Matter of Course & The Power of Collective Design in Berlin

Creative independence has always found fertile ground in Berlin. The city’s rhythm encourages experimentation and resists conformity, offering space for those who prefer to work beyond established systems. Matter of Course carries that energy forward. Formed in 2021, the Berlin-based collective brings together eleven independent female designers working at the intersections of design, art, and craftsmanship, including Heike Buchfelder, STUDIO BERG, Studio Joa Herrenknecht, Studio Milena Kling, LYK CARPET, ELOA – Unique Lights, SCHOEMIG PORZELLAN, Studio Laura Strasser, Studio Elisa Strozyk, Nicolene van der Walt, and Frau Caze.

A Collective Born from Chance

Their collaboration began almost by accident. Plans for a shared exhibition at Milan Design Week collapsed during the pandemic, leading instead to a spontaneous photo shoot that appeared on the cover of AD Magazine. What started as a missed opportunity became a declaration of intent: that collaboration, not isolation, would be their mode of practice.

The Productive Friction of Shared Work

For the designers, working together is neither tidy nor predictable. “Dancing alone to your own music can be great at times,” they explain, “but when surrounded by others who throw in different beats, the energy changes.” That the friction of ideas and methods has become one of their most valuable resources. It expands what each designer might achieve alone, creating a shared network that multiplies opportunity and learning.

Berlin as Catalyst

Berlin’s history reinforces this attitude. The city’s long tradition of creative autonomy, especially among women operating beyond conventional power structures, provides both context and momentum. In Berlin, the idea of authorship has always been porous. For Matter of Course, that openness allows for a model of exchange built on generosity rather than competition. The group’s approach values solidarity and shared knowledge as routes to individual and collective growth.

Direction, Flow, and the Meaning of Course

The name Matter of Course suggests both direction and flow. For the collective, it also reflects how ideas evolve through chance and shared intention. Their platform functions as an arena for experimentation; one where cross-disciplinary projects, exhibitions, and dialogues can develop freely, informed by mutual support and trust. Each member continues to run her own studio, yet the collective acts as a catalyst, expanding their reach beyond what a single practice could hold.

Craft, Responsibility, and Shared Ethos

Their ethos is grounded in craftsmanship, sustainability, and respect for materials. Traditional techniques find contemporary perspectives, producing work that feels both enduring and exploratory. Across ceramics, textiles, glass, and light, the shared philosophy remains constant: design should reflect connection, between maker, material, and community.

Collaboration as the Future of Design

Matter of Course treats collaboration as practice, not theory. It shapes how ideas form, how projects evolve, and how design lives beyond the studio. Working together expands possibility instead of narrowing it. Each exchange brings tension, rhythm, and renewal. Their approach suggests that the strength of contemporary design lies not in isolation but in connection, an ongoing conversation between individual vision and collective insight.