DESIGNER SPEAK
An introspection with five designers who use novel ways to innovate in design, material, biology and beyond
Take inspiration from these designers on design, material, biology and beyond
What prompted you to become a product designer?
I have always tried to make sense of the world on my own terms – from breaking down a lesson in school, to imagining the swirling air currents bouncing off surfaces in a room. I suppose I wanted to be able to create my own bits of reality.
What is your specialisation?
Although I studied product design, I have always been interested in practising many aspects of design, and over the years have taught myself and continue to develop many more skills - designing spaces, furniture, graphics, systems and strategy.
Who are your icons and inspirations?
I am often inspired by the everyday; for instance art made by children always represents to me a vision of the world uncoloured by prejudice, always thinking outside the box. Dieter Rams, naturally, for his absolute and authoritative clarity on design.
Best thing that you have designed?
The Jolly rocker rocking stool.
Advice to young self-starters?
Students go from believing they can change the world in college to becoming a cog in the corporate wheel in the blink of an eye. It’s alright to work to survive, but don’t forget to try and change the world!
What prompted you to become a product designer?
I liked to draw or make things since my childhood and imagined to be a person living with making things, but it was not a designer at all. Looking back, I think I was rather interested in crafts. I can say this interest has led me to the work I am producing now.
What is your specialisation?
My client is nature, so, I always consider ways of designing things and living within the natural cycle. I would like to preserve the beautiful world for the future. I would like to make things celebrating that rich diversity of the universe in collaboration with them.
Who are your icons and inspirations?
Someone who, I think, creates things with appreciation to life like Sori Yanagi, Isamu Noguchi, Taro Okamoto, Antoni Gaudi, Kazumasa Nagai, Terunobu Fujimori, Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec; and primitive things, but, most importantly nature.
Best thing that you have designed?
I would say it is Anima, a tableware collection made from food waste and Urushi, Japanese lacquer.
Advice to young self-starters?
Be honest with yourself. Be kind to others. These are the best ways to make the world a happy place.
My curiosity and the charm of the invention made me choose to work in the design world where there are new things to discover in each project.
What is your specialisation?
In my personal design process the goal is always to offer a content with a strong communicative content. To do that, the starting point is the concept developed into the study and design of the most innovative features in all the details. My design is inspired by simplicity and guided with the right poetics through metaphors that express both functions and qualities of each product. I use the whole creative process using the preparatory drawings and the prototypes.
Who are your icons and inspirations?
Achille Castiglioni, Dieter Rams or Vico Magistretti are the basics for every designer. For me, I take inspiration from any person I meet and from all the things I see and feel. From the art to the food anything and anyone can be an inspiration.
Best thing that you have designed?
It’s the Volta table.
Advice to young self-starters?
I must quote Castiglioni: “If you are not curious, forget it.” Without curiosity you could not have the needed passion to go on facing all difficulties which unavoidably you’ll meet.
What prompted you to become a product designer?
Since childhood I had inculcated a habit of writing anecdotes about everyday life events, such as visit to the zoo or a school picnic and the likes of it. I saw these young delivery boys with rolled up newspaper struggling with all their might to aim and send across paper rolls to the second and third floor balconies in the apartments. I felt empathetic and decided to do something. I designed a spring loaded newspaper launcher, which eventually won me my first design award in 2001. That was the point where I felt, what if I could put my observational skills to not just draw cartoons and make remarks about problems in everyday life, instead become a solution provider to those problems which I have identified.
What is your specialisation?
I am a designer of everyday objects and prefer not to impose a ‘fit-to-all’ aesthetic language to my projects; however, the common thread is the utility that I add that brings the wow factor to the user. I believe in voluntary simplicity. It is about wanting less.
Who are your icons and inspirations?
I take inspiration from everyday life.
Best thing that you have designed?
It will be rather unfair on my part to pick one design as all ideas are like my babies. But, if you insist - the angular multi-plug will get my vote.
Advice to young self-starters?
The cost of a product lies at the tip of our pencil. It is very important for a designer to think through the complete process of manufacturing the product even before it has been given a definite form or function.
What prompted you to become a product designer?
I spent my childhood in my mother’s tailor shop, playing with scraps of paper, fabrics and colour pencils. I attended Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design graduate program where I learned how to design products, and my first job came right before the graduation, which was with Samsung’s mobile phone division in Los Angeles.
What is your specialisation?
I like conceptualising, visualising, strategising and leading projects from start to end. I enjoy working with different groups of people such as mechanical engineers, quality assurance engineers, costing analysts, packaging designers and brand marketing.
Who are your icons and inspirations?
I highly respect Andy Warhol, Donald Judd, Isamu Noguchi, Naoto Fukasawa, Dieter Rams, Jonathan Ives and Ayn Rand.
Best thing that you have designed?
I am currently focusing on designing consumer baby products, and I am proud about the car seat buckle magnets, which recently won IDEA Bronze Award.
Advice to young self-starters?
Find things you love the most and turn your passion into your career.