When silver and gemstones play the leading role

VERA AND KYTE INTERVIEWED BY MERETE HEGGERNES

A beautiful melting pot of creativity, cheerfulness and Scandinavian aesthetics comes crashing down upon us as we open the door to Vera & Kyte's inspiring design studio at Verftet in Bergen.

Out here at the end of Bergen, in an office with rough beams and the foaming or sparkling sea right outside the window, the two renowned and award-winning designers have created a bright and delicate universe that is infused with interesting splashes of color in the form of furniture, products and interior solutions. Several of the products have received due attention both at home and abroad and the creative duo has also designed for major manufacturers such as Roll & Hill, Bolia, Northern, and Fram Oslo. Now they have been able to develop themselves with nobler materials and in collaboration with Arven, Vera & Kyte have created an absolutely fantastic jewelry collection! Here you can read about the idea behind the collection and about the process in this design collaboration.

How is an idea born?

We take a fairly analytical approach. It may sound boring, but for us it is a complex and exciting process. It starts with an assignment or a problem to solve. We have to take into account the material, the market situation, the target group and the manufacturer's premises. In this case with the jewelry collection for Arven, we wanted to use our background in furniture and product design to add something new to this segment. We did a broad survey of what already existed to get to know the market better. We wanted the jewelry for Arven to be distinctive and to stand out . We worked on adding a mobility that gave them more possibilities of use. Weight and counterweight became a recurring theme for the collection. Testing and modeling products in such a small size was a new challenge. Paper models, 3D printing and enlarged prototypes of the shapes became good tools.

What thoughts and ideas lie behind this collection? And what did you come up with after this initial round of analysis and insight?

We often work with simple geometric shapes, and we wanted to explore that design language further in the jewelry collection. Mobility, clean lines and delicate colors are repeated. Shiny silver cones interact with hexagonal jewelry bars and circular shapes in clasps and pendants. The pure graphic expression in the silver is enhanced by the spherical gemstones in gorgeous colors. In the collaboration with Arven, it was important that the silver was in focus and not given the role of a frame or stand for the stones. We wanted to create an even interaction where materials and shapes are in balance.

Both the design language and the colors in the collection are very Vera & Kyte. What would you say is your signature? Even though you have created many different products and solutions, you can still see a clear common thread.

We have a fundamental curiosity for form, materials, colors and people that drives us forward. As a Norwegian design studio, we stand in a long and strong Scandinavian design tradition characterized by clean lines, natural materials and functionality. Our work builds on these values and experiments with modern material and color palettes in objects adapted to our time, which are often characterized by a colorful minimalist playfulness.

What is your own relationship with jewelry?

For us it is important that the jewelry we use is practical, that it can be worn every day and for parties. That has also been the goal of this collection. It is nice to have jewelry that is minimalistic, but still exudes a statement, a little wow effect it has to be!

How has the collaboration with Arven been?

It has simply been a dream! Having the manufacturer so close, just a short trip across Vågen with Beffen, has been absolutely fantastic. The proximity has given us great advantages, both in terms of efficiency and communication. Silver has been a new material for us, and jewelry is definitely the smallest format we have worked with in terms of dimensions. Then the contact with the craftsmen has been invaluable. We have had the opportunity to test different solutions and ideas in close collaboration. This is how we have We were also able to work on the important details in a very good dialogue and learned to know the material and the craftsmanship in a unique way. We also have to admit that as Bergen residents it is extra great to be able to help elevate the city's silver heritage further with our collaboration.

Have you learned anything from this collaboration?

To the very highest degree! Initially we received an incredibly impressive introduction to the history of Arven. We already knew that Bergen has been an important silver city, but now we got really good insight. Through an archive of books dating back to the 19th century that were filled with old sketches by previously famous designers, we got an experience of the history and an insight into the technical and craft possibilities that the collaboration could offer. This gave us enormous motivation to contribute our design to the continuation of Arven's already rich history. And we have to admit that we were a little extra excited when we found out that it was a jewelry collection they wanted us to design!

In working on the collection, many unexpected issues arose, such as when we discovered how demanding it is to achieve a smooth and seemingly simple movement as in the longest piece of jewelry in the collection. The circular plate that the chain slides through functions as a pulley. On the outside it looks simple and unassuming, but on the inside there is a locking mechanism that Arven's craftsmen have specially designed. The collaboration has been characterized by an incredibly good dialogue between us as designers and Arven as a manufacturer. The mutual trust, that they trust our sense of design and that we have deep respect for Arven's expertise in craftsmanship, has led to beautiful products that we are very proud of!