My name is Emilie Helmstedt, and I am the co-founder and Creative Director of HELMSTEDT. I created the illustrations for the Hammershøj Kids collection for Kähler.
For me, stepping into the studio feels like coming home, though in a different way than being at home. It is a place that is constantly evolving, where no two days are ever the same. We are always working with new ideas, ambitions, and creative processes waiting to be explored and brought to life.
Our studio is a small yellow house filled with projects, creative energy, and the joy of making things. It is both vibrant and peaceful at the same time, which makes it a very special place. You never quite know what awaits you when you walk through the door.
When Kähler visited you while you were working on Hammershøj Kids, your daughter was with you. How do you feel about sharing your creative space with her?
It was a truly special experience. Being able to work with something I love while also having my daughter involved in the process felt like a privilege.
She explores colours and shapes with a spontaneity that inspires me. Children create from their imagination without worrying too much about the final result, and that freedom is both refreshing and inspiring. Seeing the world through her eyes reminds me how important it is to preserve playfulness and curiosity in the creative process.
I really enjoy being creative together with her. It brings joy, freedom, and new perspectives.
What inspired the illustrations for the Hammershøj Kids collection?
The illustrations are inspired by nature, but interpreted through a whimsical and imaginative lens. I enjoy slightly altering reality and creating little stories where animals and elements of nature take on human characteristics.
I personally love spending time in nature, so it felt natural to make it the heart of the collection. At the same time, I imagined small worlds and stories around the motifs, such as what it would be like to live in a mushroom cottage or what adventures might unfold between the animals.
Some of the illustrations also contain personal elements. For example, I imagined the little house in the universe as a playhouse for my daughter and me. That makes the stories feel even more meaningful and close to my heart.
The illustrations are filled with details. What do you hope children will get out of them?
I hope children will notice different things, because every child experiences the world in their own way. The illustrations are filled with quirky little details and stories that can be discovered again and again.
For example, there is a fly sunbathing on an inflatable mattress, along with other playful and unexpected scenes that may encourage children to pause and use their imagination. I think it is important to create room for these kinds of stories in a world that is often very structured.
Hopefully, the collection will inspire curiosity, play, and conversations around the table.