Designer Interview
21 questions
I'm a High School Industrial Design student and I'm going to be studying product design at the School of the Art Institute of Design next year.
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'm a High School Industrial Design student and I'm going to be studying product design at the School of the Art Institute of Design next year.
What is "design" for you?
Right now as I'm studying the role that interactions and interfaces play in this discipline I got to a point where design is less physical and more ephemeral meaning that is becoming more and more about mediating the digital world with the real products. The success of a designers in the future will be based upon the ability of the latter to implement the two worlds.
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
I'm still a student though I like design services.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
There are a whole bunch although since my award winning design is a chair .. the steel wood chair designed by the Boroullec brothers is for sure one of my favorite as it doesn't need pointless explanation it is undoubtably a synthesis of all the correct traits a modern chair should have.
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
A coin tray for an e-commerce located in Pavia at age 14.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Right now I would say CNC applied to steel and/or aluminium is quite fascinating.
When do you feel the most creative?
I'm a creative by nature therefore I don't have specific moments.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Ergonomy and I always try to put myself in the user condition in order to throughly understand what I'm doing.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
It is a blend of fear and happiness the two overwhelmed by a sense of anxiety that I'm not going to finish on time.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
I've had so few realized that when I saw them I only felt pride.
What makes a design successful?
Several factors from what I experienced it all depends on the mindset of the different people/organization involved in the manufacturing and/or in the design process itself. You can tell if a product is going to be successful from the early stage when it's being developed.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The impact that the object had at its time and on future generations. For instance an object might not be a market success but it could sure have an impact on future designs.
From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
It sounds cheesy I know but if a designer puts the sustainability of a product he/she is designing as the main outcome they want to achieve, we would all live in a better and green world.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
Design is getting more and more theoretical and as we move forward this discipline will branch out even more spanning from furniture (classic) to establish the relationships that will inevitably happen between the man and AI. Design will serve as the mediator to better understand the interactions that we have with machines.
What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
Eames Chair, Macintosh 1984, Tuppleware cans for the kitchen, a glass table in the living room very well-crafted and obviously Teresa Chair.
Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
I'm still in the young section and I have a lot to learn yet, I know that. Though it is important to experience the real world and don't get too caught up in school projects that sometimes limit you.
What skills are most important for a designer?
Having a philosophy for a designer is a skill for me as well as having a why. These two combined will go on a long way.
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
I'm going to study product design in Chicago where I hope to meet like-minded people who can nurture me with great advice not only in design but in business as well.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
For now by myself even though I worked on a project with someone else in the past.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
Yes I'm working on a digital watch that I named after my high school design professor and a lock system which will take more time. Right now I'm also studying for finals.
How can people contact you?
I highly suggest the readers to check my bechance profile. It is where I post most of my finished works.
