Before Pode even existed, de Graef interned at Leolux while studying at the Eindhoven Design Academy. “My graduation project was manufactured by Leolux, and after that I worked in the development department for almost a year, where I learned so much about the production techniques and possibilities at Leolux. It’s fantastic to work with a brand that has its own factory. During the design phase, I was able to ask the technicians on the work floor about what’s possible and not possible. That meant I was able to realise the best possible design. I didn’t have to make any concessions to my original idea, which was to create a sofa with a versatile look.”