Confessions: Product Design Between Emotion and Function – Gesa Hansen and Note Design Studio
An honest conversation about mindset, failure, and emotional quality in design – that’s what “Confessions” is all about. Following its first edition in Zurich, the second edition saw two designers take to the stage whose approaches couldn’t be more different, yet who share one belief: good design doesn’t start with an idea, but with attitude. On stage: Gesa Hansen, founder of Gesa Hansen Studio and known for her elegant minimalism. And Kristoffer Fagerström, partner at Note Design Studio in Stockholm, is one of Europe’s most exciting voices in product design.
“Every object needs ten percent ugliness. If it’s too perfect, it doesn’t stick in your mind.”
– Kristoffer Fagerström
Kristoffer Fagerström puts it clearly: “In our studio, we firmly believe that every object needs ten percent ugliness. If it’s too perfect, it doesn’t stick in your mind.” It’s not about sloppiness, but a conscious break – a moment of tension that gives an object its character. In a world where AI-optimised design promotes visual uniformity, Fagerström argues for friction as an intentional stance. “When everything looks the same, we lose what design is truly capable of: character.”
For Gesa Hansen, design starts with trust. “I don’t just design kitchens. I design spaces for retreat, for memory, for grief.” It’s not the object that takes centre stage, but the person using it. “If I don’t know who needs the space or the object, then I’m not designing – I’m just decorating.” In an era where products are often conceived as brand statements or social media icons, Hansen’s perspective feels almost radical. And precisely for that reason, it is highly relevant.
“I don’t just design kitchens. I design spaces for retreat, memory, and grief. If I don’t know who needs the space or the object, then I’m not designing – I’m just decorating.”
– Gesa Hansen
What unites them is their shared scepticism of finished concepts. Failure is part of the process. “We’re constantly working with prototypes,” says Kristoffer Fagerström. “Which also means: we constantly fail. But that’s where the best ideas come from.” Gesa Hansen agrees: “Without failed projects, I wouldn’t have made many of my best decisions.”
In both studios, decisions don’t come from hierarchy but from resonance. “You can feel it in the room when a design works,” says Fagerström. “The energy shifts. Everyone starts thinking and feeling in the same direction.” Hansen adds: “Design isn’t a solution. It’s a way of taking responsibility.”
About the Series
Confessions is a new talk series by the German Design Awards, launched in collaboration with Designboom, Architonic, and ArchDaily. Touring design hotspots across the globe, it brings together an exclusive professional audience for open, engaging conversations. What to expect: strong opinions, personal insights, and classic entertainment – straight from the heart of the international design scene.
