Utility & Beauty

4 Jun 2011,
“One world has different needs. We must first understand the context, purpose, what you want to achieve, who you are and then only make the decisions.” — Daniel Korb

Daniel Korb believes that simple is better than complex. Like many leading designers of modern office furniture, Korb started as an architect. Since then, his design expertise has broadened and his inspiration refined.
Today, his creativity finds expression in architecture, communication, and design. Baden, Switzerland, is the vantage point for Korb’s perspective. It’s where he was born and the place where he and his wife Susan operate KORB + KORB, which they founded in 1989.
KORB + KORB brought their expertise in designing the SENSE desktop cabinet, award-winning office furniture to their concept for a home office desk. “We wanted to design a desk that is future-proof. It starts simple, but by adding the optional desktop storage or media cabinet, it can grow to be more adaptable to your space and work style. And with easy, tool-free assembly, there are no parts to lose as you move from place to place and through different stages of life,” Korb says.


How long have you been designing for?
I have been designing for 30 years. I had no idea about design when I started, because 30 years ago, design was not popular but architecture was. This is why I started as an architect. I had no idea about design but by chance I met somebody who worked in a design office, and he said to me, are you interested in what we do? So I went there I found it very interesting, so I asked myself if I wanted to be an industrial designer or an architect. And so I decided I’ll become an interior architect.

Design not being popular 30 years ago, how was it like for you then when you first entered the industry?
Well I worked as an architect and parallel I also worked on my own projects. The way I work, I choose my own topics and decide on my own what it is that I want to do. And so I’ll draft something out and approach people to see if they are interested. Sometimes people come to me and ask me to draft something for them. But in the beginning it was an active thing, and it still has to be an active thing now.

Where do you see design heading in another 10 years?
Quite simple, design will become essential. Design is the next big thing, even if you like it or not. You see, you are now on a global scale, and even your minister YB Senator Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon mentioned in his speech that in order to move up the scale, there needs to be a boost in design.

Mr Daniel Korb
Prominent architect and furniture designer
from Switzerland

Office/Studio
Korb + Korb 
Baden, Switzerland
Awards/Recognition
Australian International Design Award, 2009 
Red Dot Design Award, 2008 
International Contemporary Furniture Fair (ICFF) Editors’ Award for Body of Work, 2008