Interviews with Christos Yordamlis

My basic principle for designing the sofa "LOOVER" was to differentiate myself from the standard model of a sofa. The idea came from looking at the first letter of my name, which is "C". So, I thought it might reflect the floor plan of a sofa with a single back and arms. The extension of my thinking was to place another "C", one below the other, to have a three-dimensional version of the main idea of the sofa.

My main focus in designing this sofa has been the way it is assembled. Its parts are separate and detachable, connected together in a way that does not require the use of tools, while this does not negatively affect its static balance and sturdiness. For this reason the assembling and disassembling of this sofa is extremely simple and uncomplicated.

I have already built a sofa in order to use it at the first opportunity in an exhibition. The best scenario would be a company that manufactures high quality furniture to buy or to lease the production rights and put it into production.

The initial capture of the idea took me a few minutes. Afterwards, it took me a few days to figure out how to apply the individual elements that make up the sofa and how to design it on Autocad.

I was not asked to design such an item. It was the inspiration of the moment. I design various furniture in order to create my own collection and this sofa is a product of this process.

I’d rather not produce my work by myself because I prefer to be the one who just has the inspiration and designs. My intention is to sell or lease the production rights to a company who has the power to manufacture my work and feature it.

I have always been fond of sofas. They are my favorite pieces of furniture. Even though there are many different types of sofas it was a great challenge for me to differentiate and design something unique.

Not specifically, but there is always a general influence from all the pictures we see around us.

My design fits well to workplaces, hotel lobbies, and private homes. It is intended for customers who are looking for special and high-quality furniture in order to equip and decorate their space and are willing to pay for it.

As far as I am aware, there is no other design similar to mine, so I can’t make any comparison.

When I first looked at my design, it reminded me of an open louver. At the same time, the word “louver” reminded me of the word “lover”. And that’s how the name “Loover” came up, as a combination of the two words.

The tools that I used when I was working on this project were Autocad 3D and 3dsmax.

The fact that my design is simple and not complicated by adjusting the individual elements of each one. At the same time, I made sure that this simplicity did not downgrade the overall aesthetic aspect of the design.

I collaborated with a carpenter, who cut and formed the wood elements in a CNC router, and a blacksmith who made the metal frame and the rest of the metal parts.

The role of technology was important in this particular design, if you take under consideration that I used design programs and a CNC router to manufacture it.

My design is not influenced by analytical research or data.

The only difficulty I faced was the realization of the sofa. I had to find the suitable manufacturers in order to do the job for me and it was at that time that I realized that none of them wanted to deal with only one piece. Things would be easier for me if I was interested in the production of a bigger number of sofas.

I decided to submit my design to an international design competition because I wanted to demonstrate that it was a special and remarkable design. Except from this I wanted to win all the benefits an award would offer me.

The simpler a design is, the more interesting it becomes.

No, I think that it was sufficient. Thank you very much for your consideration.

After completing my bachelor’s degree in industrial infrastructure engineering, I started working as a supervising engineer for housing construction companies. Even though I had always had a calling for drawing and design, it was then that I realized how much architecture and interior design interested me. I started to attend courses to become familiar with design and drafting software applications and some architecture courses as well, in order to develop some ideas of my own.

After three consecutive visits to the " Salone del Mobile" exhibition in Milan, my interest focused on furniture. My enthusiasm for all these ideas and designs that I saw sparked my desire to design furniture.

It is in my nature to be an artist and design is my way of art. I need to feel the joy of creation and to express myself through it. I became a designer for the joy the manifestation of one’s designs bring. I want to leave my own legacy in the field of design.

It was my choice to be a designer. I think it would not work if I had been forced to become one. I had always been, and still am involved in music professionally but long hours at construction sites and in front of a laptop hindered that endeavor. I had to find another way to be creative and release that energy.

I have no restrictions on what I might design in the future. What is certain is that so far all my ideas and visions have been for furniture and I would like to evolve in that field.

Young designers must have passion and faith in what they are doing. They have to overcome their insecurity and not be influenced by any negative comments. They should work hard, try for the best and take risks.

A good designer has good ideas that usually need to be improved. A great designer pays attention to every detail of his design, so he can give a flawless result. Α great designer is always a source of inspiration and a role model for a good designer.

I think that details make the difference between a really good design and a good design. A good design must be smart, innovative, functional and timeless.

What better way to live than to be surrounded by objects that are aesthetically pleasing while helping make our lives better and more comfortable.

If I had the time I would design a children’s wooden bicycle for my son.

The dream project I haven’t yet had time to realize is the chance to furnish an entire hotel unit.

Having nothing to lose. Being secluded in Greece, far from major design hubs and communities, all I could do was follow my heart and intuition, without any contact of feedback and the pressures that come with it. I had nothing to prove and no idea of my worth. So I guess you just have to do what feels right, and if it sticks it sticks.

Some of my favorite designers I get inspired from are Philippe Starck and Karim Rashid.

Some of my favorite designs by other designers are:

1.Filoferru chair by Robby Cantarutti and Partners

2.Inkline collection by Karim Rashid

3.Bucefalo sofa by Emanuele Canova

And many more…

I like them because of their aesthetics. Amazing ideas that I would have loved to have designed myself!

My greatest design is "LOOVER" sofa. The uniqueness of this sofa is a result of the way it is assembled. Its parts are separate and detachable, connected together in a way that does not require the use of tools, while this does not affect negatively on its static balance and sturdiness. For this reason the assembling and disassembling of this sofa is extremely simple and uncomplicated, done without the need of nuts, bolts, screws, glue or other such materials.

Many people are artists and can come up with beautiful designs. Like I said the trick is to get the design to be useful, sturdy, economical, long lasting. You have to test it, use it yourself, live with it, constantly improve it. I think it is intuitive.

Like I said, I especially love playing music. If I had not become a designer, I would have pursued my career as a singer/composer more rigorously.

Design is a way of expression, even a way of life. It comprises my vision of how the world can be more beautiful, more attractive, more interesting, and more functional. It is a bridge that connects the past with the future.

My biggest supporter was my wife, who believed in me and my designs. She was always encouraging me and giving me the strength to carry on.

Funding! Prototypes are expensive and difficult to invest in when you have not yet had any success in the field to motivate you.

There are many projects I am working on. The one I believe most is a chair I designed and intend to manufacture, to see how it works and what impact it will make. Winning the A’ Design Award is a great motive for me to keep going and do great things.

My ultimate goal as a designer is to master my craft, become renowned in the field of design and to collaborate with big companies of the design industry.

Design can be considered as a form as a form of human intervention to make our surroundings more hospitable and functional. It is a mean to improve our way of living.

It depends on how clear the idea of the design is in my mind and how complicated it might be. The time varies from one day to two weeks.

The simpler a design is, the more interesting it becomes.

I believe that design sets the trends.

It depends. Sometimes I think that I could have thought it myself and some other times I think: "I wish it was an idea of mine"!

This is my first award and it feels great. It took an extra amount of effort to realize these designs, I faced a lot of rejection locally so it is really affirming to receive international recognition from peers of the highest esteem. I am excited for the future.

Grey, Firenze, spagetti bolognese, my electric guitar, diesel.

I started working as a supervising engineer in housing construction companies. It was then that I realized how architecture and interior design interested me. After three consecutive visits to the " Salone del Mobile" exhibition in Milan, my interest focused on furniture. My enthusiasm for all these ideas and designs that I saw sparked my desire to design furniture.

I don't have much to tell you about my design studio, as it has only been recently that I have built a corporate identity and begun constructing, with outside partners, some of the furniture I've designed.

Design is a way of expression, even a way of life. It comprises my vision of how the world can be more beautiful, more attractive, more interesting, and more functional. It is a bridge that connects the past with the future.

I especially like designing furniture, home furniture or office furniture. I also don't rule out the possibility of designing something else in the future, depending on the stimulus and inspiration I have.

My favorite design is the sofa "LOUVER", for which I received an award in this competition. Its concept was complete to me from the start. No alterations were needed, just improvements on the way its parts could blend. It is a sofa I would gladly put in my house.

The first thing I designed for a company was an exhibition stand.

My favorite materials are wood and metal. I believe that the combination of these two materials broadens the potential of a design and the possibilities of its utilization.

There is no set time during which I feel most creative. I always have ideas in my mind, which I am constantly processing until they are ready to come to fruition.

I make an effort for my designs to be simple and not complicated by adjusting the individual elements of each one. At the same time I ensure that this simplicity does not downgrade the overall esthetic aspect of the design.

I feel a sense of creativity, pleasure, relaxation, satisfaction, and love for what I do.

I feel joy, pride and satisfaction.

For a project to be successful, it must be original, innovative, stylish, functional and an improvement to lifestyle. Additionally, it must show respect to the environment.

In my opinion, a good design should be the result of an innovative and smart idea that combines aesthetics with functionality.

Since a designer can be a society influencer, he has to be very careful with every design proposal he makes. I believe that we ought to work on products and projects that impact the world in a positive way, keeping always in mind the protection of the environment.

I believe that the field of design is evolving rapidly, as there is a lot of competition, stimuli, updates and technological progress. So the future of design is bright!

I haven’t participated in any exhibitions so far. I would like my first entry to be in a big exhibition, of global interest, whenever and wherever possible.

I am inspired by every geometric shape that exists in nature. Of course, I constantly study new design trends, new materials and their applications and new technological developments. I also receive inspiration from observing the creations of other designers, although, of course, I always want to maintain my originality.

My design style is modern. It is characterized by refined lines, minimalist silhouettes and natural shapes. I aspire to break away from the standard method of furniture manufacturing by avoiding the use of screws, nails, pins, glue or other such materials. I design furniture with parts that are assembled and joined together in elaborate ways, to produce high-quality elegant pieces that in no way lack in sturdiness and durability.

I live in Greece. I believe that designing does not thrive in my country, although there are many great Greek designers, awarded and renowned abroad. We have not yet overcome some prejudices and as a result, commercial activity in terms of design is somewhat denigrated. Of course it's never too late.

I haven't had the chance to work with a company yet, but it is something that I would be very interested in. I believe that a good partnership is based on a common vision, a common policy, trust and mutual goals towards progress and recognition. I would very much like to work with a company that holds these ideals.

I believe that a company should share common philosophies and ideas of aesthetics with the designers it chooses. The criteria should be the professionalism and consistency of each designer-partner.

A design starts with an idea that quickly becomes an image in my mind. I first sketch it. Often I create a model to see how the design works as a small-scale construction. Then I use design programs, such as Autocad, to perfect the design, and 3dsmax to add textures and materials to give it a photorealistic effect.

My 5 favorite designer items in my home are the following:

1. A leather "butterfly" chair

2. Alessi’s famous citrus-squeezer " Juicy Salif", designed by Philippe Starck

3. A floor lamp called "Cage", which I designed

4. The Colombo handles named "Fedra" on the interior doors of my house

5. The black vintage dining set" Fer Forge", which has glass surface and pop-art fabric.

An average day in my life includes a lot of designing, as I work for a company that constructs exhibition stands. When I am done there, I design my own projects. I spend the rest of my time with my family, my lovely wife and my beloved son.

Young designers must have passion and faith in what they are doing. They have to overcome their insecurity and not be influenced by any negative comments. They should work hard and try for the best.

Positives: the joy of creativity, the ability to set my own schedule, the autonomy it provides me.

Negatives: the fact that I sometimes have to struggle for inspiration.

Don’t limit yourself. Have passion and design from your heart.

A designer must have imagination, be innovative and have enough experience to be able to assess the feasibility of particular designs.

The tools that I use during design are mainly design programs, books and magazines related to it. I get some information from the internet, as well.

When designing becomes time consuming, I take time from other activities, sometimes giving up sleep in order to catch up.

It depends on how complete the image of the object is in my mind and of course how complicated the object is.

"Where do you get your inspiration from and how easy is it to maintain that inspiration?"

The architectural design of a house and being solely in charge of the construction of the project and its interior decoration. It was a very important experience because I took it on from scratch and brought it to its completion.

As far as furniture design is concerned, I don’t have any regular clients but I’m looking forward to having some.

I am fascinated by the stage when I have finished with the design part and I am ready to try textures, materials and colors in the design to see it in its final shape.

If truth be told, I am wondering this myself. I am anxious to see what follows after my success at the A’ Design Award and to learn what this accomplishment holds for me. Of course, at the first opportunity I intend to take part in exhibitions and promote my designs by any means possible.

I develop my designs myself.

I have some works- in- progress but they are not yet completed. I’d rather keep them as surprises or maybe include them the next time I participate in the A’ Design Award.

They can find my contact details through my website: www.cyordamlis.com

No, I think that it was sufficient. Thank you very much for your consideration.