Founder of wiid design Laurie Wiid van Heerden is a veteran of design fairs. The Absolut Visi Designer of the Year has also received accolades from the Southern Guild Design Foundation and House and Garden.

Laurie Wiid van Heerden
Laurie Wiid van Heerden
Image: Christof Van Der Walt @ One League

The one indulgence you would never forgo? Plants. I am particularly obsessed with succulents and cactuses. 

The grooming staples you are never without are… Good-quality shaving blades.

Your all-time favourite gadget? I love my Rancilio Silvia coffee machine.

The single object you would never part with? My carved Rhodesian teak skull, which I commissioned and was carved by the artist Friday Jibu.

Your favourite drink? A decent bottle of Cabernet Franc or Bruichladdich whisky.

The restaurant you frequent most often? Molteno’s Restaurant in the small seaside town of Onrus; it is not pretentious or glamorous but sticks to what it’s good at, and that is service and great food.

Your personal style signifier? My new Los Angeles Adidas sneakers. I have also grown quite fond of my Chuck Taylor Converse in black leather.

The last thing you bought and loved? Being a product designer makes me kind of obsessive when it comes to objects. I keep on seeing interesting things I want to buy, swop or design/manufacture. I recently bought a beautiful piece of tanned leather called “pulled up butternut”. I will keep this piece until I find or design a chair to upholster.

Your favourite timepiece and why? My black Tsovet svt-fw44 watch. I found it by chance in a small shop in Brick Lane, London.

In my studio I can breathe, design
and play with different things

An unforgettable place you’ve travelled to in the past year? Basel, Switzerland, where I exhibited at Design Miami/Basel as part of Southern Guild. It was such an awesome experience, especially the architecture of the Herzog and de Meuron convention centre building. We also floated down the Rhine River, where we had drinks on the banks.

The book on your bedside table? Mostly magazines, am generally very tired when I get home.

The last meal that truly impressed you? Thai green chicken curry, made by my new next-door neighbour.

The last music you downloaded? Kavinsky. I was fascinated by the movie Drive.

The thing you are eyeing next? Working with architects, where I am planning to design and build an apartment on top of my current studio. Super-excited as this will be a wonderful project and if everything is successful then I will have a beautiful mountain view and an apartment that I customised myself.

The one thing you will always find in your fridge? Milk, coffee, beer and wine.

The best gift you’ve given recently? At my recent studio launch I gave one of my black clay “Kan” jugs to Tracy Lynch and one of my new Avondale wine-packaging units to Antoni Amorim, the chairman and CEO of Amorim International.

And the best one you’ve received? A Tulip vase by artists Gerhard and Anthony from Ceramic Matters.

The place that inspires you and why? My studio. I truly feel that when I enter the four walls, everything falls away and I can breathe, design and play with different materials. The layout is perfectly arranged to inspire and create.

A recent special “find/discovery”? I recently developed a new bird house that stands about 4m tall. I think clients will instantly connect with it.

The last item you added to your wardrobe? A strange but very cool wetsuit-like fabric hoodie.

Favourite city and why? Berlin, but this might change as I am planning a trip to New York.

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