Happy Birthday! Jens Risom turns 95 on May 8.

Running into legendary designer Jens Risom in the halls at DWR headquarters is just one of the many pleasures of working here. On a recent visit, we asked Risom what he thought about the longevity of his 1943 chair (shown below), to which he replied: “When a piece is sufficiently neutral, and sufficiently well thought out, it sticks around a while.” More than 70 years later, Risom still prefers to work in wood. “I’m a wood man,” he says. “Danish design is all about construction, craftsmanship and the selection of materials – especially wood. Nature is full of excitement.” (Shown below: Risom in print ad, circa 1950, and Risom with his Lounge Chair designed in 1943.)