Vilius Dringelis

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’ve always wanted to create what doesn’t exist. In a sense, to create an independent world. In 2014, I graduated from the Vilnius Academy of Arts, Bachelor of Design, I am currently studying for a Master's degree at the same university and have been working professionally in a personal design studio for ten years. I like to attach great importance to the creative process, to coincidences.

What is "design" for you?

Design is a means for me to express a position and create authentic products. I’m not interested in trendy design or just functional. My philosophy embodies design as art.

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

Our studio works with various orders. We work with furniture, accessories, packaging, books and more. We are not afraid to experiment.

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

We work with a variety of materials and technologies to create an innovative product. However, I always prefer natural materials: bronze, aluminum, wood, glass, and so on.

When do you feel the most creative?

I feel most creative when I start to discover a strong and emotional connection with a project or client. In addition, I am inspired by the people around me, their strange actions. I’m always interested in the relationship between error and rules, different contexts. There are always interesting phenomena in this space.

Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

The most important goal is to create for the person, the world and to discover innovative ideas that make us improve.

What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

The most important thing in creation is the process. When I create, I can feel free and independent.

What makes a design successful?

For us, successful design is one that expands thinking. We are not a classic design studio. We are artists, so the narrative of originality and the philosophy we tell are important to us. There is a lot of unnecessary and repetitive design being created in the world that has no sense, so we value innovative thinking, whether it’s provocative or positive.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

The last exhibition took place at the Budapest Design Week, where the Lithuanian design exposition was presented by the Lithuanian Design Forum.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

I can’t explain where creativity comes from, probably from a variety of circumstances. I think it is always important for the developer to be at a disadvantage, because in that case the mind starts to think more and look for creative solutions.

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?

At the moment, I am more inclined to be expressive. I am very interested in materials and their possibilities, I pay a lot of attention to the process. Of course, I don’t rule out that functionality is important, but I’m more interested in expression and new possibilities, even in violation of production rules.

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?

Currently living in Lithuania, I see a lot of talented designers who create very interesting things and are valued in the world. There is a lot of nature in Lithuania that is close to cities, so we can spend time both in a modern city and in the forests and be close. I think these circumstances inspire me the most. We feel great respect for our ancestors, but at the same time we are open to the world.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

We can interpret that designers contributed to the surplus of mass-produced items. However, this is more a consequence of the industry. In any case, we must think responsibly when creating. The designer both fifty years ago and now works as a sculptor, having forms, content and looking for a wide variety of new stories. The most interesting thing about this profession for me is that we can build the future. There are a wide variety of design genres and they all still create our environment and emotion.

What is your "golden rule" in design?

Because we have our own approach to design, we work with clients who are like-minded and believe in our ideas. When starting a project, we always try to talk as widely as possible about whether we can help each other. We will never do anything that could harm society, nature, animals, people, that is our guiding principle.

What skills are most important for a designer?

The designer must be open and always look for new solutions, not be afraid to stray to the margins and discover something there. These are key qualities, and everything else can be learned in practice.

How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

It depends on the project. When working with clients, we set the exact time. When creating personal projects, we can sometimes take up to five years and sometimes a month.

Who are some of your clients?

We work with art galleries, art institutions, theaters, cafes, businesses, etc. We are open, but it is important that the client is curious and willing to create something new.

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

I am interested in innovative, modern digital technologies and a variety of materials that create unique things.

What are your future plans? What is next for you?

We are currently creating a design shop where we want to present our philosophical works, objects that will be available for purchase.

How can people contact you?

You can always write, we are available 24 hours a day: info@dringelis.com