Poul Christiansen (b. 1947, Copenhagen) is a Danish architect who graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1973. He worked in architecture and design for Ib & Jørgen Rasmussen from 1977 to 1986, designing for Kevi and Herman Miller, before founding Komplot Design together with Boris Berlin in 1987. Christiansen is best known for his innovative folded lamp shades designed for the Danish manufacturer Le Klint.
Komplot Design
Komplot Design, established in 1987 as a partnership between Christiansen and Boris Berlin, works across industrial, furniture and graphic design. In March 2015 the studio was awarded the Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, recognising excellence in applied art and industrial design.
Notable Chairs and Awards
Christiansen and Komplot’s furniture has been recognised repeatedly over four decades. The NON chair (2001) won Årets designpris from Bo Bedre and an honourable mention from Utmärkt Svensk Form. The Gubi chair (2003–2004) collected a run of international honours, including the Red Dot Award, Best of NeoCon, and Dansk Designpris. The NOBODY chair received the Forum AID Award for Best Nordic Product Design in 2008, and the DRY chair won a Gold German Design Award in 2020.
Museum Collections
Christiansen’s and Komplot’s work is held in the collections of the Danish Museum of Art & Design in Copenhagen, the Röhsska Museum in Gothenburg, Trapholt in Kolding, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and the Designmuseo in Helsinki.
https://poulchristiansen.com
Latest design by Poul Christiansen
Boris Berlin Presents INFINITY Lamp & Previous work @ 3daysofdesign
Copenhagen-based designer Boris Berlin presents new and existing work across multiple venues during 3daysofdesign 2026, …
25 Years of NON: Komplot Design’s “Cleverest Use of Rubber Since the Eraser”
The NON chair by Komplot Design celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2025, marking a quarter-century …
GUBI Reinvents Komplot Design’s Iconic 3D Chair Collection
Ground-breaking collection gets a next-generation material upgrade by Komplot Design, Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen …
Galaxy by Poul Christiansen for Le Klint
GALAXY – the possibilities of folding Poul Christiansen’s lamps are more current than ever, and …
Exhibition: Folded Objects by Poul Christiansen @ A. Petersen
FOLDED OBJECTS is an exhibition that consists of unique architectural mini-works – hand-folded by Poul Christiansen, as part …
The ballet lamps are inspired by the ballet dancers’ skirt by Poul Christiansen
The ballet lamps are inspired by the ballet dancers’ skirt, which hangs in a beautiful …
My Hive by Poul Christiansen – abstracta
Nature is the source of inspiration for Poul Christiansen’s My Hive: an elegant and simplistic …
Poul Christiansen
Poul Christiansen CV 1947 Born in Copenhagen, Denmark 1973 Graduate of Royal Academy of fine …
ELYSION sculptures by Poul Christiansen for Le Klint
ELYSION is renowned as the Greek equivalent for paradise, a place where chosen individuals deserving …
Concrete Things Armchair by Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen | Nola
Concrete Things Armchair Design byBoris Berlin & Poul Christiansen, Komplot Design These moulded concrete seats …
Grid Armchair by Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen | Nola
Grid Armchair Design byBoris Berlin & Poul Christiansen, Komplot Design Grid’s weightless shape is constructed …
Nobody chair by Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen – Hay
Nobody is a chair produced in PET felt without any frame With its clear metaphor …
The bollard BOB by Komplot Design for Nola
Bollard ”BOB” The bollard has traditionally a special role in urban environment – as one …
Gubi Chair II design by Komplot Design
Gubi II, design by Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen, Komplot Design Moulded PET felt chair …
News from Källemo @ Stockholm Furniture Fair 2006
Easy chair ATLANTIC by Mats Theselius Mats Theselius does it again: An easy chair in …
News from Källemo @ Stockholm Furniture Fair 2005
Chair EPA by Sven Markelius Material: Steel frame in chrome, wood, leather. Dimensions: h. …
News from Källemo @ Salone Internazionale Del Mobile 2003
FILT, 2003 by Susse Fischer and Thomas Winkel Easy chair with feathersteel frame and felt …
Gubi Chair design by Komplot Design
GUBI CHAIR Design by KOMPLOT DESIGN, Boris Berlin & Poul Christiansen The GUBI CHAIR is …
Furniture of the Year 2002 – NON by Komplot Design
NON awarded again! The Swedish magazine Sköna Hem´s annual award “Furniture of the year”– 2002 goes …
News from Källemo @ Stockholm Furniture Fair 2001
Press Information Furniture Fair 2001 Stand C-hall II-41 In 1981, Källemo presented the concrete chair …
Puma Collection design by Komplot Design for Källemo
The chairs were initially developed for TENDO, Japan, where they have been produced since 1995 …
NON chair design by Komplot Design – Källemo
The NON chair was designed in 2000 by Komplot Design (Boris Berlin and Poul Christiansen) for Källemo. …
Poul Christiansen CV
1947 Born in Copenhagen, Denmark
1973 Graduate of Royal Academy of fine arts, School of Architecture, Copenhagen
1969 – Free lance designer (e.g. Lamp design for Le Klint A/S)
1977 – 1986 Employed by Ib and Jørgen Rasmussen (architecture and design, design for Kevi and Herman Miller).
1982 – 1987 Furniture design for Sorø Stolefabrik DK, Lübke and Brunner, Germany.
1986- 1987 Worked for Penta Design (Computerized working place for Danish Post and Telegraph).
KOMPLOT Design
1987 was established and is a partnership of Poul Christiansen & Boris Berlin.
Komplot Design is engaged within the fields of industrial, furniture and graphic design.
Exhibitions (selection)
1987 – 2019 SE, Cabinetmakers Autumn Exhibition, Copenhagen, Denmark
1987 – 2006 Annual participation in Scandinavian Furniture Fair & Furniture Fairs in Milan, Cologne and Tokyo
1992 XVIII Design Triennale, Milano, Italy
1992 – 1994 Danish Design – Richness and Simplicity, Bratislava, Slovakia; Athens, Greece; Milan, Italy
1995 Contemporary Danish Design, Sophienholm, Denmark
1995 Design – the Artistic Dimension, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995 Design, process and result, Copenhagen, Denmark
1995 – 2004 100 % design, London, England
1998 Industrial Design, Before and After, ID-Forum, Horsens, Denmark
1998 Sven Lundh’s Eye, Stockholm, Sweden
1999 – 2003 Spectrum, London, England
1999 “Designers Profile”, Bella Center, Denmark
1999 “Empty Spaces”, Munich, Germany
2000 – 2001 “DANSK FORM tur-retur”, Hamburg, Germany; Gl. Dok, Copenhagen, Denmark
2001 “Danes on the move”, New York, USA
2002 St. Etienne International Design Biennale, France
2002 “Utopia and Reality”, Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
2003 Danish Slow life house, Tokyo, Japan
2004 “Sven Lundh’s Eye” St.Petersburg, Russia; Halmstad, Sweden
2005 “Svens Design” Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark
2003 – 2005 “Scandinavian Design Beyond the Myth” Berlin, Milan, Gent, Prague, Budapest, Riga, Glasgow, Copenhagen.
2005 – 2006 “Use it! Danish Design in Everyday Life” DDC
2007 “Composites – On the Tour – 2” Bruxelles.
2007 “20 Years Of Design Dialogue”, Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen
2008 “DESIGNS OF THE YEAR” Inaugural Exhibition and Awards Celebrating the Best in International Design Over Last 12 Months. Design Museum, London
2009 Biennale Prisvindere – Trapholt, Kolding/ Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen
2009 – 2010 Danish Design: Komplot ”Process” – Staatliches Museum für Kunst und Design in Nürnberg.
Curator and exhibition architect
2001 “Livsrum”/ “Life Space”, Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen
2004 – 2006 “40 Chairs in 4 Feet”- Celebration of 40 years of David Rowland’s “40/4” chair,
2007 “20 Years Of Design Dialogue”, Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen
2009 Biennale Prisvindere – Trapholt, Kolding/ Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen
2009 Danish Design: Komplot ”Process” Installation in cooperation between Die Neue Sammlung – The International Design Museum Munich and Neues Museum – Staatliches Museum für Kunst und Design in Nürnberg.
Design awards and distinctions (selection)
i1989 1. Prize IBD Competition, Table category, for “Collage” Tables
1989 Merket for God Design, Norwegian Design Council, for “Collage” Tables
1991 Scandinavian Furniture Award for “Vision”
1991 G-Mark (Japanese Golden Design Award) for “Collage” Tables
1991 TOP Danmark Award for “Terra Vita” (together with Stuart Clyens)
1992 Transit Carrier purchased by the Danish National Art Foundation
1992 Merket for God Design, Norwegian Design Council for Vision
1993 The Danish Art Foundation Prize for “Antilope” chair
1996 2. Prize in Forsnäs Nordic Design Competition
2000 Utmärkt Svensk Form for “Longo”
2000 Klassiker-prisen, Norwegian Design Council, for “Collage” Tables
2001 Årets designpris 2001 for ”NON” chair, Bo Bedre
2001 1. Prize in Rubber Competition for “NON”, London
2001 Utmärkt Svensk Form, honourable mention for “NON” chair.
2001 Nomination to Den Danske Designpris for “NON” chair.
2001 Merket for God Design, Norwegian Design Council for “VIVA” collection.
2002 Sköna Hem, Årets Möbel 2002, for “NON” chair.
2002 The Furniture Prize “Møbelprisen 2002”
2003 “Rum Pris“ for the best showroom design at the Copenhagen Furniture Mart (for Howe A/S)
2003 Bo Bedre, Årets Møbelpris 2003 for “Gubi” chair
2003 The Architectural Review award for product excellence at Spectrum, London, for “Genus” chair
2003 Innovation Award, Best of NeoCon 2003 for “Gubi” chair.
2003 Gold Award, Best of NeoCon 2003 for “Genus” chair.
2003 Best Product of 100% Design 2003 / Blueprint Award for “Gubi” chair.
2004 Forsnäs pris for “Gubi” chair.
2004 Red Dot Award for “Gubi” chair.
2004 Dansk Designpris for “Gubi” stoleserie.
2004 ELLE Interiör Designpris for ”Gubi” chair.
2005 1st Prize for The Best New Export Products of Latvia 2005 for Python chair.
2006 Silver Award, Best of NeoCon 2006 for “Avo” chair.
2006 The Danish Art Foundation’s Prize for the exhibition “Forty Chairs in Four Feet”
2006 Formland Spring 2006 Award for The POT FOR ONE FLOWER.
2006 GOOD DESIGN Award of The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design
2007 1st Prize in the International Composites Design Competition.
2007 Red Dot – Best of the Best Award for “Gubi Chair II”
2007 “Gubi Chair II Collection” – Top Nominee of INDEX: Design Award
2007 Crafts and Design Biennial Prize 2007 for “NOBODY” chair
2007 GOOD DESIGN Award of The Chicago Athenaeum: Museum of Architecture & Design
2008 The Forum AID Award: Best Nordc product design 2008 for NOBODY Chair
2008 Outdoor furniture “Concrete Things” purchased by the Danish Art Foundation
2009 Winner of the 1st place in category “Home Interior Furniture” IDA08
2009 MACHINA DESIGN AWARD in category “making the world better” – for eco-values
2009 DESIGN PLUS 2009 Award / Material Vision by German Design Council for NOBODY Chair
2010 Merket for God Design, Norwegian Design Council for “Clip” Tables.
In march 2015 Komplot Design was awarded The Thorvald Bindesbøll Medal by the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts for excellence in the fields of applied art and industrial design.
2020 German Design Award, Gold Winner. Excellent Product Design. for DRY Chair
Collections (selection)
The Danish Art Foundation, Copenhagen, Denmark
Danish Museum of Art & Design, Copenhagen, Denmark
Röhsska museet, Gothenburg, Sweden
Trapholt, Kolding, Denmark
Museum of Modern Art, New York, USA
Museum of Modern Art, CA, USA
Indianapolis Museum of Art, USA
Designmuseo/Design Museum, Helsinki, Finland