Weekly Mix: Aino Michelsen

Weekly Mix series lets us hear what the designers are hearing. This week’s playlist is by furniture designer Aino Michelsen.

Aino, how are you? What are you working on at the moment?

I’m fine, thanks! I’m just finishing a set of products for the Finnish manufacturer Interface. It includes two armchairs and a footstool.

What is your typical working day like?

I like waking up early, but it takes a while to get going. To bring myself up to full speed I usually read or browse magazines. Or draw a bit. Once I then get going I work hard, usually for hours. At the end of the day it is very important for me to be able to cycle or walk home; I need that transition to let go and stop my thoughts.

Do you listen to music when you work?

I always need some kind of distraction, so yes. Sometimes, when building a furniture model I might have a TV show or a film just playing in the background. I’m just not capable of working in pure silence.

How would you describe your way of working?

I always approach a project by coming up with a beginning for a story. I might investigate an image or a painting for a long time. Usually this image has nothing to do with design. I keep this image sometimes where I can see it and it guides my thoughts. I like designing a piece around something like a specific location or a colourworld. My latest big inspirational piece is a painting by David Hockney called Grand Canyon. I’d like to think that my new chairs would suit that scenery.

What kind of a playlist will we hear?

Every song on this list will make you smile. I started putting this list together when organizing a student party at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in Copenhagen. It’s called FRIDAY BAR, but it can also be listened to when walking to the studio in the morning.

https://www.ainomichelsen.com/