The Magic of Boyhood with Jakob Burgsø

Can you tell us a little about your background and how you founded Boyhood?

“Growing up in Denmark, I was deeply inspired by the strong tradition of Danish design, with its emphasis on minimalism and craftsmanship. Icons like Børge Mogensen, Hans J. Wegner, Kay Bojesen, and Arne Jacobsen were fixtures in my early environment, shaping my appreciation for form, function, and simplicity.
Boyhood was born out of a desire to merge that design heritage with the nostalgic characters from my own childhood. I wanted to create something that both adults and children could connect with—beautiful, timeless collectables that capture the joy and innocence of youth.”

Do you have a favourite piece you've created? Something close to your heart?

“It's hard to choose a favourite, but if I had to pick, I'd say our Snoopy design holds a special place in my heart. Snoopy is such an iconic character, and creating a version of him that aligns with Boyhood's minimalist style while still capturing his playful personality was a rewarding challenge. The design's simplicity, with its omission of facial features, allows it to communicate so much through form alone, and that resonates deeply with me.

Another piece that's close to my heart is the paper plane Maverick. It brings back memories of my childhood—those carefree moments spent folding and flying paper planes. It's a playful symbol of creativity and freedom, and I love how it embodies the spirit of imagination that is central to Boyhood's ethos. Both designs are great examples of how we aim to blend nostalgia with clean, modern aesthetics.”

Are there any characters from your childhood or otherwise that you'd like to add to your collection?

“There are certainly a lot of characters from my childhood that I still dream of adding to our collection. Tintin, for example, is one that I'd love to explore—his adventurous spirit and timeless appeal would translate beautifully into a wooden collectable.

Another is the classic LEGO figure. LEGO was a big part of my childhood, and it represents creativity and playfulness in a way that resonates with BOYHOOD's values. We're always on the lookout for characters that evoke a strong sense of nostalgia and joy while fitting perfectly within our minimalist design philosophy.”

Your designs are rooted in happy memories. Are there any specific memories that are part of the Boyhood DNA?

“Absolutely. Many of my designs are inspired by the toys and characters I grew up with—things that sparked my imagination as a child. I spent countless hours with my Playmobil figures, creating entire worlds with those small, imaginative characters. I also loved making and flying paper planes, a simple joy that always reminded me how creativity can come from the most basic materials.

These memories of playfulness and craftsmanship are something I try to bring into Boyhood's creations. That feeling of timelessness and quality craftsmanship has stuck with me and continues to influence how we approach design today. Starting Boyhood has also taught me the value of patience and precision—lessons I learned from traditional craftsmanship that now play a big part in our design process. It's about creating pieces that stand the test of time, both in terms of quality and emotional connection.”