Paper Collective [Designer of the Week] Nina Bruun (Denmark)

3 days ago

3 min read

A gathering place for the creativity of artists from around the world. This week, we feature Nina Bruun, a designer for Paper Collective—a poster brand hailing from Copenhagen.

The refined beauty and allure of Scandinavian design

Nina Bruun’s Nordic designs are simple yet possess an inherent warmth, characterized by sophisticated color palettes. What her work brings to a space is far more than mere visual decoration.

It embodies an exquisite tone that harmonizes with both the environment and the people within it—born of a minimalism stripped of all excess—and creates a pleasant rhythm that introduces a refreshing sense of open space into our daily lives.

In this feature, we explore the "secrets of creation" behind her work—spanning fields from product and graphic design to trend forecasting—and delve into the appeal of her art pieces, which beautifully refine the everyday.

From Designer to Trendsetter: A Sure Sense of Form

Based in Copenhagen, Nina Bruun holds a master's degree in furniture and spatial design from the prestigious Royal Danish Academy.

A defining aspect of her career is the exceptional skill she demonstrated in design management and color trend development for the Nordic interior brand Muuto.

Her keen eye for material textures and her ability to identify colors that stay a step ahead of the times quickly took the Nordic design scene by storm. She subsequently established her own firm, Nina Bruun Design Studio, in 2016.

The "innate understanding of form" that lies at the heart of her work has earned her widespread acclaim, evidenced by honors such as the global Red Dot Design Award and the inclusion of her pieces in the permanent collection of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York.

Quiet abstraction that blends into everyday life: Why "The Knot" is so beloved.

One of her signature works, created specifically for Paper Collective, is the poster titled "The Knot"—a piece that continues to captivate interior design enthusiasts in Japan.

Centered on the motif of a "knot," the artwork is composed of lines and shapes stripped down to their absolute simplest forms.

Beautiful, fluid curves are set against a soft, light-beige background. While graphic in nature, the design leaves room for personal interpretation, evoking images of infinity or the connections between people.

Despite the high-contrast tones, the piece surprisingly avoids making the space feel cold; this is because the delicate interplay of shadows cast by the lines creates a sense of depth and dimensionality on the flat paper surface.

It blends seamlessly into any interior style—serving as a sophisticated, intellectual anchor in minimalist modern spaces, or adding a touch of refined modernity to natural, wood-toned decor.

In the 50×70cm size, simply placing it in an oak or black frame and leaning it against a chest of drawers transforms your familiar surroundings into something akin to a small art gallery.

A beautiful harmony of contrasting elements. "Solid Shapes" create a sense of rhythm in the space.

The "Solid Shapes" series offers a way to fully appreciate her expertise in color through an approach distinct from the serene presence of "The Knot."

Featuring bold elements arranged with both boldness and a meticulously calculated balance, this graphic design achieves an exquisite harmony between contrasting qualities—organic forms and geometric shapes, softness and strength.

"Solid Shapes 01" and "Solid Shapes 03" feature carefully curated, beautiful forms that perfectly suit modern living—reflecting the unique style of trendsetter Nina.

The overlapping abstract shapes create a pleasing visual rhythm on your wall and effectively tie together the accent colors in your interior décor.

We recommend choosing the compact 30x40cm size and arranging the piece alongside your favorite objets d'art or houseplants to create a charming display corner.

You can arrange multiple pieces by Nina Bruun like a puzzle; their colors harmonize beautifully, creating a sophisticated, Nordic gallery-style wall display.

A beautiful melody created by Nina Brun, an expert in shapes and colors, together with Paper Collective.

Why not welcome her art into your life, which not only decorates the walls, but also brings comfort to the space that makes you want to take a deep breath?

Collection of Works