Menu katalog 2017

Drawings by Grethe Meyer of the GM series, 1984. The GM 30 and 15 Pendants
were produced for the first time by MENU in 2013.
A woman of substance: MENU pays
homage to the work of pioneering
designer Grethe Meyer.
GM 30 Pendant
by Grethe Meyer
Snaregade Table
by Norm Architects
Afteroom Chair
by Afteroom
Cube Candle Holder
by Studio E.O
It is used every day, therefore it deserves to be beautiful as well as
practical. That was the philosophy of pioneering designer and architect
Grethe Meyer (1918–2008), a trailblazing woman at the helm of a
male-dominated industry.
Grethe designed for the way people lived, spending hours watching
and analyzing before putting pen to paper. In a speech accepting an
award late in her career, she reflected on her values: “What I think is
important is that design must be uncomplicated, and the product easy
and comfortable to use, and as simple and anonymous as possible.” In
this way, she believed that beauty would present itself. “A beauty that
gives people who are using the product a natural pleasure, which grows
stronger the more the product is used,” she said.
Grethe’s attitude was humble. (“Mostly, I meet new tasks by trying
to build on earlier inspirations and ideals.”) But she was determined—
she had to be to gain a foothold in what was then a man’s world. Grethe
opened her studio in 1960, at a time when female architects were considered
to be unequal to men. She worked open and creatively, never
claiming to have all the answers. Her design approach, however, was
systematic and reworked details, shapes and colors over and over again.
“I find it very important that each of us put our full endeavor into the
work we do, and for us creative individuals to persevere until we reach
the core, the essential, the soul of the matter,” she explained. “This
requires discipline, precision, engagement and complete attention.
But also love for the work.”
70 PROFILE: GRETHE MEYER
PROFILE: GRETHE MEYER
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