Featured Designer: Kelly Simpson

Today I am featuring the work of Dansk designer Kelly Simpson. I am very lucky because I get to work with this very talented woman on a daily basis. Kelly was kind enough to sit down with me for a quick interview. Please also check out her bio, and amazing designs for Dansk.

DH: Can you explain to me your design process?

KS: I LOVE to look online and in magazines to get me excited and get the concepts flowing.  I still sketch with paper  and pencil but also use the computer too.  Many visions that flash through my head of what a design could be and hope to capture some of these on paper! 

DH: What do you use for Inspiration?

KS: Anything and everything....patterns, colors, nature, shapes, textures, photos.....

DH: When you are not designing for Dansk what other creative outlets do you have?

KS: I love to do counted cross stitch, my own Christmas and/or greeting cards, and occasional painting for Christmas and Birthday gifts....oh but if I had more space – my own STUDIO space.

DH: If you could be anything, what kind of designer/artist would you be? 

KS: A ceramicist/craftsman in my own studio on the beach  :O)  this WILL happen one day.....

DH: What would you consider your design aesthetic to be? 

KS: Modern and fun. I also love traditional designs with a twist!

DH:Who inspires you? 

KS: Viktor Schreckengost, Eva Zeisel, and YOU!

DH: You are so nice, thank you. It has been a pleasure speaking with you about all of this fun stuff. Your designs are not only amazing but inspiring.

Café Blanc Urban Picnic for Dansk– great for “any meal, anywhere!”, Innovative portable placesetting includes a sectioned plate that accommodates your entrée, drinking glass, porcelain bowl, utensils, bud vase, and individual salt and pepper.  The bamboo tray allows the user to easily transport their entire meal to wherever one may eat!

Urban Picnic Drinks, etc. for Dansk - another innovative way to transport and serve wine for “wine & cheese parties”, linear elements of the bamboo tray crisscross to help glasses stay in place on the tray.  The “semi-stemless” glass size is quite suitable for a good glass of wine.  The combination of glass and light and dark colors of bamboo gives this item a sophisticated look.

Urban Picnic Cheese, etc. for Dansk - great complement to Drinks, etc.  An oval shaped porcelain divided plate has a nice space for crackers and/or grapes.  The removable bamboo board is perfect for slicing and serving cheese.  The tea light globe adds just the right amount of ambiance to the hors d’oves.

Karin Organix and Karin Graphix for Dansk

Ditto for Dansk

Kelly Simpson

Born in North Carolina, and raised among the bluegrass fields of Kentucky, Kelly Simpson had an early affinity for the arts.  Her passion for design emerged after taking art classes at Savannah College of Art and Design's Rising Star Program.
At first aspiring to enter the field of automotive design, Kelly enrolled in the Cleveland Institute of Art.  There, her passion for ceramics led her to engage in an independent study program that combined design and ceramic arts.   Later, a student internship at interDesign in Cleveland gave Kelly the opportunity to try her hand at furniture design as well.  Her design for a small side table proved to be a market success for interDesign; and another testament to Kelly’s design versatility.
In the spring of 2005, just prior to her graduation from C.I.A., Kelly attended the International Home & Housewares Show in Chicago, where she introduced herself to Dansk.  Four months later she joined Dansk as a Product Designer, and quickly proved herself with several dynamic new product launches – the sophisticated earthenware patterns of Coconut Grove, Seacrest, and Crème Brulee; the colorful Ditto glassware and Rio stems; and most recently, the innovative Urban Picnic et al and Karin Organix and Grafix glassware. 
Kelly currently lives in Langhorne, PA.  Her designs for Dansk have been consistently featured in HFN Magazine’s coverage of the industry’s most notable new product launches.

Thanks again Kelly!!!

(images ©Dansk)

Comments

[Elaine]

Thanks for this. Very inspiring.