Meet: Stine Keinicke

Stine Keinicke is a designer and maker based in South London whose products are the perfect balance of function and beautifully crafted objects, continuously pushing the boundary between the two. She often seeks new ways to incorporate new materials and manufacturing processes into her work and is also the co-director of STORE STORE, a not-for-profit shop and studio with an ethos of making design education more accessible to youngsters in London.

We touch base with Stine ahead of The Art of Giving to discuss her Bold collection, how her Danish roots, studies in Kyoto and residence in London have been influential in the evolution of her practice.

Stine! Can you guide us through how you work? Specifically the Bold range.

A material or a manufacturing technique is often my starting point and what inspires a project. I need to consider the right way to utilise them in terms of construction, functionality and sustainability. Bold is created based on a metal hand-spinning technique, which forms circular shapes in stainless steel. Due to its circular shape, Bold is a modular system that neatly stacks and nests in each other. The system's versatility adds to its functionality — for instance, the plate can act as a lid for the bowl, making it convenient for food storage in the fridge. Additionally, tactility plays a significant role in the design. The bold edges of the plates and bowls provide a soft, comfortable grip, enhancing the user experience during everyday use, and its material aids sterility.

What's your go-to material? And why do you love it?

I like to work with a wide range, as the material itself often drives the direction of my projects. Currently, I am working with metal and ceramics. Both offer a great deal of freedom and versatility in the design process.

This makes a lot of sense. When did your love of design form? Have you always wanted to be a designer?

When I was a kid, you would always find me drawing. I struggled in school due to dyslexia, which is why I have always found it easier to communicate visually. My parents don't work in the same industry, but my mum is a creative soul, and my dad is a good handyman, so they have definitely influenced my direction.

Credit: Stine Keinicke

You studied a BA in Furniture Design at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and then an MA in Design Products at the Royal College of Art. Have you taken any key influences from the Copenhagen design industry into your practice while residing in London or on other travels?

My studies in Denmark have influenced my understanding of design, providing me with a strong foundation rooted in the principles of Danish design — particularly its emphasis on simplicity and functionality. During my BA, I had the opportunity to study for seven months in Kyoto, Japan. This experience has shaped my approach to materiality and attention to detail. During my MA, I learned to think more critically about what I design — to a higher degree, exploring why things should exist and how they can add value. The combination of studies in Denmark, Japan and England has shaped me into the designer I am today.

Bold feels like it has such longevity as a collection. Does embracing this in your work refer back to your Danish roots? And how do you view timeless design?

I do think that my work often seeks to have longevity, which, to a degree, stems from how I was schooled in Denmark. Timeless design, for me, has no specific aesthetic but rather a very well-considered choice of material, function and tactility.  

A lovely take. Was it essential that the design of Bold catered for both tableware and kitchenware across cooking to dining to storage?

The manufacturing technique of Bold allows the design to be versatile. The precision makes them stack neatly and naturally extends the design into different sizes and volumes. I always aim to explore a design's full potential; in this case, it was a natural progression for the pieces to transition from dining to kitchen to storage.   

You are also the co-director of STORE STORE. Walk us through the company's components, from the shop to socially engaged educational programmes.

STORE STORE is a not-for-profit organisation set up to create a more inclusive architectural and design education. We function as a design shop and workshop space, running a weekly After-School Club for local state school pupils in London. It offers a unique chance for young people to see their ideas go from imagination to reality, from initial concept to design, prototype, manufacture and retail. Alongside products by established designers, we sell products designed by students. All the proceeds we make with our sales go back into funding the After-School Club.

Credit: Stine Keinicke

Go check out Stine’s work online or see her Bold collection in person at The Art of Giving: 

A Modular Festive Market

Fri 29 Nov, Sat 30 Nov, Sun 1 Dec 2024

Fri: 3pm - 5pm | Sat, Sun: 10am - 3pm

SERCHIA Gallery, 24 Elmgrove Rd, Redland, Bristol, BS6 6AJ

SERCHIA Gallery and New Journo are delighted to present The Art of Giving, a new approach to seasonal shopping in the form of a Modular Festive Market. Join founders Christine Serchia and Emily Birkett, respectively, to celebrate the season, championing women and timelessly designed products in a low-key setting. Located in Bristol, the gallery will act as a shop floor showcasing a carefully curated selection of twelve highly coveted female-founded brands, a nod to the Twelve Days of Christmas, personally chosen by the curatorial duo. 

Happening on the traditional Black Friday weekend, the pop-up event challenges the perception of consumerism, offering a more tailored, considered outlook on gifting. It’s about the ceremony and rituals you share with others rather than the product itself: interactions, utilitarianism, and sentimentality, with quality and beauty taking front and centre. A small gathering will be held on Fri 29 Nov, in addition to the regular weekend opening hours, as a chance to meander the gallery and chat with the organisers, surrounded by ambient music, mulled wine, baked goods and festive scents. It is free-entry with community at its core.

Stocked

Bold Side Plate [£48] — Bold Side Plate is Ø20cm.

Bold Tray [£75] — Bold Tray is Ø27cm.

“Bold is a collection of plates and bowls designed for food storage, preparation and serving. The shape of the bold edge creates a tactile and comfortable grip, which makes it functional and enjoyable to use. Hand-spun stainless steel in the UK. Dishwasher safe.”