Material, Concept, Craft: A Visit with Benjamin Nordsmark in Copenhagen

BrandsWalk Creative |
On our recent trip to Copenhagen, we had the chance to spend a quiet afternoon with Benjamin Nordsmark, a Danish designer and artist whose work moves fluidly between function and concept. Known for pushing furniture beyond its utility, Benjamin blends natural materials with experimental form, often creating pieces that carry a poetic or almost hidden layer of interaction.

We met him at his collaborative studio — a shared space filled with tools, mockups, and the kind of creative energy that builds when several designers and makers work under the same roof. His workspace is both a woodshop and an idea lab, where concept sketches evolve into small-scale models, and prototypes shift slowly into finished work.

A Designer Who Lets Materials Lead

Benjamin’s process is rooted in physicality. He begins with mockup models — rough, honest, and tangible — then moves through prototyping and refinement in his own shop. As he gave us a tour of the space, it became clear that his approach is guided more by how something feels than how it looks at first glance. Form follows curiosity.

His choice of materials — often natural wood, but integrated with metal and light — keeps one foot in tradition while the other steps into the unexpected. One of his works, for example, is a minimalist wooden chair in a deep orange hue. What appears simple at first reveals internal aluminum brackets inside the legs — hollowed out to allow light to glow from beneath the base. It’s quiet innovation. Nothing is explained immediately, and that’s part of the charm.

There’s a playfulness beneath the surface of many of his pieces. That aligns with Benjamin’s background in both cabinetmaking and conceptual art, and with his belief that objects should invite a sense of discovery.

A Drive Toward Perspective

After walking us through his process and recent work, Benjamin invited us on a short drive in his vintage Volvo — a detail that somehow felt perfectly in sync with his design language: practical, unpretentious, and considered. We headed toward Amager Bakke (Amager Slope), a man-made ski slope and power plant designed by Bjarke Ingels.

At the top of the slope, with Copenhagen stretching out below us, the conversation shifted. We talked about Danish culture, how people live with design in Denmark, and what he’s currently exploring in his next projects. It felt more like a walk with an old friend than an interview — unhurried, thoughtful, open.

What We Took Away

Spending the day with Benjamin Nordsmark reminded us that design doesn’t always need to explain itself at a glance. It can reveal itself over time, through texture, form, and quiet invention. His work doesn’t rely on grand gestures. It relies on meaning — often hidden just beneath the surface, waiting to be noticed by those who take the time to look closely.

As curators at BrandsWalk, we value these kinds of voices — independent, rooted in material, and unafraid to challenge conventions with warmth and clarity. Benjamin’s work and presence embody that spirit completely.

Thank you for reading.

You can follow along on Instagram @brandswalk to see more of the design stories and discoveries we’ve brought home with us.

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