Simon Legald | ScandinavianDesign.com

Simon Legald is a Danish designer based in Copenhagen. He is by far the most prolific designer for Normann Copenhagen, with close to 40 product families. His furniture, lighting and objects are built on simple, honest constructions, where the joints and techniques that hold a product together become part of its look.

Background

Legald graduated from the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 2012. He first expected to become a graphic designer, but after a semester each of art and product design he chose three-dimensional objects instead. He joined Normann Copenhagen while the company was still young. His first design there was the Kabino sideboard, and his first product in production was the Sumo pouf in 2012.

Design approach

Legald works in the space between craftsmanship and industry. He avoids unnecessary details and shows the necessary ones instead of hiding them. In his own words, “Honesty is what makes a product understandable.” A product, he says, should meet aesthetic and psychological needs as well as practical ones. In recent years he has also explored resourceful production, such as recycled plastic and industrial waste.

Key designs

The Timb chair in FSC-certified ash is assembled with visible dowel joints and no screws. It has grown into a family with a lounge armchair and new upholstered versions. The Hyg series, inspired by Danish hygge, began in 2018 with soft, rounded sofas and lounge chairs. The Kube Sofa sets loose cushions in a cubic wooden frame. Other well-known pieces are the Form chair, the Era lounge chair and the Allez café chair, developed over several years for indoor and outdoor use.

Several designs explore circular materials. The Bit stool is pressed from recycled plastic fragments. The Polli rugs are woven from recycled PET yarn, and the Act Lamp is made from discarded PEX water pipes. Recent launches include the interlocking ALU Shelf, the Rul trolley and the height-adjustable Lift side table.

By Editorial Team, ScandinavianDesign.com