Interviews with Albert Potgieter

I started my own business in furniture making and designing in 2017 and I have been making functional art designs since 2019. My experience as an artist and creator started in 2017 when I started my business, but only really picked up in 2019 with the Optique Bench. Before that I was a Physiotherapist in South Africa.

I originally became a designer in 2017 because of a dream that God put in my heart to use design and craft to get people that need a second chance into the business and teach them and mentor them. Using my designs to reach people. So I started my business in 2017 without any experience or tools but only a dream in my heart, but it was only in 2019 that I started designing good Functional Art pieces.

I would definitely draw pictures or design concepts or ideas first, bu I prioritize more the building process and would often start it earlier than later. This is where I can see and feel the wood and the art piece often takes shape the best during this process.

A whole spectrum of emotions. Most often Joy as I like the process. But sometimes also frustration, doubts, gladness, then frustration again, but its definetly over shadowed by joy

O wow every part of it. Don’t under estimate the process. I have come to realize in life that the most important thing you can do is invest in your character, as this will affect everything that your hands touches. There is no shortcuts in life that lasts.

Probably the biggest skill to have as a designer is endurance and grit to never give up and keep trying new things. Keep taking those small steps, you don’t know where it will lead. The other important skill to have is putting people first. Having a community around you is most important. We were designed to be in community.

For the business I want to grow it into a place where I can get many people into the business and teach them and mentor them while we make exquisite designs. The next step now is to prepare for Milan Design week in June 2022. Then I would love to collaborate more with other companies as a designer to learn more from different industries and gain a network and then grow the business from there. My call for this business is bigger than myself and want to grow this business so that it can have an impact in peoples lives.

Don’t try to skip over small beginnings. Lay your foundations well. Do every thing your hands touch with excellence and then take one step at a time. Always keep your dream in your mind while continually taking that next step.

And just start. Most people have great ideas that never the the light because it just stays an idea.

Work the hardest on your own character. This affects everything you do. And then have joy in the process. Every step in the process is important, even the frustrating days. You need to go through it, so keep going. Creativity isn’t something that can be forced, create space to enjoy.

I usually start my day with a coffee and planning session. Writing everything that needs to be done on a white board in my workshop. Then I would jump right into it, either building prototype, custom design or sitting in the office designing something new. This changes everyday.

I like to make a good coffee in the morning while thinking of the day and also after lunch before jumping back into it.

There is a place to follow trends. To look at the facts of what people like, but at the same time I also try to stick to my style of designing.

Everyone will have a different idea about good design. I think the eyes has the biggest influence in this decision, but a design also had to be practical and achieve the goal of the design, not just look good. However the first impression is always the look of a design

It’s is probably in a feeling. It sits well with me. If a design is not done yet it will feel off when I look at it, it’s often difficult to point to the thing that needs to change, I have to go look for it, but it just feels not done.

I am the proudest of the Optique Bench. It is the start a whole new world of designs for me. Even if it’s not my best seller, it still feels like its the greatest success.

I like the work of Angelo Mangiorotti, Pierre Chapo, Arno de Clercq to name a few.

Most iconic designer and the one I would probably want to talk to is Michelangelo.

Favorite city - Budapest. Music is definitely a part of the process, I am always listening to music, but it is a wide range of music from classic to modern country. Fridays is country day at work :)

Currently I am in Rotterdam working on a new Optique Dining chair and a Urithi lounge chair

Culture probably does have an effect on my designs but I think it will probably be deeper. I think that what I spend my days with, habits etc will have a bigger effect

Yes I think it is easy to work with me or for me. I love people and to teach people. I do work alone mostly but I always try to surround myself with a community of people that supports or speaks into my designs, work and life.

When hiring or partnering with people, character is more important than skills. Skills can be learnt. When talking about culture in myself or business, I try to create a place of excellence, integrity and people focused.

My whole business was started to be able to give back, This is still very small and at the start, but I mentor and teach people while we design and create, I try to teach designing and making. I give back a portion of the business’ profits to charities and I give to a organization that plants trees with every design I sell.

I think the main contribution will be the networking potential it might have and the boost it will give in exposure. It is also however good to see if my designs are good or if it needs improvement. How it rates in a sense. Also it challenged me a lot on how to describe my designs and put into words what the designs are saying.

The inspiration for this design was nature. I was on the family game farm in South Africa while designing this piece and the result was a piece that portrays movement and carries the feeling of wild Africa.

The initial idea was to make a design out of off cut pieces of wood. The idea was to decrease waste and re-use pieces that might have been thrown away.

I would love to see this art piece in homes, museums and public spaces.

About 3 months

I decided to pursue an inspiration

The production of this design is done by myself. All my work is handmade. The selling and marketing of this product is done by me or by galleries that represent me.

I designed this piece because of an inspiration

The Art lover. It is an functional art piece. Designed to be functional as a furniture piece but also on the other side be inspirational and change the atmosphere of your house.

It is built up out of different small pieces of hard wood. Every piece of wood can be seen individually, but together it creates a totally different look.

The name Optique is French for Optic, meaning vision. This design created the illusion of movement and I wanted to bring out that aspect of the design

I only used paper and pencil for the design. I only designed a concept and then started to build and as the process went on made some changes a long the way. Designing, building, designing, building etc.

The visual aspect and that it is built up by a lot of little hardwood pieces.

No one. I designed and built it myself. Only running ideas through with my wife.

With this particular design I didn’t use so much technology. This piece was designed with paper and pencil, put together with glue and all handmade.

No this design was made purely on inspiration.

The challenges was to make sure all the pieces are put together in a way that is strong, so that it is functional. Also getting the right angles on the different pieces so that there is no gaps in between when glueing.

I wanted to take a chance and see what others out there think of it. Seeing how it holds up against other designs. Call it research if you will.

I learnt a lot of fine woodworking skills, also a lot of patience. I also learnt that making small changes can often great effect visually and structurally.

No this is great, thanks

I was a Physiotherapist in South Africa before I became a designer. I don’t really have a background or education in designing. I learned on the job.

The dream I have for the business is my motivation and the reason I became a designer. The dream for the business is that I can grow the business into a place where I can get people into the workshop (people without skills or education - off the streets or refugees etc), teach and mentor them and in that way use the business to have an impact in people’s lives.

I choose to be a designer, but it came because of the dream that God placed on my heart.

I design wooden functional art pieces. I would like to design more different products in the future and also more architectural designs.

Just start, take one step at a time and don’t give up.

I think balance. Just a great design is not good enough. You need to have more, like being able to work with people. Integrity, good communicator etc.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but also a good design needs to touch on functionality and look good. It needs more than one element of good.

There is a saying in my native language that translate into - buying cheap is buying expensive. And this is what good design can conquer. Good design can last a life time.

I love designing functional art objects like I do now but I would also like to design home spaces, like architectural design or interior designs.

I have a lounge chair design that I’ve been working on for quite some time. It has potential. I’d like to realize that.

Try and get away from the hustle and bustle of every day life. Go walking in the morning, take quiet time, get into nature. It’s only a full cup that can overflow.

Angelo Mangiorotti

George Nakashima

Pierre Chapo

Pierre chapo’s round dining table and shelving system

Sergio Rodriques’ Kilin Chair or Sheriff lounge chair

George Nakashima’s Conoid dining chair

There is something about simple strong lines in furniture that I really like and all of these above have that is some way.

I think of my Optique Bench as my greatest design. Just because of what it started. It was basically the first of my pieces that launch me into the Design world.

Don’t be scared to try new things and take chances. Well, you will probably be scared, but do it anyway.

Don’t stop learning from others. Don’t stop growing.

I would still have been a Physiotherapist

Design, now, is like a lifestyle to me, I can’t turn it off. I am always taking in different lines and shapes around me, always thinking of new ideas or designs. Design is trying to make something beautiful with whatever your hands are touching. Trying to create something better. Design is also a little bit of yourself or what you are going through that comes out.

Definitely my wife

People around me

There are many in different seasons, but the biggest obstacle I face currently is time management. Trying get things off my plate so I can focus on designing and not the 100 other things that I am not good at.

In their own style. Don’t all present it on a white background because that is what everyone does. Find your style and go for it.

I am designing a new Optique dining chair and some smaller abstract functional objects.

My ultimate goal is when I can grow my business into a place that mentors and teaches a multitude of people while making great handmade designs.

People expect to get what is promised or what is seen on pictures. The same quality and excellence every time

I think it challenges progression and is always pushing at change.

I am working on a more sculptural functional art range. Very excited!

Then I am also working on a design range that I use to mentor and teach people on. It’s very new but I have a few pieces already. The idea is that it should be minimalistic and have a lot in the pieces as to be able to teach skills on each piece.

The sculptural functional art pieces I mentioned above. The process is fun and the end result was better than I thought it will be.

I would like to see design incorporated into every company and every problem. Designers think out of the box and might find different solutions.

It seems like design is becoming more and more abstract but I think there will always be people that wants strong sculptural, minimalist and brutalist kind of designs and there might even come a time that people will fall back into that. More tangible design.

This depends on each piece. My own designs takes months from idea to prototype, but the making of the prototype usually takes between 1-2 weeks

I start with finalizing the design, ironing out the detail and try and make sure I know what the client wants. There will be communication back and forth until the client is happy.

Never stop growing.

Design sets the trends

My designs are hand made, but there is always technology playing a part. My design program and my tools are technology, the rest is manually

I design everything on my iPad on two apps - Concept and Shapr3D

Equipment that I use are quite a bit as I work mostly with wood and need all kinds of tools

O wow massive. One small change in either of these can make a massive difference in a design.

Where can I buy it :)

I like to look at it and study it. Trying to learn from it and take inspiration from it. I would often also like to find out how it is built or put together.

Yes definitely. I love collaboration. The ideal design partner would be someone that thinks different from me, so we can learn from each other and compliment each other.

People that I worked with in the past and sometimes still do.

Books that influence my character.

Good to great - Jim Collins

Becoming a King - Morgan Snyder

Chase the Lion - Mark Batterson

X - John Bevere

Driven by Eternity - John Bevere

By learning form others, taking chances, trying new things and trying think artistic first before thinking practical.

I would love to talk to Michelangelo, people like Pierre Chapo or George Nakashima

O my word. I’m not famous. I and my business still have so far to go. I don’t want to be famous, I want my designs to be well known yes because it brings exposure and with that I can use it to grow the business into a place where I can mentor people on those designs.

Color - earth colors

Place - Stellenbosch, South Africa or the Family farm in South Africa

Food - ribs

Season - definitely summer

Thing - Multi tool knife

Brand - leatherman

I once took a friend with to a exhibition opening and would tell him a few times, I’m just going to walk through the exhibition as I want to see the designs and meet people, but he would keep telling me he will just stay here with the food. Hahaha. I enjoyed that moment a lot.

I love working with wood and figuring out what piece will look the best where. It makes my day every day.

Also the place I work at is great with a lot of entrepreneurs

Hahaha no

In a thousand years I will probably still be doing this. Just with some different company around me and not for money but for the love of it

I would love people to know about the mentorship program that I started called Redemption Designs. The goal of all my designs and work is to grow this side of my business. To get to a place where I can mentor people and grow a furniture design business that makes hand made designs while having a impact on the people creating the designs.

Being a designer wasn’t always the plan, no. I was a Physiotherapist before when we lived in South Africa. When my wife and I moved to the Netherlands in 2017, I started the business on a dream to use art and design to help people. The dream is to get people into my business, off the streets or just people that life hasn’t been kind to and then mentor them and teach them while making good art and design pieces.

Albert Potgieter Designs is a functional art design studio. Specializing in the combination of wooden handmade furniture and art objects.

We also started the mentorship program called Redemption Designs, where we make minimalistic designs to teach people on.

Wow, this is a big question. Design is everywhere. Everywhere we go, in our houses, workplaces, buildings. Design is what shapes the spaces we live in. Personally for me, design is something that comes out through what I put in. If I am a lot in nature, then that will affect my designs. If I am in love, that will affect my designs. A bit of me goes into my designs everytime.

I like designing sculptural designs, because the process is slightly different for me. It is a lot like building a puzzle rather than designing on paper first.

Currently my favorite design is a sculptural side table called the Ahadi Side table. It’s made out of different pieces of wood designed into a mountain like sculptural look. Love the process of that design.

A conference table

My favorite material is Walnut wood

When I am in nature or on the farm in South Africa

I focus more on the parts that you see most. Or for a table I will focus more on the legs, for a dining chair I will focus more on the back, but a lounge chair maybe more on the sides.

Mostly Joy :) but sometimes frustration, in those times when the design gets stuck

Excitement

I think when a design is both practical and beautiful. So basically when it serves its purpose it was designed for, but also captures attention visually

Practicality and a close second is what it looks like.

Improvement is probably the biggest responsibility. Every project that a designer does, can’t be one dimensional but other aspects needs to be taken into consideration. Beauty can’t be the only aspect. Development or the practical aspects needs to be thought of as well. What is the vision or aim of the design?

I think it is growing and expanding into more areas of life. More and more people or organizations are taking the design of a project into consideration and not just the functionality of it. Visual aspects are becoming more and more important but also designers tend to think out of the box and creatively and more and more organizations are starting to see the need for this in their business.

My last exhibition was February 2021. Rotterdam Art week in Rotterdam

My inspiration comes from observing my surroundings, especially nature, the greatest design. I try to always be aware wherever I go, always looking and feeling. I try to take in different lines and shapes in nature, in architecture in other designs around me.

I don’t know if there is a name for my style but tend to, mostly, design an idea on paper or my program, but then I go to the workshop and start playing around with the idea, with pieces of wood and try a few things. If I get stuck I will go back to the paper and then go back to the workshop.

This style is something I taught myself, as I used my senses I learnt as a Physiotherapist to look and feel and then this method developed as I was just trying new things. The designing and building process becomes one through this process of designing.

I live in Rotterdam, Netherlands but I am actually from South Africa. This definitely affects my designs. You can see a bit of the wild, nature from Africa in my designs.

Pros - There is a uniqueness in my designs because I come from South Africa, but now lives in the Netherlands

Cons - I think sometimes my designs can be to crazy and I have to always keep in mind the simplicity that is also needed when it comes to designs.

I like working with any company. I like people so working with companies and trying to realize their vision or goal is really an enjoyable challenge.

The think firstly you need to choose a person before you choose a designer. You need to be able to get along with that person and be able to talk through things or being able to change things if needed without a relationship going sour.

My design process starts by jotting down ideas, making photos of shapes or lines that I find beautiful. This sparks design concepts in my head, which I will then start to draw roughly. From here I will start to draw more concrete designs in my CAD program. At this point my process differs from design to design, sometimes I will start working in my workshop on the design before the drawing is completely done, other times I will finish the drawing first.

My Optique Bench. The first of its kind with all its inperfections is standing at my house.

A sideboard design I made for my wife but now holds all the kids toys

Our Dining table

Our desk I made custom for our house

A desk chair I made custom for my wife

I would wake up at 5:30 (not always but I try to) then I will go down to our living room and spend some quiet time just me and the Lord. Then usually between 6 and 6:30 I will take coffee to my wife and my daughter will also start to wake up around this time. Then the day starts. Making porridge, getting dressed, dressing my daughter. Depending on the day I would take her to school and then go to the workshop after, where I would either design, do a custom job or mentor and teach someone while doing carpentry. Then going home at 5pm to go play with my daughter, eat together as a family and get ready for bed.

Just start. That idea that you have, don’t wait until it is this grand idea. Start small, start now, start with one step. You don’t know where the path will lead you but you can control your feet.

Keep going. It doesn’t matter how many times you fall, never stop. Learn from your mistakes and move forward. If you never give up, you can never fail.

The positives are the things I get to see. The talent, the designs and art I get to see while collaborating or on an exhibition. I love it. Also a positive for me is the creative process. It’s such an exciting process and to see where it comes from and what comes from it is often amazing.

The negatives are that I can’t switch the creative process off. It’s always running and brain is always thinking of new ideas.

Too much is too much

Endurance

Fall forward

Never be afraid to try new things

Never stop learning

Don’t forget to look up - people skills

I use my IPad and Apple Pencil to design. Apps - Concept, Shapr3D

And then also have a drawing book and white board in my workshop

I try and put time aside or sometimes I will put a day in a week out, but there also needs to be a cut off time.

Oe this differs a lot. It often starts months before with just ideas and designing here and there on paper or program.

The prototype building process will often take at least a week.

Where do you get your inspiration from

Doing restoration work on 20th century designer furniture at Jarno Kooijman

It differs a lot from galleries to private clients

I love designing abstract functional objects. It’s challenging and I really like to play with different shapes and lines.

Currently I am working on the mentorship program we just started and the new design line we started to mentor each person on. This is the beginning of a big dream that can potentially affect a big amount of people.

I develop the designs myself

I have two designs that I am very excited about. The one is called Ahadi (Meaning Promise in Swahili) range which is sculptural functional objects and the other is textured wood furniture designs called Urithi- meaning Heritage in Swahili

Email is probably the best

Admin@albertpogieter.com

Or through my website

https://albertpotgieter.com/contact/

No thanks. This was good