Frederik Delbart

(Belgium, 1988)
is an Antwerp-based designer and creative director active in furniture, lighting, product and interior design.

Who is Frederik Delbart in 5 words?
Designer, creative, empathetic, inquisitive, bon vivant.

For you personally, what is the best thing about the job of designer?
Every day is different, I come into contact with very interesting people and see my creations come to life through the hands of professionals. Personally, I find this one of the most exciting subjects in existence. Every day I get to know new people, materials and insights.

Which of your designs are you most proud of?
It's impossible to answer that. I design without end, with different projects mixed together. This makes everything linked together for me, as one whole. But I do often look back at my designs, and sometimes draw inspiration from them for subsequent works. For instance, I remain impressed by ARENA, a coffee table as an homage to the ingenuity of ancient architecture, a blend of ultimate craftsmanship with innovative technology. Or the recently launched wall lamp CHIVAL, for the famous Belgian lighting brand Modular... where we worked for three years on a very accessible but iconic product, which was very well received. But also the entire collection of door handles with the Belgian brand Quincalux, for which I am creative director, and with which we have been achieving great successes for several years. Actually, I am especially proud of great collaborations!

Frederik, who or what inspired you to design model Bigfoot? In other words, how did this particular sofa come about?
I wanted to design an iconic and recognisable sofa where comfort would be central and radiate this. The oversized back cushion, the rounded design of the seat, the transitions of each element into each other, the stitching... all important details that together make the Bigfoot model an exceptional sofa. A sofa that really invites you to sit down. Comfort and design go hand in hand. They have to be perfectly balanced, it's something you have to feel. The name Bigfoot came from the voluminous shapes, the soft appearance and the almost human character of the sofa.

The Home Stories models Bigfoot and Yeti sit on the edge of Passe Partout's DNA. Was that a conscious choice?
With Passe Partout's strong track record, we believe the brand is ready to always push boundaries, which is ultimately the role of a designer. Walking down well-trodden paths is pointless. We work towards the future, while respecting the past. Without daring, nothing would exist.

What was your experience of the rather new collaboration with team Passe Partout?
The team at Passe Partout and I speak the same language and can understand each other well with few words. We have known each other for several years, and respect each other's expertise. It's teamwork, with each having his role in the team, and that goes very well.

How do you see residential trends evolving in the coming years?
I think that because of the over-digitalisation and, on the other hand, the excess of the ‘Belgian beige’, people are just looking for something different in their interiors. We need tranquillity, but also personality. People dare to be just a little bit different. As a designer, I try to anticipate the constantly changing world we live in. I also believe that people only really invest in something they like. Quick hypes and flat trends perish, and that is often not worth a bigger investment. Good design sometimes needs more time to be understood, often it takes some time to become a commercial success. I also believe that low-quality furniture is going to take a hit, it's getting cheaper and cheaper, and that furniture lasts less and less time. Consumers are also getting tired of that and are looking for something that is made with quality, and can be leased and repaired if necessary. Design must be qualitative and comfortable, and manage to keep surprising with its ingenuity, design and presence in the room.