For Mikaëla Dörfel, “every design must have its own personality”. Mikaëla Dörfel grew up in Finland, where she developed a fascination for Scandinavian shapes. Her design takes its inspiration from an ancient farm surrounded by horses and meadows dotted with small lakes, directly from nature itself, underpinned by a defined structure. She has also based her design studio there, to the north of Hamburg for over 15 years, and she works for brands sold in Europe, Asia and the United States. “Of course, a collection begins its life as a concept, but from that moment on every single detail counts in creating it. The strength of the concept is its simplicity and accessibility. The concept must inspire, awaken the senses, function independently and do justice to the natural materials”. A concept responds to a utilitarian need, and is born from the marriage of understanding shapes and thinking logically to create a product which is both stylish and functional. Making models is still a very important step in creating the collection, as this is the stage where every detail can be perfected. Mikaëla Dörfel adopts a tactile approach to her work. She likes to touch the porcelain with her own hands to ensure the shapes function well in daily use. “Errors are often easier to detect through touch.” Mikaëla Dörfel’s aim is to do justice to the quality of the material used.

Her modern, elegant style seeks to find harmony between the tension of straight lines and curves. Her intuition for shapes is paired with a deep knowledge and understanding of the materials and production methods used, both new and old. Mikaëla Dörfel has an understanding of materials and markets. Her work is characterised by creativity and determination. Her love of shape drives her to create collection pieces which bypass trends in favour of longevity. Some of her collections are more than several decades old. Her work has already been recognised with a number of design awards. Mikaëla Dörfel’s style is an example of timeless elegance and innovation, while still remaining extremely practical.