Building SIXTEN : : ERFURT, a design company specializing in furniture and spatial design.
Long before advising brands, I built one. SIXTEN::ERFURT began as an independent furniture company and evolved into an international design business spanning product development, manufacturing, branding, sales and distribution. Building the company fundamentally shaped how I think about creative leadership. Every creative decision carried commercial consequences. Every commercial decision influenced the brand.
“The SIXTEN::ERFURT brand was defined by a pursuit to visualize the beauty of the immediate aesthetics in simple and functional furniture, combining elegant craftsmanship and timeless designs by respecting the natural properties of quality materials. Our philosophy is that good design should never dominate but only help and simplify.” - Kasper Sixten & Frederik Erfurt
Inspired and empowered by the vast Danish design heritage, SIXTEN::ERFURT pursued to portray and manufacture collections that reflect the past, and present, and represent the future of Danish design.
The Challenge: Launching an independent design company required balancing creativity with operational reality. The business needed products, suppliers, retailers, communication, financial planning and a coherent brand identity—all developed simultaneously. The challenge wasn't creating furniture. It was creating a company.
My Role: Founder, Chief Executive Officer, Creative Director, Product Designer. Responsibilities included: Business strategy, Product development, Brand identity, Manufacturing, International retail, Commercial partnerships, Marketing, Financial planning.
Strategic Thinking: Independent businesses cannot compete through scale. They compete through clarity. Every decision—from materials to pricing to communication—needed to reinforce the same philosophy: Timeless design over temporary attention.
The SIXTEN ERFURT brand was founded in collaboration with childhood friend Kasper Sixten, with a mission to combine simple, high-quality design with premium materials.
Two collections, A New Unity and The Beyond Collection, were produced by hand and crafted by local artisans in Denmark. Using premium materials such as FSC-certified oakwood, ECARF-certified prime cut leather from Danish supplier Sørensen Leather, powder-coated steel frames, and polished brass, was a paramount aspect of the brand's design philosophy.
The goal was to promote a transparent conversation about design and showcase it in its purest form, free from unnecessary elements.
Creative Execution: Designed furniture collections inspired by Scandinavian design traditions while developing the company's visual identity, communication strategy and retail experience.
Worked closely with manufacturers and retail partners to maintain quality throughout the customer journey.
Business Impact: Built an independent Scandinavian design brand. Secured placement with more than 15 international retailers. Featured by CNN Style, Wallpaper*, Space Magazine and Bo Bedre. Developed entrepreneurial experience that continues to shape my leadership approach today.
Leadership Lessons: Building a business changes how you evaluate creativity. Ideas only matter when organisations can repeatedly deliver them. That principle continues to guide every project I lead. Why It Matters; This project demonstrates the entrepreneurial foundation behind my work. It explains why I naturally think beyond campaigns toward organisations, systems and long-term brand development.
