Designer Interview
19 questions
It all started in my early 20's. I have always been attracted by furniture. My first steps in design came from a cabinet making shop that I have been establishing at 24.
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?
It all started in my early 20's. I have always been attracted by furniture. My first steps in design came from a cabinet making shop that I have been establishing at 24. From the day I saw the LC2 chair from Le Corbusier, I knew that I wanted to be a designer forever.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I own a design studio named Topo Design from the past 20 years. I met my partner almost 20 years ago and we started our collaboration from that time. We decided to found the GPA design studio in order to «officialize» our work
togheter.
What is "design" for you?
Design is a way of life. It's «intelligence» in the thinking process. To me, it should be related to human evolution.
It's gonna take some time...
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I mostly design furniture for the contract market. Technology is the base. I often start from that.
I like challenges in searching for solutions. Airport seating, office furniture, etc. are my favorite specially when it's involving complex systems.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
I like very much concepts from Alberto Meda (Vitra, Alias etc.) whos design approach connects with me.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
My real first design was an exhibit system made from aluminium. With a few partners we founded a company to manufacture it and sell it. So I have been a CEO for almost 10 years.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I dont limit myself to just a few materials, but I should say that aluminium is my favorite.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
I would say 5 prototypes of our projects, buy it's gonna sound pretentious and arrogant so I wont...
Can you describe a day in your life?
I wake up, have breakfast, and then try to have fun working all day, cook a fine dinner and go to bed trying to have nice dreams...
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
I teach industrial design at the Montreal University school of industrial design for more than 10 years.
I always tell my students to open their eyes and their ears to everything - arts and culture, economy, politics, etc.
This help you to make links in your mind and find your way to be a good creator.
From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
The positive is related to the the act of searching and finding solutions which could be extremely pleasant and exciting. On the other side it is a 24 hour passion. My wife is sometimes asking where is the«off» swicht ?
What is your "golden rule" in design?
Simplicity, which is quite a challenge when dealing with complex systems.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Curiosity, curiosity, curiosity and passion if I can called these «skills»
How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
Depending on the type of project, I would say that it often take a year before it's on the market.
Sometimes it takes longer. There is no rule.
What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
Where do you find ideas ?
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
To retire as late as possible...
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I sometimes work solo on projects, but more of them are developped with my friend and partner architect Luc Plante
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Right now we are still developping a contemporary door system made from aluminium. Opposing to what's on the market, it is very flexible and it became some sort of a creative platform for interior designers and architects.
The name of the company we recently started in order to manufacture and commercialize the concept is carrying well this idea : Sesame creative doors.
How can people contact you?
www.topodesign.ca
