Carl Hansen & Søn | Virtual Fellowship
Carl Hansen & Søn, with more than a century of Danish furniture history, share their respect and passion for quality craftsmanship. Learn more about the process of bringing iconic furniture designs to life through product development, storytelling, and a commitment to innovative thinking. Alongside Brad Ascalon, an award-winning multi-disciplinary designer and the first American to collaborate with Carl Hansen & Søn, Mads Holm Rabjerg who oversees product design, they share how to design for the future while remaining true to a company’s heritage.
“Embrace your student status and reach out to a professional you admire. They know what it’s like to be in your shoes and will always find time to offer advice. But do your homework and prepare!”
Sherri Simko
Sherri Simko joined Carl Hansen & Søn as Director, North America in 2018. With over 25 years of leadership experience in manufacturing and distribution of high quality and well-designed furnishings, Sherri brings a unique perspective to leading market growth in North America for Carl Hansen & Søn. As a board member of Be Original Americas, Sherri shares her passion for original design to provide outreach to the design community to grow awareness on protecting authenticity.
Angelika S
ø
rensen
Angelika Sørensen has been part of Carl Hansen & Søn’s marketing team since 2017. Collaborating across all departments, Angelika’s role is to ensure Carl Hansen & Søn’s values and DNA are reinforced across communications, partnerships, events and showrooms. Angelika’s passion for the history of the Danish Design Masters and understanding of their unique contribution to design today offers the North American market a connection to the past and present through her perspective of design.
Brad Ascalon
Brad Ascalon believes in design that is uncomplicated and rational, finding the perfect balance of form, function and concept. Ascalon couples this with a strong understanding of design-driven strategies for his clients. Brad is the first American designer to work with Carl Hansen & Son, and has collaborated with such companies as Skandiform, L’Oreal, Nude Glass, Bernhardt Design, Landscape Form, Design Within Reach and many others. In addition to his design practice, Ascalon teaches graduate level design courses at the University of Pennsylvania as part of the school’s IPD (Integrated Product Design) program, a curriculum that bridges the university’s schools of Architecture, Design and Wharton School of Business.
Mads Holm Rabjerg
Mads Holm Rabjerg oversees Product Development for Carl Hansen & Søn, based out of the factory in Gelsted, Denmark. Working closely with design studios to ensure products are produced according to original sketches and authenticity, Mads’ work is critical to shaping the portfolio of Carl Hansen & Søn. Mad’s studio is a laboratory and a mini museum where research is conducted to bring unearthed classics to the modern audience, and test new design ideas to add to the Carl Hansen’s portfolio of future design masters.
Check out additional talks and watch all of the Virtual Fellowship sessions.