that would fit into these spaces.     

What is your process to produce your products?

It’s really a combination of several things—sometimes it’s something I see on a walk in nature with a combination of something I see in the city. I can be anything really; my mind is never asleep, it is constantly searching for the perfect new thing I can add to our collection. I mostly draw my designs at night at home in front of the fireplace when the kids are asleep—it’s when I feel the most creative and calm. Then I take all my sketches back to the office and let them hang around for a few days before I decide if we should add something. Sometimes I feel so strongly about a design that I just begin to process the designs files right away, and other times I have to think about it for a few months to get the correct design. I really get the design down to the millimetres before I think it is perfect.       

How sustainable are your production processes?

This is a very important issue for us. Some of the things we make—such as glass—take up a lot of heat to produce. Some of the raw material used in our production comes from broken glass and our factory is located in Poland, so they have to follow all of the European guidelines. Whenever possible, we always choose the sustainable option. We work by a simple rule: to justify adding another product to the world, it has to be timeless, good quality and extraordinary. We believe that extending the life of the things we surround ourselves with is one of the most important contributions we can make to reduce our environmental footprint and elevating the value of everyday objects can help conserve resources and prevent materials from becoming waste. All our designs are created to last for generations to come.

What makes your line unique?

By stimulating your senses aesthetically with extraordinary designs that are both functional and timeless, we can contribute to your well-being. We approach design in a new way—where functional design becomes extraordinary to make your every day extraordinary. For us, a vase is not just a vase. It’s the object you place at the table where you meet and eat with your loved ones, it’s the object you place the flowers your kids picked themselves on the way home from school, it’s the object you use when someone wishes you well with flowers. We want to elevate these objects and give them the time and love they deserve.      

Can you remember the first time that design really made an impact on you?

I think I must have been 12 or 13, in the 90s. I remember everyone having these trumpet pants (we called them this in Denmark) but my parents couldn’t afford to buy them for me, and I was also very small and skinny. So, I had to learn to sew and made them myself. All the girls at school though they were amazing—I even made some of them a pair! I realized that I could create something that would make both me and someone else happy and it was huge deal for me. Of course, I didn’t know back them that you could make a living off of it, but it was a starting point.         

What’s the most treasured item in your home?

A tin and wood vase made by the florist Tage Andersen. It’s not really made for water, so for me it’s an art object. His take on vases inspires me. 

What do you still dream about achieving with your designs?

We are still a young brand, but my dream for my designs are that they will last for generations. 

What’s the most important design lesson you’ve learnt?

Always listen to your inner voice when designing; you’ve got this, you know what you like. 

As a product designer, you use a lot of stone, metal and glass – what is it about each material that inspires and challenges you?

Since I worked in fashion and with textiles for so many years, it was a whole new game for me to move to new materials. In the beginning—as well as now, a little—I was unaware of all of the ways I could use to create with these materials. But I love to push the limits of what is possible to create to make something that is unique. Finding new ways of producing a piece can really be a struggle. With stone, I love that not one is the same. Even if the shape is the same, each piece is unique. I experiment a lot with glass; I love how the glass catches light, especially if you play with the texture and shape. For me, steel and brass are very classic materials—I think everyone has a candle holder they have inherited. And I like to create these memories and pieces that potentially and hopefully can be passed on to future generations.   

Echoes of nature appear again and again in your designs. What forms are you currently the most passionate about?

Currently, I’m really fascinated with floating icebergs, dessert rocks and reflections.

Where do you find personal peace and balance?

It’s not easy to find peace with 3 kids but, when I’m hugging my kids, I feel calm and the world makes sense. I really do this all for them—I want to create beautiful surroundings for them to grow up in. I also have a yoga room in the garden and I plan to use it more this year and take time for myself.  

How has Copenhagen nurtured your creative spirit?

There is always so much happening in Copenhagen with fashion, music, art fairs and museums. I think that living in a capital city keeps you on the search for the new “it” thing. I’m constantly in the search of something new, something different, and I need to be close to something that also moves to keep my interest going.  

Travel is opening up! What are some new must-see venues, stores, restaurants etc. in Copenhagen that you recommend?

My husband and I do many brunch dates in the morning. Last week, we went to “Cadence” and was really great. For art, go visit etage projects, studio X and the Louisiana Museum—it’s a must. For lunch, I’m into RAW, Apollo Bar and Atelier September. I’m addicted to The Coffee Collective; they have the best coffee in town. And the best bakery is Juno The Bakery.