Question: Manuela, you’re a trained ceramicist, studied interior design, and now work as a designer with your own studio. How did your journey begin?
Manuela Hollerbach: I’ve always loved working creatively, even during my school years. After graduating, I actually wanted to attend art school, but my parents thought I should first learn something “solid.” So, I decided to do a craft-based apprenticeship – as a foundation for later creative work. The choice was between becoming a carpenter or a potter, and I ultimately chose ceramics. There was a ceramic artist in my hometown, and that’s where I trained.
Question: What fascinated you most about ceramics?
Manuela Hollerbach: The material itself – the calm, the focus it requires. I started out in architectural ceramics but later moved on to wheel-throwing. After completing my apprenticeship, I wanted to learn more about design – so I studied interior architecture. I wanted to think about things not only in aesthetic terms but also in functional ones. This combination of form and function continues to shape my work today.
Question: And from that connection between craft and design, your label Dorfkind was born?
Manuela Hollerbach: Exactly. After several years in product design, I realized I missed working freely. So I started potting again on the side – small-scale, just for myself. At some point, it turned into a real brand. From the beginning, my style was minimalistic, clean, and simple – inspired by Japanese and Nordic design. In my region, that was something completely new at the time. Many ceramicists offered glossy, decorative pieces, but I wanted mine to be pure and tranquil.
Question: That clear design language also runs through your interiors. You recently designed three wallpapers for Komar that convey exactly that feeling. Tell us more about them.
Manuela Hollerbach: It was such an exciting project. The wallpapers are essentially a continuation of my ceramic work – the same colors, the same visual language, the same attitude.
The first wallpaper hangs right in my studio. It features graphic shapes in muted tones – if you look closely, you’ll recognize cups and bowls. It fits perfectly, since the logo of my label Dorfkind is also made up of these shapes. The wallpaper greets you as soon as you walk in – calm yet expressive, creating an immediate connection between space and craftsmanship.
Question: And the second wallpaper has a completely different atmosphere, right?
Manuela Hollerbach: Yes, it’s in the bedroom. The motif is a photograph from a warm summer evening on the Atlantic coast in France. You can see lots of people – a boy with his ball, a woman about to go into the water, a family having a picnic. I love this image because there’s so much to discover in it. Everyone in that picture was happy in that moment – and I feel that same joy every morning when I wake up. It reminds me of that special evening, of warmth, light, and ease.
Question: And the third wallpaper?
Manuela Hollerbach: That one’s in the living room. It’s a soft old rose – subtle but present. It has a bit of a 1970s vibe and fits perfectly with my interior: chrome, corduroy, a record player, design objects, vintage pieces. I love it when rooms tell stories, and this wallpaper does just that – it connects past and present with a touch of humor.
Question: Your wallpapers feel like an extension of your ceramics – just on the wall instead of the table.
Manuela Hollerbach: Yes, that’s a perfect description. I think in terms of shapes, surfaces, and textures. To me, a wallpaper is like a large canvas, and the same principles apply as with a bowl or a vase: it’s about balance, materiality, and character.
Question: And that character seems especially important to you.
Manuela Hollerbach: Absolutely. No piece, no surface, no space has to be perfect. Quite the opposite – I love it when things show traces of life, when they feel real. My ceramics, and my wallpapers too, can have rough edges. I believe that’s what people are looking for today: things with soul.
