Alan Saga

Specialized in Design.

Alan  Saga

About Alan Saga

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Alan Saga

Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
Since my youth I have been particularly interested in activities related to creativity of a plastic nature. The development of this award-winning project was the fact that most marked me to enter the world of industrial design.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I'm an industrial designer focused on the art object, and I develop a series that represents the transition of the collective consciousness within the social-responsible context.
What is "design" for you?
Is the creative way to express an idea, making it tangible to transmit emotions.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I'm passionate about all the areas of design. I have a particular interest in product design, from the art to electronic area.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
Definitely "Only Rigth Here" is the design that has given me projection in national and international level. And which meets all expectations I seek for in my designs.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
The design of a commemorative packaging of a recognized regional beer.
When do you feel the most creative?
Definitely when I'm alone at night, and I can have peace to develop my concepts.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Mainly I focus on the conceptual part, and get to a high level of detail in my 3D models.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
I feel emotions when I'm designing, both positive and negative. The best part is the satisfaction of watching when a design starts to come alive.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
Normally comes a phase of total relaxation and satisfaction, which I use as motivation to continue creating ideas.
What makes a design successful?
I think a design is successful when it manages to assemble a well-founded and original concept, and gets into the market to where it was headed.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The visual and aesthetic aspects is the first thing I judge, and how can it conceptually integrate.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
Create designs that promote cultural values, and create awareness with the history that lies behind the product.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Globalization has greatly accelerated the future of design, expanding to new previously unexplored fields, but always tending to self-sustain, and use the planet's resources in the most efficient way.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
October 2013, Franz Mayer Museum in Mexico City. The next exhibition will be in August where I will present a new piece in the association CONARTE
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
My inspiration comes from my life ideology, and the concepts ingrained throughout the years. The sociocultural aspect of my country helps me feed my creative concepts, plus constant practice and feedback from other designers.
How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
I would define my style, as a transmitter of cultural ideas, building on the original function of my products, and with minimal aesthetic.
Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I live in Monterrey, Mexico. I think the cultural heritage of Mexico is extremely rich and extensive so it directly affects my designs. However in a global society, my tendency is to make a fusion between my mores and international design trends, always keeping my roots.
How do you work with companies?
In my short experience working with companies, I've done it ​​via online.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
It is essential that the designer to work both alone and as a team. And it is very important to detect the degree of commitment, and how can it pose different creative solutions to a same problem.
Can you talk a little about your design process?
For my designs, the key phase is the conceptualization, where I make a cultural and market research, which allows me to land ideas with greater impact. And that is where product development begins.
Can you describe a day in your life?
One of my main characteristics since the day starts, is that most of my activities relate with design, I am passionate person in the whole aspect of creativity. I wake up, turn on my PC, I start designing, and when I find myself a bit saturated, I perform activities such as exercising, listening to music and reading, to release, free my mind and get on with my labors.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Although I'm still a young designer, I’ve always liked being open to explore different fields of industrial design, with this we I can discover with what to identify and my true passions.
What skills are most important for a designer?
The ability to develop a concept, creativity and certainty to propose different solutions to the same project design.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
One of my main sources of inspiration are the books of Donald Norman and technically speaking my basic tools for designing are Rhinoceros, Solidworks, Keyshot and Google (blogs, social media, etc).
Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
My daily activities such as eating, grooming, etc, I use them as a form of relaxation for the mind, so I can get more work done.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
The percentage varies depending on the complexity of the project. However the average range is 1-3 months.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
How I can express my talent to leave a mark as a Mexican industrial designer
What was your most important job experience?
Based on the complexity, the most important project in which I worked, was a draft design of electronic products, along with a team of industrial designers worldwide.
Who are some of your clients?
I am a recent graduate industrial designer. Some of the companies I've been in projects with are: Allen, Heineken, Gruma, among others.
What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
The discursive design is what I enjoy the most, being a free style and versatile way to handle and express the themes of inspiration in the purest way.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
My main goal now is to stand out as Mexican industrial designer, to have the opportunity to work abroad in a major design studio, where I’m allowed to develop my skills.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I design by myself, and I like receive feedback of others designers.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
I'm working on the second project under my firm, which will be presented on May 1, 2014 at Behance.
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
I am a young industrial designer, interested in forming international business relations, boost my talent and commercialize my products.

Designer of the Day Interview with Alan Saga

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
Bachelor Degree in Industrial Design and Product Development at Centro de Estudios Superiores de Diseño de Monterrey (Mexico). Experience in areas such as product design and contemporary art, participation with national and international companies such as Cervecería Cuauhtemoc and Dalmia Cements.
How did you become a designer?
Design has been part of my life since I was a kid, I showed particular interest in utilitary gadgets and drawing. After graduating, I published the first design of my personal collection "Only Right Here", which was very well accepted nationally and internationally and I had the opportunity to receive a Platinum A Design Award and the title of the best industrial design of 2013 by Architectural Digest Magazine, this expanded my vision to continue exploring my greatest passion, design.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
My priority is to have a well-founded and original concept before starting to design, the idea should sound very interesting with just describing it with words. Depending on the nature of the project, the research is a main part of the process, to know the real needs of the users and validate proposals. The 3D modeling is my strongest tool to develop a product, 3D analysis and create high precision models and prototypes.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
The designing is a carousel of emotions, can be presented positively or negatively, however, there are no words to describe happiness to see a finished project.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Work several projects at the same time, constant self-motivation and the ability to manage the time to complete the most strict deadlines.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I'd like to create a responsible design product whose function is to save human lives or contribute to the care of the planet.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
To make projects as complex as possible to increase the learning curve, explore the different areas of the design to identify which fits better to your skills and interests.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
Be constantly updated with new technologies/softwares and avoid the comfort zones, the new and different challenges expand our vision and skills.
What is your day to day look like?
My daily routine is simple, always try to use as much time as possible to the design. I like to listen to music and Comedy Central stand up while I'm designing. I take every opportunity I have to visit design stores or anywhere.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I like to design series of products that reflect their own style. If the project has an artistic nature, I often look for inspiration in international culture, icons, sociocultural aspects or social critiques.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
A well rounded original concept or creatively solve a real need. To evaluate, I like to imagine or see the product in their environment to verify if it truly fits into it.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
A design can always be improved but I usually stop when my mind making relevant improvements in the basis of the design and I've already compared their different versions, together with a well-explored aesthetic and perfected manufacturing details.
What is your biggest design work?
"Only Right Here" is the piece that most makes me feel proud because I'm satisfied with the result and for the acceptance by the public. The inspiration lies in the bullfights, these activities I represented in a concept as a symbol of transition and the awakening of conscience of controversial issues not only in Mexico, but worldwide.
Who is your favourite designer?
Gaston Bonaudi is a friend and a very cool designer as individual, very humble person who has extremely speed to design and projects with first level technology companies. The team of designers and engineers that I admire most are Bang & Olufsen and Braun.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I think any city can be inspiring because of it is cultural content and history. Part of my projects are inspired by the cultural heritage of different countries and I express this through a product.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I'm particularly interested in collaborating with people with a real passion for their work, can be from the same or different area.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I haven't had the opportunity to do a social project, it's one of my main goals. I really admire the people who make humanitarian projects, I can imagine the sensation of generating a positive impact through design, for me that is the industrial design in its purest expression.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
It was a very motivating experience to have been part of the competition, I received a lot of support from the design publications and I had the opportunity to exhibit my work with many of the best designers, architects and artists in the world. I feel very fortunate to be selected as Designer of the Day and that my work continues to be recognized by A Design Award.

Extended Interview with Alan Saga

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
From college I liked my designs express a pure idea, a social critique and a cultural environment through the function of my products.
How did you become a designer?
Both positive and negative socio-cultural concepts is an opportunity to express and explore my emotions and ideology through the design of objects.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
From my childhood and youth design has been part of my life so I chose to be a designer.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I like to design within the category of art object, however I am open to any possibility, different products and unexpected.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
A great designer seeks to create pieces that transcend, with a high degree of originality and conceptual content.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Good design should be well-founded, owning an original concept, value as an object of art and of course functionality.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
A good design has the power to improve the experience of everyday life, creating an opportunity to generate new links between a product / company and the end user.
What is your day to day look like?
I like to design for companies committed to the social and cultural wellbeing of people. And I would focus on products that create awareness among people, but without losing the goal of achieving a pleasant experience owning the object.
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
I'd like to devote time to responsible design, through biology and cell theory.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Capture or convey my conceptual ideology of an effective and concrete way in my designs based on socio-cultural issues, reflecting both positive and negative aspects creating awareness among people. Transcendent objects.
Who is your favourite designer?
Only Right Here is my best design that perfectly reflects very important to me, that is the awakening of consciousness international humanist subject.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
Never stop learning and exploring different aspects of the design.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I had dedicated to genetics or a career related to biology, but it is something I still want to do in the future.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
Is the act of creating something tangible or intangible, taking into account the physical and / or psychological needs of people, with the aim of developing new experiences.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My family, friends, teachers and especially viewers who appreciate my work, are 50% of my work.

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