“Man / Material / Creation” – the motto of this year’s Wood Design Festival in Łódź resonated strongly with EDWOOD’s presence at the event. There was room for raw material and new solutions, but above all, for genuine conversations with designers, furniture manufacturers, and craftsmen. EDWOOD also initiated a discussion on the natural essence of wood and joined workshops for young design and carpentry talents.
Wood starts with the material
The EDWOOD stand served as a meeting place for people working with wood at every stage – from initial design and production to the finished piece of furniture or architectural element.
Discussions with designers, architects, carpenters, and manufacturers touched upon material availability, timber grading, processing possibilities, and the inherent natural variability of wood.
EDWOOD showcased solid oak, ash, and beech wood materials, as well as architectural solutions – including facade and decking boards made of thermo-treated ash.
The common denominator was looking at wood not merely as a raw commodity, but as a carefully selected material tailored to a specific project and purpose.
The knotty question in furniture: A flaw, or the whole point?
One of the highlights of the program was a panel discussion initiated by EDWOOD: “The knot in furniture – a flaw or the authentic nature of wood? Trends in premium furniture making.”
The discussion featured Martyna Piaściak, Tom Bensari, Ewa Czap, Marek Okoński, and Marek Karwowski from EDWOOD, moderated by Cezary Jasiczak. The starting point was a straightforward question: “Who actually decides that a knot is a flaw – the designer, the manufacturer, or the client?”
The dialogue revolved around naturalness, timber selection, customer expectations, and production capabilities. Tom Bensari highlighted projects where geometric purity requires conscious material selection and minimizing visible knots. On the other hand, the Scandinavian market was cited as an example where natural grain patterns and visible knots are increasingly sought-after product features.
The discussion also touched on the practical challenge of sourcing long oak elements in completely knot-free grades. This led to a broader question beyond knots themselves: “Do we truly want natural wood, or do we want natural wood exactly as we imagine it?”
From design to one’s own table
EDWOOD also joined workshops dedicated to young designers, visual artists, and students from carpentry technical schools. The assignment was: “Dream date table.” EDWOOD supplied the timber needed to bring the concepts to life, while participants – supported by industry experts and companies FESTOOL and BOSCH – began crafting their own furniture.
And not everyone stuck strictly to the brief. Alongside date tables, concepts emerged for a gaming desk and a hangout table for friends. What mattered most was the process: idea – material – tools – execution.
Work will continue at the Construction and Technical School Complex on Kopcińskiego Street in Łódź. Carpentry students will complete the furniture pieces under the guidance of teacher Łukasz Żuk.
Man / Material / Creation
This motto perfectly sums up the gathering in Łódź. Great design isn’t born exclusively on a screen. It requires real material, manufacturer expertise, the craftsman’s hand, and ultimately – the human being who will live with it.
And wood? Sometimes the best thing we can do with it is simply let it remain wood.
