Poet Desk

the tale about a desk

Poet was created by a simple need: the need of a desk. At that time, I had put my studies at the school of architecture on hold to improve my skills as a joiner at the school for joiners in Copenhagen.

The combination of that need and my situation made it so that I was able to put all my time and energy in the making of a good desk. One of my primary wishes with the desk was to play with the construction. In a previous project, I focused on the use of wedges as a constructive principle and this was something I wished to do again. The wedges give you the opportunity of making a sturdy construction without the use of nails, screws, or glue. Wedges also give you the option of disassembling the table which is something I really like; the fact that you can disassemble the different elements of the design. I loved playing with Lego’s as a child and the fascination of the assembly process seemed to stick.

My design process can be hard to describe in words, as it is never the same and I have not yet been able to systemize it. Often it starts with a simple need – a personal need as with the desk where I needed a place to sit and work. Sometimes it comes from an irritation or a wonder; I think the inspiration should come to you instead of forcing it. For a long time, I have tried to plan my process and work as it in many ways would be more efficient and rational but it seems to be impossible.

I would describe Poet as an archetype. I think of a design archetype to be a piece where construction, function, and the aesthetics emerge. Alongside all of these previous things, Poet was made in a completely analog way where the craftsmanship was in focus.

– Martin D. Christensen