“Design isn’t about decoration—it’s about memory, tension, material, and how objects quietly shape our everyday lives. They must carry meaning, but they also have to serve a purpose.”

Justus Knut Schomann (b. 1999, Cologne) is a German designer whose work moves between industrial and collectible design. He has worked closely with designer Mike Meiré as a personal assistant, gaining insight into creative direction, interdisciplinary processes, and the broader cultural dimensions of design.

In 2024, Schomann’s work was included in a curated spatial concept by Meiré und Meiré during the week of IMM Cologne—an experience that marked a public turning point in his own design trajectory. Since then, he has developed his independent practice, JKS Studio, in Cologne, focusing on furniture and objects that fuse archetypal forms with contemporary material processes.

His design approach is rooted in a respect for craft and a fascination with material behavior—ranging from cast bronze and stone to additive manufacturing with advanced composites. Across all formats, Schomann’s work is driven by a desire to create objects that are both physically present and conceptually quiet: pieces that hold space, evoke calm, and offer lasting resonance in their use.

1. Where were you born and where are you from ?

I was born and live in Cologne, Germany.

2. What is your first memory connected to the art world ?

That was when my dad first took me to the Neue Nationalgalerie in Berlin. He was working with Gerhard Richter at the time. I was around 12. At first, I didn’t know what it all meant. Today, I know that art influenced me early on—being in and around the art scene and meeting many architects sparked my interest in art and design. My dad had a metal workshop.

3. Have you always worked in the art/design field, and what led you to the design creation ?

I’ve always worked in the design field in some way. I started early with graphic design. Later, when I began studying design, I worked for Mike Meiré as a personal assistant for almost four years. I worked closely with him in his atelier and supported him with art direction on many of his private magazine projects, especially in editorial and layout.

4. What led you to the design creation ?

I think it has a lot to do with my environment. As I mentioned, my dad often took me with him when he had meetings or work with architects, designers, and artists. Later, working with Mike Meiré taught me a lot about design—what it should be, what it should evoke or provoke, what cultural relevance it can have, and the context behind a product. It’s not about selling something; it’s about telling a story, creating narratives, and sometimes working with archetypes to form a real connection between the product and the person interacting with it.

5. How would you describe your creative process and it influences ?

It might sound corny—and probably everyone says this—but for me, it’s really life in general. It can be something simple, like a small detail you notice while analyzing the urban landscape, reading a good book, or visiting a museum. Sometimes it’s a great conversation. And of course, the internet. I don’t want to romanticize and say the internet never inspires me—it’s hard not to be influenced by what we see online. But what inspires me most is traveling—experiencing different cultures and crafts, discovering colors and shapes I would never see if I stayed in my comfort zone. I find it fascinating what happens when you’re on vacation: you become so sensitive to everything. It’s like being a child again—everything feels new, and you soak in every detail, sound, smell, and shape intensely.

6. Could you describe a typical day of your work ?

I wake up, have a cup of coffee and a cigarette. After that, I meet friends, have a chat, maybe a second coffee. Then I go to my atelier and do whatever’s necessary—sometimes hands-on work, sometimes on my laptop. I need to see and touch things, talk to people in the industry, learn and test things until I feel a sense of satisfaction.

7. Why did you choose the specific materials you work with ?

I don’t choose specific materials beforehand—they usually come to me. I get inspired by processes and the characteristics of a material. That often marks the beginning of a design process.

8. What are the technical particularities of your creations ?

The combination of craftsmanship and innovative technology, enriched with many references. You can never learn everything—there’s always more to discover. You’ll never fully master every craft or stay ahead of every new material or technology being developed. But I don’t think that’s the designer’s job. My job is to create, conceive, develop, and bring ideas to paper—to communicate and verbalize what I have in mind. It’s important to know as much as possible about the processes and properties of the materials you’re working with. I also believe that you need to understand the rules and limits before you can break them.

9. What advices could you give to beginning artists who would like to create sculptural design works ?

Honestly… just start. Learn as much as you can, and the rest will eventually unfold. Maybe you have a strong image in your head of what a form should look like—try to build it the best you can based on memory. The rest will evolve during the process.

10. If your works had to belong to a design movement, in which one would you define it ?

Brutalism. Contemporary collectible design. Maybe a mix. Still to be defined—I don’t think I fully fit into any existing movement.

11. What designers and artists have influenced you ?

My father, Le Corbusier, Jasper Morrison, and Erich Dieckmann.

12. What contemporary designers do you appreciate ?

Omer Arbel, Linde Freya Tangelder, Ron Arad, Naoto Fukasawa.

13. What contemporary artists (in any kind of art) have you been inspired by ?

Walther Dahn, James Turrell, Lucie Rie, Martin Heidegger, Jürgen Teller, Wolfgang Tillmans, Ian Curtis, Dean Blunt, Rei Kawakubo, Walter Van Beirendonck, Gaspar Noé, Larry Clark, Kenneth Anger.

14. If you had to summarize your creations in one word or sentence, what would it be ?

My physical diary / My approach to a beautifully functional world.

15. Is there anything you would like to add ?

Don’t get lost in trying to invent something completely new. Focus on understanding what already exists, question it, refine it — that’s where timeless design begins. Innovation isn’t about creating noise; it’s about creating relevance. If a form, an idea, or a material has stood the test of time, there’s probably a reason for it. The real challenge is not to replace it, but to evolve it in a way that feels honest and meaningful today.

PROUST QUESTIONNAIRE
(The Proust Questionnaire is a set of questions answered by the French writer Marcel Proust.
Other historical figures who have answered confession albums are Oscar Wilde,
Karl Marx, Arthur Conan Doyle, Stéphane Mallarmé, Paul Cézanne…)

11. Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

Mega.

12. Which talent would you most like to have?

To instantly understand and remember everything I read or learn.

13. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I´d like to keep my focus sharp.

14. What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Being independent.

15. If you were to die and come back as a person or a thing, what would it be?

A fisherman with a wife and kids.

16. Where would you most like to live?

By the sea, somewhere in Southern Europe.

17. What is your most treasured possession?

My MacBook, with all my files, documents, sketches, and notes.

18. What do you regard as the lowest depth of misery?

Living in fear.

19. What is your favorite occupation?

Creator.

20. What is your most marked characteristic?

Strategic thinking.

21. What do you most value in your friends?

Honesty, authenticity, and emotional support.

22. Who are your favorite writers?

Thomas Mann, Aleksander Solzhenitsyn.

23. Who is your hero of fiction?

Silver Surfer.

24. Which historical figure do you most identify with?

Lászlo Moholy-Nagy.

25. Who are your heroes in real life?

My parents.

26. What are your favorite names?

Arthur, Inga.

27. What is it that you most dislike?

Lack of interest, long queues.

28. What is your greatest regret?

Not making more time for what truly matters.

29. How would you like to die?

In my sleep.

30. What is your motto?

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.