Interviews with Jose Roca

The main idea behind this design is to make a memory over our heritage as Colombians and reflect on our past and traditions.

I wanted to create an object that challenge the normal perception or conceptions over it. That is why I decided to create a money bank that will be displayed wide open and not hidden and shy.

Start production right away and promote it in my country.

The main concept took around two weeks. Refining it with its proportions and materials took around three months.

This design was born from a personal need of getting an object where I could place the items I carry on my pockets when I get home.

By the moment I am producing it by myself. But I am open to anyone interested in getting the production rights.

The need to be organized.

I look for tons of references of money banks, to filter what I found interesting on them and how could I make it better, also check on the pre-Columbian crafts that can be found in Museo de Oro in Bogotá, Colombia.

Anyone who want a decorative item that tells a story, to open room for a dialogue that goes around heritage, myths and history.

This object is not just a money bank. This is a tribute for heritage.

Tamsa is the Muiscas term used to refer to offerings or tributes, a term that is coherent with the main purpose of this object.

At the beginning I made use of the classical pen and paper. After this used different resources as CAD and paper models to define proportions and dimensions. Also where made play and wood prototypes.

Is an unexpected object. As seen for the first time, this cannot be directly related to a money bank. So it creates a surprise effect when discover its main purpose and relationship with the myth that inspired it.

I had help of a local workshop called Casa de Barro where the molds and first pieces where developed.

This is a mixture of handcraft and machinery, since the vase is made by hand and the dish is made through an embossing process.

Expert surveys where made to define the most pleasant proportion, materials and finishing combinations and assembly methods.

The main challenges appeared during the production face, where some parts and olds had to be remade a few times to get the final and proper dimension.

I was motivated by some colleagues who had made part of this competition in the past and helped me understand all the benefits of making part of this selected group.

Helped me being more organized and efficient in the creation of new projects.

I graduated in 2013 as a Product Design Engineering from EAFIT University in Medellin, Colombia. After I did a design management Specialization. Subsequeltly moved to Milan to get my Master of Science in Interior and Product Design from SPD (Scuola Politecnica di Design).

I had a 1 year internship in a designs studio in Milan and moved back to Colombia to become partner at Totem 3d and dictate class at the school of design in EAFIT University.

I became a designer because I want to contribute to the world creating objects that take the user out of their routine.

Since a litte kid I was creating and inventing random machines and artifacts. So I would say I didn't choose, neither I was forced. But I was born to become a designer

I design daily object, that can be found in any house. I wnt to design more of these objects filled with historical and cultura heritage.

Design something that express yourself. That when you see it can be related inmediaty with you.

Great designer is eyecatching, give smart solutions,

In terms on how it impact the user on its experience.

Good ddesign makes life easiers, and enjoyable.

I would like to design a surreal homeware collection for Alessi.

Create unspected reactions.

Achille Castiglioni, Gerrit Rietveld, Ettore Sottsass, Ross Lovegrove, Michael Graves, Charles Eames.

Achille Castiglioni's Sella stool. I consider it so simple but yet so cleaver and full of meaning.

Be curious and ask "why?" to the world.

Probably doctor.

Design is a process of organizing ideas to make life better in any aspect of a journey.

My parents, teachers adn friends who always supported me with advice and courage to continue.

I do not consider myself a great designer yet. I am making my way to it.

Learning understand the needs of the user.

Adapt to the situation. Change your speech depending on who you are talking to and alway go with a big smile.

I am already working on a desklamp.

To get in history books. One day my name will be told in design classrooms.

to be open with knowledge and willing to help others that are starting as once i did.

Is the way we think and plan the future. Design is the process to get better as individuals an society.

I am working on a project of 3d visual representation.

TAMSA. Is my first A'Design Award.

Stop copying.

The design is moving to the digital era. Working focused on service design.

Depend on the client and budget. Normaly takes between 2-6 months.

Researching needs of the user. Trying understand their beheavior.

Curious of the world, Curious of life

Depending on the industry it can change this concept.

Depending on the project, technology can me seen as the milestone for the project.

Creo, 3D Max, Photoshop, Illustrator.

It set the basis to define the mood that will be provoque on the viewer/user.

Tell the story.

"how i did'nt had that idea before?"

Someone propositive that fill my flaws.

My teachers from SPD.

Practice.

Charles Eames, Achille Castiglioni, Mondrian, Rothko.

I try to be humble about it and continue working.

Red-Blue, the botanic garden of my city, Pizza, Autum, a pen/pencil, Alessi.

Once I was in a furniture and consturction exhibition in Bogotá, Colombia where Ross Lovegrove was going to give a private presentation. So to get in the conference i became friend of the organizers the day of the presentation and helped them set the plance. In the end i could get in even though i wasn't invited.

The progress that i've made untill now motivate me to continue trying to make it better.

I always knew i wanted to create new objects and inventions, not necessarily as a designer, nut as a cientific.

The humans will be living in other planets. Maybe not with this phisical form.

I have problems to sleep, i go late to bed and wake up super early. Waking up earlier if i have some pending duties.

Also i am always worried about time (not to be late, to do everything i want).

Since I was a child I used to invent and modify artifacts at home, grew up as a very curious kid and enjoy learning new things every day. The first time I heard the word design was when I had ten years, in a cars magazine where was an article about the British designer Ross Lovegrove, in this article they mentioned all his achievements and products. Since that day I wanted to be like him, and change the world making more useful and attractive products.

My company mainly focused on 3D visual representation, we work making renders and animations for the construction industry and some publicity. But in my spare time I design and produce limited editions of ideas that pop up in my head in the middle of the night.

Design for me is something that make part of each individual, is found on each aspect of our day by day. From the moment you wake up and plan your day where you are designing your journey to the moment you get bat to bed.

I really enjoy creating furniture and decorative items, because are products that allow me to experiment with different materials and technology to look for a different way to perceive and experience the objects.

Is difficult to say because every design i like have a particular and unique aspect that makes me appreciate it and make it impossible to compare one from another.

A set of sparkling bottles for an italian Glasss blowing company that wanted to create a new iconic bottle for the italian sparkling wine Prosecco.

Recently I started to get involve into handcraft materials. Recalling the traditional methods that goes hand by hand with the "glocal" concept, that promote the idea of consuming products made in your location.

When I am doing something else but thinking about work. That is why I have alot of hobbies, is in these moments when my brain start generating random ideas that then are filtered and organized into design opportunities.

Next to the spetial attention to details, presenting ideas that brings an unspected solutions and suggests different ways of function is part of the main aspects I focus during designing.

Most of the time is a feeling of joy for being rethinking the future. Offcourse there can be times of insecurities when the projects doesn't go as smooth as planned, but those are the moments when I focus the most and succeed.

It is a feeling of five minutes joy and then start thinking how can I make it better.

The one that appeal to the emotions of the user, easy to use, attractive to the view and can be related to something personal.

It have to surprise, solve problems in such a smart way that makes me wonder "how I didn't think about that?"

Every designer should create objects that makes life for the mankind more comfortable and sustainable. Bring new and smart solution fo todays difficulties with the less impact to the environment.

in the future everybody will be more pleased to design their own things with tools as 3d printes and AI. Everybody will create their own objetcs from zero, totally customizable.

I have never made an exhibition by myself. I have participated as a designer intern in the design of the Toyota Exhibition "setsuna" for Salone del Mobile in Milan 2016. I am scoring to participate in the Wanted design 2021 to present Tamsa.

Inspiration hit me every time I learn something new, I try to see how I can implement this new knowledge in a diffetent way from how it is been used.

I do not consider to have a particular style since many of my projects are driven by emotions, but I can tell I like more sober products, that do not abuse of color and shape but focuse on details. Finishings, tactile and visual are my main purpose.

I live in Medellin, Colombia. I really enjoy living and working here due to the multicultural heritage can be seen here. Also is a a "pushed forward" society that never get stuck with a problem, always find a solution and move on.

Usualy I approach to them with new and refreshed ideas that i look to take forward in the market. Becoming a relationship of co-creation.

Be more open mind and trust designers desitions. It is okay to make suggestions but also listen to the designer into why it can or cannot be a good idea the one you suggest.

To select a good designer I suggest to go through different portfolios and choose the one you consier goes better with our company philosophy.

It all star with an extensive form exporation that usually get inspired from abstract volumes and shapes that after several iterations becomes a composition that please the functional and aesthetical needs for the project. Also in my design process, experimentation is essential. Where trying new combinations of materials and processes hep define new perception and not so obvious solutions.

I have a bottle of water design by Ross Lovegrove to the company Tynant, One of the Panton chair Scale models from Vitra, The Juicy Salif of Philippe Starck, my Marshall headphones major iii and garbino of Karim Rashid for umbra.

Usualy I wake up around 4 am, do some t25 excercises. After that, take a shower, get dressed and prepare breakfast. From there, my day can vary widely depending on the projects I am coordinating at the university that semester. When I am not dictating class at EAFIT University, I am working with my partners in the projects we have running by the moment. And during the weekends I develope self ideas, go to the workshops around the city to get materials or processes done as needed by the idea I am working on by the moment.

Work hard, be curious and never compare yourself to no one.

The positive are that you can take your imagination to the next level and aport to the future. A negative aspect would be the difficulties of beginning, learning to charge and make ourself a name in the industry.

Look for a different way to do it and evoque emotions.

Conceptualizing, being able to create ideas that tells a stor,y not just being able to make any object but to create something that the user can feel a conection with.

I look for alot of references on internet, checking magazines and other designs, enjoy going to the bookstore to look for theories of design books and new methods to experiment.

wake up early and go to bed late.

Depending on the complexity of the project in terms of concept and experimantation, it can take from three to six months of continuous work to develop a complete project.

Usually I get asked where do I get my ideas from?

When I was doing an internship in Milan, I had the oportunity to make part of the creation of the exhibition for Toyota in Salone del Mobile 2016.

Mainly I design for myself. Creating limited editions of my designs and sold under self promotion.

I enjoy designing products that play with perception, provoque conversations and interact with the user and the environment.

For me, design is a continuous process that evolve everyday to better. In my future I see myself materializing ideas from my crazy mind and promoting them in a gloca context.

Most of my work is developed by myself with help of local workshops from my city.

As always I have around two projects in the drawing tabe at the moment. But there cannot be mentioned until a further stage in the process. By the time these are still on an early stage.

through my email: joesr.1915@gmail.com or via whatsapp +57 3008322359