Gurken - A Swedish Original
Date
19.08.25
Subject
News, Designers
:quality(85))
)
Sagaform x Daniel Enoksson presents Gurken
Discover Gurken
)
GURKEN
A mill with character
When designer Daniel Enoksson and Sagaform collaborate for the first time, the result is something far from a traditional kitchen product. Gurken is a salt and pepper mill with a strong character – a classic product in a new interpretation, shaped like a friendly figure in the kitchen that sparks curiosity and invites use.
The story of Gurken began long before the first sketch was drawn. For several years, conversations took place about different ideas and possible collaborations, until the right moment came along.
– When Sagaform expressed a desire to explore a new product category, it felt like something clicked. I immediately felt there was space to create something personal, functional, and playful, says Daniel.
Gurken, named after a mountain near Tärnaby, emerged through a process filled with sketches, models, and experiments with semi-organic forms.
– I wanted to create something that felt like a little character, a friendly figure on the kitchen table, rather than a traditional mill, says Daniel.
)
Daniel Enoksson
A designer with strong presence
Daniel Enoksson is an established and award-winning designer. Educated at Beckmans College of Design, with an artistic background in sculpture, painting, and photography, his work constantly moves in the space between art and design.
In many ways, Gurken is typical of Daniel Enoksson’s design expression – with a clear sense of proportion, an unexpected expression, and a strong presence in the room.
– I wanted Gurken to feel just as relevant in ten years as it does today, he says. Simple, robust, and with a design language that doesn’t chase trends.
The first thing you notice about Gurken is its form. The conical silhouette, in lacquered beechwood, broken by the warmth of natural wood, creates an almost sculptural impression. A form that captures attention and invites use.
– For me, it was important that it felt good in the hand, was easy to understand, and had a clear expression, says Daniel. That’s where the magic happens – when function meets tactility.
The choice of material fell on certified beech – a timeless, durable, and living type of wood that ages beautifully and makes each mill unique. Although Daniel has often worked with industrial materials before, he describes wood as one of the most genuinely industrial materials – but one that requires respect and sensitivity. Gurken is equipped with a durable ceramic grinding mechanism, providing an even grinding result and adjustable coarseness. The colours have also been carefully selected to reinforce the expression.
)
)
"Bordeaux gives a warm and slightly unexpected tone that stands out without being loud, while black is a safe base colour that still leaves an impression and can easily be matched with many interiors"
Which one is your favourite?
)
GURKEN
An invitation to conversation
According to Daniel, the design of everyday objects is about adding joy and presence to the things we surround ourselves with.
– Objects we use often deserve extra care and character, he says. Gurken is part of that idea – an object meant to be left on display, both for its function and its expression. Ideally, it should act as a conversation starter, he says, adding that the mills already have a place in his own outdoor kitchen.
When asked what Gurken’s strength is, Daniel says:
– The combination of playfulness and seriousness, function and form, the robust and the personal. A testament to what can happen when design is allowed to grow freely – but in good hands and in mutual trust.
)
)
)