Uwe Sommerlade

Uwe Sommerlade is a German designer, born in 1961 in Calden as the son of a civil engineer. He designed his first houses and objects in his father's office as a child and learned woodworking in his grandfather's joinery shop. After an…

Biography

Background

Uwe Sommerlade is a German designer, born in 1961 in Calden as the son of a civil engineer. He designed his first houses and objects in his father's office as a child and learned woodworking in his grandfather's joinery shop. After an apprenticeship as a joiner he studied design in Kassel, and in 1992 he founded the office Lepper Schmidt Sommerlade there with two partners. He set up his own studio in 2011 after the death of Christian Lepper.

Signature Style

For Sommerlade, design must go beyond external appearance and is committed to function and people; the constructive side of development matters as much as the formal quality of the product. He aims for clear products that are fun to use and invite pleasurable handling. His main ideas appear in the Scorpii chair and table series for Kusch+Co.

Notable Works

A 1750 conference table system for Thonet (2024), with A-frame leg pairs
A 1700 leg evo table for Thonet, with drop-shaped legs at the outer edges of the top
S 760 range stackable chairs for Thonet, including the S 762 (2026)
S 847 DW swivel chair for Thonet, listed under Lepper Schmidt Sommerlade
Scorpii chair and table series for Kusch+Co

Legacy

He has developed internationally successful products for renowned clients. The agency he co-founded has received several design awards, and he has worked from his own studio since 2011.