The design duo behind GamFratesi that won the Designer of the Year 2023 award – Stine Gam and Enrico Fratesi – strive continuously to meld Italian craftsmanship with the tradition of Danish furniture design.

What's your dream?

To be able to make a sincere contribution through our work in design and architecture, offering people positive emotions in everyday life.

How do you dream of contributing to the world?

We are both architects, specialising in furniture and products. Stine wanted to become a cabinet maker, Enrico an architect. In designing furniture, you might say that we have met our dream halfway. It was our maniacal passion for details and materials that led us to design numerous products in our career; these pieces are not for us, they are for the people who will choose, receive or inherit them. We hope that every single line, every thought and all the care that we have put into every detail is an appreciated act that will give people an appreciation of both functionality and beauty.

What do you think the world needs more of? And less of?

We sincerely think that kindness is needed in this moment, more than ever. Each individual can express it in his own way; we express it through design but each of us, with his art, manages to enrich each other. As designers, we have an act of responsibility for the product we create and the surrounding environment it contributes to. We definitely don't need poor quality products, things that are made approximately and only to be consumed and disposed of. Instead, we create products with high quality, both in terms of material and personal values. This will make the product long lasting, distinguished by its ability to adapt to time and use. We believe that every product should be able to create a personal relationship with its user, hopefully for a very long time that spans generations.

Share your thoughts on the theme 'DARE TO DREAM.'

We are sincerely trying continuously to challenge ourselves, challenging our own work and design language. We continually reflect on our two cultures and diversities. Personally, we have always looked to history with respect. We feel deep respect for the Scandinavian masters of the past and believe that their work consisted of a unique quality of craftsmanship and materials, combined with highly functional and honest design. We also admire the Italian masters for their intellectual approach to design. We used to say that we draw on the classic Danish furniture and craft tradition, as well as the classic Italian conceptual approach. Therefore, both in work and daily life, we are constantly confronted with contrasts, and contrasts are often the centre of our inspiration. Achieving a perfect balance without stopping dreaming is a challenge we confront every day in our work.

GamFratesi has exhibited at 3daysofdesign many times. This year you could find them at several locations in Copenhagen with Sørensen Leather (pictured above with their exhibition LEISURE), Gubi and Koyori among others.