Zbigniew Dubiel

Specialized in Sporting Goods Design.

Zbigniew Dubiel

About Zbigniew Dubiel

I am passionate professional Transportation Designer with over nine years of international experience in vehicle design and styling. During this time, I have been involved in several production and conceptual vehicle projects in Europe, United Kingdom, China and the USA. I graduated from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, where I received the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Transportation/Automotive Design. For the past several years, I also worked as an independent freelance designer, gaining the opportunity to work directly with various startups and investors on their future mobility projects. Currently I am the owner of the Dubiel Design Ltd - Independent Transportation Design Consultancy specializing in providing innovative, sustainable design solutions and timeless styling to help companies grow their business. I always look forward to create innovative, new, stylish and one of a kind designs, which can meet the future standards in urban mobility and public transportation sectors. Most of all, by designing I would like to contribute as much as possible to improve living standards of our society.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Sporting Goods Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs
  • Sporting Goods
Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle.

Torqway Hybrid Physical Exercise Vehicle.

Sporting Goods Design

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Interview with Zbigniew Dubiel

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?
I always loved vehicles: cars, trucks buses and other means of transportation. As a child, my back pages of school notebooks were always filled with drawings. Drawings of cars, bikes, trucks,shoes. I dreamt of something and I would draw it. Also when I was a kid my dad always took me to some transportation exhibitions. At that time I didn't have any idea about designer profession. My childhood definitely had big influence on what I am doing right now. I think wanting things to look and work better in general along with dreaming gives me a loads of inspiration and definitely helps in my profession.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Dubiel Design is the idea created long before I actually started it. On the beginning, while I was working as full time bus designer, I also wanted to work on external smaller projects, to explore more options and to challenge myself and at the same time of course make some extra money. Over the time this idea evolved to fully independent design services, which allows me to work with various clients on different projects. Running your own business is very challenging and demanding job, but I love it. I look forward to grow and evolve from a single man freelance design services to a bit larger business providing beautiful and smart solutions to my current and future clients, and by doing so, I would love to contribute to better quality of life around us. Transportation design is big now and it'll certainly a huge part of our society in the future. Personally and as a Dubiel Design I want to be a part of it.
What is "design" for you?
"Design" already has a established definition, but for me personally, I would say it is a constant and infinite process of creating functional, intuitive and importantly beautiful things which help us with our daily lives.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I enjoy designing every part of the vehicle but for some reason, for me the exteriors are most fun.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
It would have to be a car, but there a few of them. It is impossible just to point one. - 1963 Corvette Stingray Split Window To me it is the vehicle full of emotions, created by timeless lines, curves. It appears to me as very sporty with a little bit of elegance. In my opinion its exterior design shows a good balance between supercar and everyday sports car. My very recent favourite design would be Tesla Model 3 - the more I look at this car and the more I learn about it, the more I like it.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
It was the lightweight camping caravan Campini. It was my first bigger project as an independent designer.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I am really into the EV Skateboard style platform drivetrains. It gives a lot more freedom to create modern, much safer and practical vehicles.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I think all of the elements of design are important but I would say getting the proportions right is crucial thing.
What makes a design successful?
I am sure, the successful design is when by its innovative and disruptive nature enhances its users quality of life.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
How the look and the aesthetics of the product represent the technology used under the product skin.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
In my opinion it is our (the designers) role along with engineers, to create effective and innovative projects, which hopefully will spark the will to create better and cleaner world for our society.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
The design field has always been part of human life (even before it was defined as design) and I am certain it will continue to be that way. We see more and more digitalization of our everyday life and I think design field will play even bigger role in this process.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
Watching how people live, behave, how they interact with others and with the products they use. I look at nature a lot.
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 think the style is vastly influenced by our background. Although I currently live in the UK, I was born and raised in Poland and I spent my young adult live in United States, most of the time in California, so by default my style has quite a lot of influences from those cultures. It is hard to describe my style as working with different clients requires quite often different approach to the projects. I 'd like to think about my style as... confident.
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 currently live in the UK but quite often I am in different countries in Europe, so it is hard to say that only one culture inspires my work. There is definitely one thing which is completely different in Europe, especially in the UK and way different in America - it is the space. I think when designing anything in Europe in general, we subconsciously use the space in little bit more economical manner.
How do you work with companies?
It is important for me to make sure I listen to the client requirements and ideas carefully. Good and smooth communication is also the key to successful collaboration.
What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
The best way to select a good designer... I reckon just by checking the dubieldesign.com website and then getting in touch with me:)
Can you talk a little about your design process?
I like to listen carefully what client has to say first. Then I research as much as possible, I sketch as many options as possible in given time. Then there is 3D modeling and visualization phase. It is good to organize the process in the way, so the clients can feel like is taking a part in the design process, so a proper face to face consultations are very valuable. It gives us (designers) and clients the opportunity to adjust and improve the design along the way, rather than investing time and money afterwards.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
I don't really have any at home that I really like that much.
Can you describe a day in your life?
Besides the obvious ones, I work a lot - designing is my passion. There is always something that can be improved. I like to have my sketchbook and pen always close to me, in case some idea comes.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
I don't think I am in the position I can suggest to others how to design. Well, maybe there will be one thing, that I can actually say - never give up, just keep pushing (finding solutions to problems) until it's done.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
I don't really see any negatives. I love what I do. There are many positive aspects of being the designer. Working in creative environments, meeting interesting people, visiting exciting places and most important being able to create new stuff.
What skills are most important for a designer?
I think one of the most important would be: being able to visually communicate the ideas.
Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Most of the time it is a pen/pencil and my sketchbook, but I would say the Photoshop is the major tool in my toolbox.
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
I don't think there is one answer to it. It depends on what type of product is being designed and on the complexity of this product.
What was your most important job experience?
Seeing the full size working prototype of the bus, which was just a sketch a year earlier.
Who are some of your clients?
Well, the Torqway Sp.z o.o. from Torun is one of my most important client. I have recently worked with Chinese bus manufacturer Jiangsu ALfa Bus located near Shanghai.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I would love to keep growing as a designer and hopefully Dubiel Design will participate in many successful projects, developing eco friendly, sustainable and beautiful vehicles for the better future.
How can people contact you?
The best would be to email me at dubielddesign@yaho.com, or call me at +44 7789553818
Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
No, but I would like to say thank you very much for your interest and time.

Extended Interview with Zbigniew Dubiel

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I have been professionally working as a transportation designer for nearly ten years. After graduating from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, California, where I received the Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Transportation/Automotive Design, I joined Solaris Bus and Coach as a bus designer. This was my professional start.
How did you become a designer?
I always loved vehicles: cars, trucks buses. As a child, my back pages of school notebooks were always filled with drawings of cars, bikes, trucks,shoes. I thought of something and I would draw it. I just like to imagine new things, seeing things being improved, better, nicer. Although I would like to improve many aspects of our everyday life, due to my speciality and passion, I focus mainly on transportation.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I design all kinds of vehicles. Mainly public transit ones. I would like to work more on next generation of autonomous buses, delivery trucks and vans.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
I don't really consider myself as a legend but if I had to give out prospect designers any advice, I think it would be not to give up, try hard and if it doesn't work, find another solution and try harder.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
I think we need to look at the great designers and their achievements.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
I think when any product, space, building or a service makes its users life easier, more pleasant, safer, more relaxing and on the top of it, it brings joy, that means that it was not only well engineered but also very well designed.
What is your day to day look like?
One of the things I would love to design in the near future would be new, fully electric with completely rethinked technical platform coach bus. We need them.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
Possibly good planning and time management, aesthetic management, staying open for new inspirations and ideas.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
One of them would certainly be Mr. Tom Matano - original Mazda Miata designer and my former Transportation Design teacher and director of Industrial Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I learned a lot from him.
What is your biggest design work?
This days I really admire the new Tesla car sporty exterior and minimalistic interior design. Great use of the latest technology in a practical and easy to use package. I am also a big fan of simplistic design style of Dieter Rams.
Who is your favourite designer?
I think looking back at Harley Earl era and the cars he designed makes me always very inspired. I love the emotions coming from those huge sweeping and elegant forms.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
I think, besides hard work and being motivated it is really quite personal thing how you get better.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
"Design" already has a established definition, but for me personally, I would say it is a constant and infinite process of creating functional, intuitive and importantly beautiful things which help us with our daily lives.

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