Freunde von Freunden lets us into the studio and home of graphic designer Andreas Jarner

Hailing from Copenhagen and working as a graphic designer famed for his rigid, geometric works, it’s little surprise Andreas Jarner’s home is revealed to be one that’s neat, ordered and oozing Scandi minimalism. The designer recently opened up his home and studio to the good people of Freunde von Freunden, revealing his fast, impulsive working style and finding inspiration pretty much everywhere.

“I sketch a lot and over time you start to develop something that is usable. Design is very much about having a good idea to start with,” Andreas told FvF’s Peter Stanners. “If you have a good idea, you can create something simple, because you’ve found the essence of the message. The difficult part of being a designer is that sometimes you can get a good idea in five minutes, but most of the time it takes much longer.” He adds: “Finding inspiration can also be very random. I don’t have a specific place to go, I just like walking around the city with my camera, taking photos of architecture or textures – anything really. I also go to a lot of exhibitions and galleries, and get a lot of inspiration from the artwork I see. I love to travel and experience new cultures and their way of communicating.”

Although Andreas’ flat is resplendent with neatly ordered books and framed posters, his own work is “a geometric and abstract universe,” according to the designer. It’s not quite as trippy as that might sound though, and there’s not a joss stick in sight. “It’s often difficult to make something clean and simple while also capturing the essence of a good idea. It takes a lot of time, and the simple designs are often the hardest,” says Andreas. “Graphic design and visual communication are amazing because they’re a language that everyone can understand. Colours, shapes and images speak to our emotions. Design can tell a story, but great design can tell the right story.”