Kai Kristiansen

Kai Kristiansen started his professional career as an independent designer in 1954, the same year that the successful exhibition Design in Scandinavia started touring the United States, supporting the already established concept of “Danish Modern”, which contained a powerful image of functional, high-quality furniture. Danish design, both furniture and crafts had been made popular in Europe and the US after the Second World War, and during the 1950s and 60s exports were increasing. Due to the high demand, both in Denmark and abroad, Danish furniture manufacturers were facing a new possibilities as well as challenges in terms of production and sales.

Three years earlier, in 1951, Kristiansen had completed his studies, both as a cabinetmaker and a furniture architect as it was called back then. When Kristiansen, after his studies, returned to his hometown in the north of Denmark, he faced the necessity of change up close. His father, a carpenter and cabinetmaker, had acquired a furniture factory specializing in the Renaissance furniture, and acquisition pointing backwards rather than forwards. Helping his father out of the poor investment with hard work must have left impression on Kristiansen who, soon after, newly wed and enthusiastic, moved to another region and started his own design practice. Kristiansen’s timing could not have been better; the demand for change and innovation was at its highest.

While the generation of designers before him had developed their careers working with cabinetmakers around Copenhagen, producing and exhibition exclusive pieces, Kristiansen set off on his adventure at a breaking point in the furniture industry when cabinetmakers all over Denmark were forced to make choices: if they wanted to survive in the new competitive field and reach a large consumer market ready for modern furniture, they would have to reinvent their production methods and facilities.

Kristiansen had settled his design practice in Brædstrup, a small town in the middle of Jutland, around one hour from Aarhus, the second largest city in Denmark. At this point it was mainly the cabinetmakers and designers in Copenhagen who received the attention. Thanks to a broad network of institutions, organizations, exhibitions, critics, passionate and skilled designers and manufacturers, Danish design had built a strong reputation reaching as far as the US, and it was now up to the rest of the Danish furniture manufacturers to follow suit if they wanted to be part of the progress. During his year of studies in Copenhagen, being taught by on of the most highly esteemed profiles, Kaare Klint, Kristiansen had learned and seen enough to bring some innovation to the provincial cabinetmakers in the middle of Jutland.