'The way things were developed in the past was through play and enjoyment," comments furniture designer Dan Saks about his trade. Through the lull of the Covid pandemic, Saks found himself spending much time in his workshop, employing this old philosophy.
He had so much fun with his carpentry, in fact, that he called his recently launched range of stools-come-coffee-tables called the Happy Collection. Simply shaped and graphically patterned, they're a joyful addition to any interior.
"In my mind, the shape is like a paddle or lollypop," he says of the tops of the multi-purpose designs, decorated in striking CNC-carved patterns that are highlighted in primary hues against the wooden grain. "They allowed me to be more playful and fun during a serious time."
This is a somewhat divergent approach for Saks, who founded Saks Corner, a furniture store in Cape Town, more than 15 years ago, first specialising in the refurbishment of vintage mid-century furniture and then designing and manufacturing his own range of minimalist, Scandi-inspired pieces.
"The Happy Collection allowed me to step out of the box and embellish these Scandinavian-style pieces with a playful twist of African influence," he says.
As part of the Craft and Design Institute's NEXT21 cohort of export-ready design, the benches are easily flat-packed for local and international transport — a necessary shift since closing the Saks Corner showroom in the Woodstock Exchange to take the business online.
Saks is also working on a range of easy-to-ship mirrors — from standing to wall-hanging ones in shapes inspired by the side mirrors of old vehicles.
Although this is Saks's second career (he was previously a professional photographer), he has always had a fascination for furniture-making.
"I appreciate well-made, timeless, good-quality pieces that people can keep their whole lives," he says. "It's a joy to see a couple moving into a retirement village with the same dining room set they got as their wedding present."
This passion for long-lasting design that never goes out of style is what first led him to transform vintage pieces or found items. Old filing cabinets became side tables in his workshop, while cold-drink crates were sculpted into kitchen cupboards.
The popularity and high-quality appeal of these pieces led to Saks launching his own furniture range, always leaning towards the simplicity of the mid-century modern aesthetic.
At one stage, Saks Corner was even exporting its furniture to a store in Denmark.
"It seemed so strange that Scandi furniture made in Cape Town was being sent to Denmark," he laughs.
Now Saks's focus is on his workshop, where he employs nine other woodworkers. "Closing the store has allowed me to really spend time on design," he says, "playing around, making and readjusting pieces. Function is really important to me, so I want my furniture to be practical but also beautiful and well made. It's all about lagom — the Scandinavian word for that perfect sweet spot."
