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Friday Five with Max Barenbrug of Bugaboo

If you have children or know anyone who does, or even if you just have eyes, chances are you’re familiar with the Bugaboo brand. (Remember their Missoni collaboration?) Max Barenbrug founded the Dutch company, which launched its first stroller in 1999, turning the strolling industry on its head. His goal? To revolutionize the parental necessity to allow families to get out there and explore the world with complete ease. Since its incarnation, he’s created four stroller designs, along with every possible attachment to make life as a parent a little bit easier. What keeps this innovator and entrepreneur inspired? Let’s take a look in this week’s Friday Five.

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1. Plycraft “Mr. Chair”
A contemporary of Charles and Ray Eames, George Mulhauser received far less recognition for his work, although I believe that the design of his Plycraft “Mr. Chair” chair was much better than that of the famous Eames Lounge Chair. The “Mr. Chair” is one of the first examples of quality design produced on a larger scale, thereby making it more attainable for consumers.

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2. iPhone / iPad
I’ve been critical of Apple computers but in terms of functionality, simplicity, and multimedia possibilities, the iPhone and the iPad both are perfectly designed. These products have brought complexity back to its simplest, cleanest form. In our Bugaboo strollers, I aim to create clean looking products that integrate the engineering feats in a simple and stylish design.

3. Mercedes 500 SEC
Most people don’t think this is a good looking car, but the connoisseurs are crazy about it. The Mercedes 500 SEC is an innovative car with a defiant design and was far ahead of its time in terms of innovation, safety, quality and concern for the environment. All technical safety features of modern cars have been tested in this model. To this day, it’s still the world’s bestselling limousine. I love the design and to me it’s a reminder that you must always try to balance style and performance.

4. My father’s watch
The fathers of men from my generation are at the age in which they are starting to pass away. A lot of sons cherish and wear their fathers’ watches instead of buying the latest Swatch.

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5. Nature
Nature is always in balance and there’s a lot we can learn from it. Even in the most urban spaces nature finds ways to survive and adapts to changing landscapes. What I find most fascinating is that the environment seems to compensate the effects of man through these balances.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.