Designer Urns: What Makes a Modern Urn Special
A designer urn is more than just a container for ashes. It is a thoughtfully designed object that makes saying goodbye a dignified and personal experience. Farvel designer urns combine a modern, timeless aesthetic with sustainable materials. Designed in Switzerland and manufactured using 3D printing from biodegradable wood fibers.
A design that touches the heart.
A designer urn made from biodegradable wood fibers, manufactured in Switzerland.
What Makes a Modern Designer Urn
Many traditional urns appear heavy and generic. A designer urn deliberately emphasizes form, material, and proportion. It can stand out without appearing heavy. It can be a deliberate part of the living space without being recognized as an urn. It can be touching and serve as a beautiful memento. Good design is evident in the details—in clean lines, the choice of materials, and the care taken in craftsmanship. That is exactly what we strive for at Farvel.
Behind this trend lies a growing desire for a personal farewell. More and more people are looking for an urn that suits the deceased, rather than an anonymous, standard model. A modern urn can be simple and understated or unique and expressive. The key is that it feels right. It can also be personalized, for example with an engraving on the wooden lid. This transforms a beautiful urn into a unique keepsake.
The way we approach saying goodbye is also changing. For more and more people, death is no longer a subject confined to somber, traditional rituals. There is a growing desire to shape one’s final journey in a way that reflects the life that came before—personal, honest, and with room for one’s own story. As a result, the expectations for an urn are also changing. Today, it can be an expression of a life well-lived, rather than just a neutral container.
The "Minka" urn impresses with its minimalist design, inspired by the clear architecture of traditional Japanese houses. With its simple lines and harmonious proportions, it conveys a sense of calm and security.
As the largest model, the Minka holds up to five liters, making it the ideal designer urn for the ashes of an adult. Like all Farvel urns, it is made in Switzerland from biodegradable wood fibers and is suitable for burial in the ground as well as for display as a keepsake at home. You can find out more about the material in the article on sustainable urns, and more about the design in the guide to designer urns.
You can choose a wooden lid made of oak, walnut, or marble—with an engraving if you’d like. To learn how to personalize the urn, read the guide “Design Your Own Urn.”
Material: Wood fibers and organic binder, supplemented with cork
Dimensions: height 26.5 cm, width 24 cm, depth 24 cm
Filling capacity: up to 5 liters
Weight: 1 kg without lid
Includes: High-quality organic natural fabric bag with cord, burial cord and elegant packaging
Farvel's Design Language
Our urns are created using 3D printing in Switzerland. This process enables precise, detailed shapes of consistently high quality. Together with Zurich-based industrial designer René Odermatt, we have developed an aesthetic that is timeless and does not follow fleeting trends.
The collection includes several urn shapes, each with its own character—from the larger Minka to the Nami and the Nesuto. There are also smaller models designed for dividing ashes. This means you’ll find the right shape for every preference, whether you prefer something simple or more expressive. The wooden lids, made of oak and walnut, are crafted by the St. Jakob Foundation, which provides employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It’s important to us that the craftsmanship behind the urn also serves a meaningful purpose.
Behind this simplicity lies a long journey. Together with René Odermatt, we developed the shapes through a multi-step process. It took about half a year from the first sketches to the first prototypes. We discarded proportions, refined details, and reprinted them again and again until a shape felt just right. And we’re not done yet. We have many more ideas for new shapes in the future.
From the first prototype to the finished mold.
Designed and manufactured in Switzerland.
Unusual, yet dignified
For us, “extraordinary” doesn’t mean flashy. A special urn can be both serene and understated, yet still unique. This is achieved through the use of natural materials, delicate engravings, and the choice of a wooden or marble lid. As a result, every urn becomes a one-of-a-kind piece that cannot be replicated exactly.
For home and for the funeral
Farvel design urns are versatile. You can keep the urn at home as a memento. In a dry environment, it will retain its shape for many years. It is also suitable for burial in the ground or at a cemetery. Thanks to its biodegradable materials , it adapts to various forms of burial.
Even after the ashes have been scattered, the urn doesn’t have to be discarded. With the glass vase insert, it becomes a flower vase and remains part of your home as a keepsake. And for those who want to keep a small part of their loved one close by, the Forget-Me-Not urns offer a subtle memento that will find a beautiful place in your home.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a designer urn and a traditional urn?
A designer urn is carefully crafted in terms of its shape, material, and workmanship. It is intended to make the farewell a personal and dignified experience, rather than simply serving as a container.
Are modern designer urns also suitable for burial?
Yes. Farvel urns are made of biodegradable wood fibers and can be used for burial.
Can I customize a designer urn?
Yes. You can choose the lid and have it engraved with names, dates, or symbols.
Where are Farvel urns manufactured?
They are manufactured in Switzerland using 3D printing technology. The lids and ash bags are produced in collaboration with social foundations.
Discover the collection
Take a look at the Farvel collection and find the urn that suits you and the person you’re remembering. If you have any questions, we’re happy to help—email us at hallo@farvel.ch or call us at +41 79 700 05 45.