NICHOLAI

WIIG-HANSEN

Nicholai Wiig-Hansen (b. 1964, Denmark)

‘In addition to its functional purpose, design should spark curiosity and invite different interpretations, just like a good painting.’
– Nicholai Wiig-Hansen

Nicholai Wiig-Hansen founded his own design studio in 1990. Since then, he has continued to challenge himself and delight us all with a diverse range of designs: from chairs and tables to lamps and vacuum jugs. Examples include the popular Jules desk chair and the equally popular PS Locker for IKEA, the Sintra table for Frama, the Night Owl lamp for Lightyears and the Geo vacuum jug for Normann. Archetypal products – with a twist. Proportions and colours are always carefully considered, and details are only added if they serve a functional or aesthetic purpose.

Forms and colors from the world of art are Nicholai’s principal source of inspiration, and in addition to their functional purpose, he always seeks to imbue his design with the ability to affect the space around them, like a work of art. Nicholai grew up in a creative family. His mother, Leila Sallyman, was an accomplished ceramicist, and his father was the world-renowned sculptor and painter Svend Wiig-Hansen. Instead of keeping his nose in his school books, Nicholai preferred to stand in front of a display case in a museum. Then, as now, primitive folk art held the strongest appeal to him for its simultaneous functional and decorative character.

Nicholai enjoys being inspired and inspiring others, for example when he teaches future designers at the Swiss art college ECAL (École cantonale d’art de Lausanne). Going forward, Nicholai also hopes to be able to offer creative input and feedback to new creative talents at raawii.

ABOUT

  • Designer and entrepreneur, born 1964

    Industrial designer through apprenticeship at designer Niels Gammelgaard

    Freelance designer for IKEA since 1989

    Founded his own design studio in 1990

    External teacher at ECAL (Ecole cantonale d’art de Lausanne) Switzerland since 2015

    Cofounder of raawii.dk in 2017

    External teacher at AECOM in Spain

    Jury member of the Swiss council Pro Helvetia

  • 2024

    Solen er så rød, solo exhibition, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Aarhus, Denmark

    2023

    Årgang 2023, group exhibition, Møstings Hus, Copenhagen, Denmark Enter Art Fair, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Copenhagen, Denmark

    2022 

    Rolig Rolig, solo exhibition, Galleri Lene Bilgrav, Aarhus, Denmark

    2021 

    Odense Skulptur Triennale, group exhibition, Odense, Denmark 

    2020 

    Sikås Biennale 2020, Sikås, Sweden

    2019 

    Twenty Four, group exhibition, Bricks Gallery, Copenhagen, Denmark 

    Stilleben, group exhibition, Kunstbygningen I Vrå, Vrå, Denmark

    TINFOIL AGENDA, group exhibition, Marie Kirkegaard Galleri Copenhagen, Denmark 

    Portrait Now, group exhibition, The Museum of National History, Hillerød, Denmark {GIFC Tour}

    2018 

    Papercuts, group exhibition, Kristian Day, London Solo show, Kbh_Kabinet. Copenhagen, Denmark

    Solo show, Grand Teatret, Copenhagen, Denmark {GIFC TOUR}

    2017

    Papercuts, group exhibition, Kristian Day, London

    Welcome to the human experience, we are the ones doing works on canvas painting xxxx, group exhibition, CGK, Copenhagen, Denmark

    2013

    KP13 The artists easter exhibition, Kunsthal Aarhus, Contemporary Art Center, Aarhus, Denmark 

    2012

    KE12 The artist autumn exhibition, Den frie, Centre of contemporary art, Copenhagen, Denmark

  • Red Dot Award

    Marie Claire Prix D’excellence

    Red Dot Award Best of the best

    German Design Award ”Special Mention”

    Interior Innovation Award

    Design Plus Award

    AD100

    Amongst award winning designs:

    PS Locker, IKEA

    Geo Jug, Normann Copenhagen

    Strøm collection, raawii