Born in Bad Mergentheim in 1981, he studied product design at the University of Art and Design in Offenbach, at which point he started to focus on designing furniture and objects. On completing his studies, Herkner decided to go it alone by opening his own studio in Offenbach in 2007 and now employs five staff. Herkner’s rapid rise is not least a result of his pronounced instinct for colors, materials, and textures. His designs always have a certain twist – whether artfully woven outdoor furniture, mouth-blown side tables, or handwoven carpets.
Herkner has won numerous design awards, including Elle Deco International Design Award (EDIDA)/Best Designer of the Year 2021, Maison & Objet/Designer of the Year 2016 and an iF Design Award. His range as a designer is remarkable: he works for small manufacturers as well as industrial producers of high-quality design such as Classicon, Dedon, Cappelini, Fritz Hansen, and Zwiesel. He also offers his services as an interior and exhibition designer.
For Duravit, the versatile designer created the harmonious Zencha bathroom range – sanitary objects with a rounded shape and a gentle lip along with minimalistic storage furniture with a subtle frame inspired by Japanese bathing and tea culture. Having already gained experience with porcelain as a material at the porcelain maker Rosenthal, Herkner is pleased with his first bathroom collection: “It was a very inspiring collaboration, especially given that Duravit have experts in every field.” Sebastian Herkner lives and works in Offenbach and Berlin.