In addition to crafting sculptures from steel, brass, and wood, Richardt has been developing minimalist designs for over a decade at the Danish design studio Frama. His portfolio includes a day bed, a lounge chair, candle holders, a shelving system, and an ultra-minimal lamp created for the renowned restaurant Noma.
Sophie Charara
Frama opted not to produce Tool One, so Richardt initially kept it for personal use until he discovered kitchenware studio Veark, also based in Copenhagen. The co-founders Daniel Ronge and Christian Lorentzen quickly fell in love with the design.
While it may seem humorous to focus on such simplicity, Richardt found inspiration from utensils used in Asian cooking. Bamboo chopsticks, utilized by stir-fry chefs for tasting and sampling, have a long-standing presence in culinary practice.
“I had some chopsticks at home that I used to stir my oatmeal in the morning for a couple of years, but they were a bit too small for that,” he explains. “Then I thought about making it larger, designing something that could also flip a pancake. In Japan, they actually have larger chopsticks, but they still use them in pairs for stirring, and they’re quite enjoyable to use.”
Moreover, wood utensils offer practicality—lasting for decades when properly cared for—compared to silicone options that may last only a few years. Recently, there has been increasing concern over the toxic chemicals that standard black plastic spatulas may release.
Sophie Charara
