Q&A with Ed Annink

What was your initial reaction when you read the brief?

“All together we design and produce too much, and see what happens! Stuff does not reach our houses anymore, but instead they stay at dark places. No function, no fun. But yes, a story!

I was sad and happy. Sad for all the people that were fired because of bankruptcy. Happy to create ideas for ‘lost’ products to reach the people anyway.”

Could you tell us something about how you came to your proposal?

“If products, which were made for distribution, stay at economical uncomfortable dark places it feels like a ‘stuff story’. The products must come alive, they were made to function. So, I fantasized a story in which products can be used differently and get the opportunity to play its intended functional role afterwards (the user decides).”

Here’s the story Ed fantasised about the 60 sets of cutlery he revived:

Onno, Ed, Ms. Teaspoon and the King of Gold

Onno Boekhoudt (1944-2002) was an enlightened jewellery designer with a great deal of humour and fantasy. Somewhere during his career he transformed a spoon into a candle holder. Inspired by his work, I have transformed this cutlery set.

The spoon, Onno can still be used as spoon, but now and again, the spoon changes into a candle holder. You only have to buy a candle and place it.

The fork, King of Gold has received golden teeth following the mysterious King of Gold, the man whose real identity is unknown.

Ed, the knife transforms into a little mirror, only for the eyes.

And, Ms. Teaspoon, the little spoon, is totally gold layered. She will only be used as an icon of the tools we have invented and designed for function.

This set of cutlery is like a fairy tale—it can be used for the function it was made for. But is use the only reference we make things for? I vote for fantasy!

What is your opinion on this project?

“This is a very clever contribution to the current international design stress. This project is an interesting starting point to use each-others products and to create new markets, with other prices and with more diversity.”

Let’s see how Ed added fun with fantasy to 14 of these baskets, plus 60 sets of cutlery.