Interview with César Bejarano

I have never wanted a real job because I have always wanted to live off what I consider my talent, or at least my favorite thing to do, which is design. Since I was a kid I wanted to be an architect, which I am, but I find that I like the scale of industrial design better for me. I still love designing everything and anything that has 3 dimensions.

Who would force me?

Everything that comes in 3 dimensions. No graphic design.

I don't think I will be able to answer that even if I ever become a design legend.

I wish I knew.

First, I consider if it's something that has a real application. Is it really needed or is it vain? If it's needed, can it be improved in some way, any way? If all of this comes together with a beautiful object, then for me, that's good design.

Because it's good.

I do have the time. I design for myself, hoping others will like it.

I dream along as I go along.

I'm not successful yet. I'm still working on it. I don't think there's really a formula though. The creation process is anything but linear, and no ingredient is a constant. Each project is different and therefore the ingredients change constantly. If I had to answer something, I guess it would be that I enjoy what I do. I enjoy creating.

No legends or masters for me.

I have a lot, none in particular. I must like them each for different things.

I think my best design is a DIY vertical gardening system called Cara de Planta, which I created. I think it's great because it not only outperforms the rest of the systems out there, it does it in the most stylish and pragmatist way possible.

Just knowing there is always room for improvement is enough.

We are all designers. Everything man-made is designed. So everyone is a designer. I would still be a designer, but maybe just in a more boring industry.

Design is everything that is man made. Design and art are symbiotic, but a designer is not an artist, while an artist is definitely a designer.

I have not reached anything, but I have always had the support of my parents.

I will never become a great designer. Even designers that are considered great by others are still working on greatness. If you think you have achieved greatness, then really you have reached your peak, and that's not something I want.

I'm always facing obstacles, never becoming a master.

Excellently.

A lot of things, for both questions.

Live off royalties from a myriad of designs I did for different brands.

What means this question?

It's the other way around. A better society helps create better design. It's really a cycle. Who comes first? The chicken or the egg?

Everything.

The ones I still like, because they still give me satisfaction.

I think companies put too much weight on the name of the designer, while there are a lot of amazing unknown designers. The design should be the one to speak, never the designer.

I hope somewhere out of where it is now, giving less importance to aesthetics and trends.

It depends on the scale and complexity of the object. For me, since I don't design things that surpass my knowledge, I take very little time.

Sometimes in the beginning, sometimes in the end, sometimes in the middle.

I am Antipop; I'll run against the grain till the day I drop. I am the Antipop; the man you cannot stop.

I don't think those two should exist together. Design by definition should ignore trends.

It's a tool. Like any tool, it's there to make things easier, so it's very important.

Just the ordinary things.

These are elements of design. All elements of design are important.

I would like for them to not ask anything. If they understand it completely, then the interaction between design and user has been successful, and this is what defines good design.

Ideally I would always design alone. I don't think co-design is the most practical way to approach design. Design is something very personal. And still, every team has a leader. The reason for this is because if not, chaos ensues. Even though chaos is welcome in design, it's abundant. Why look for more with an extra head?

No one in particular, but surely everyone in some measure.

Same answer as above.

I'm still developing skills as a designer, a regular one.

I don't know. Anything I could say would sound very pretentious.

I'm not famous. And I don't think even the most famous designers will ever reach the level of fame that becomes unbearable.

Color: purple and orange...and yellow...Place? Everywhere but my hometown of Monterrey, México...

Designing makes my day great.

It was obvious I had creativity.

I don't think about it that much. I stay saner that way.

Antipop is formed by two words: Anti, which means against, and pop, which stands for popular. It doesn't mean that we are against popular things. We aren't. It just means that we won't follow trends. We will do what's right for the project. In Antipop we design things that we like, and hope that everyone likes them too.

Design is the process of creation of anything, from idea to embodiment. Everything that is man made has gone through the process of design.

I like to design things that are not too complex in their function. I also like a small scale. Small objects or pieces of furniture.

I don't have a favorite anything, but plenty of favorites of everything.

An office. I started out as an architect.

I love the possibilities 3D printing offers. Especially when you can do it for so many materials.

Always, especially when I'm awake.

I focus on not focusing on one aspect. I take care to consider everything which I find important in a design, from function to aesthetic, and even production processes and the way it is likely to be sold and transported.

I feel good. It's fun for me.

It's the best thing. I feel like I have been validated by myself, which is the hardest and most important to me.

When you as the designer love it, and so does everyone else.

I like things that are intelligent and original. They also have to be memorable and not generic.

I feel our responsibilities as designers are to produce design while trying not to produce waste, in any way it comes. If we are responsible for making things, then we are also responsible for what happens to those things once their life cycle is over. Cradle to cradle.

Right now I don't think it's evolving. Sometimes I feel it's the opposite. I notice a trend in which designers are giving a lot of importance to vain objects, which translate to vain design. We are designing things whose main purpose is to decorate, with no function whatsoever. Anyone can make something pretty, the real value is making something pretty while adding value to our lives, or at the very least, not subtracting value from the world.

Last exhibition was at Milan. Next one will be Maison et Objet or Salone del Mobile Milan.

I take inspiration from wherever it comes from, and I really never know.

I would describe my style as non-existent. I design for each project, and the project is what sets the style. Sometimes fancy is required, sometimes playful. Maybe I would describe my style then as versatile, very flexible. Really non-existent.

I am from México but I recently moved to Madrid, Spain. I don't feel that the cultural heritage of my country affects my designs, however, I know it must, even if I am unable to be aware of it. And I'm glad it does.

Perfectly.

I won't be so bold as to suggest anything, but I think companies put too much weight on the name of the designer, while there are a lot of amazing unknown designers. The design should be the one to speak, never the designer.

It's fast. Very fast.

I just own my clothes and my dog. I try not to buy things on purpose, even though I would love to buy everything. As a designer, it's hard, but I prefer to keep my life uncluttered, so I can move easily from place to place. I decided to exchange enjoying objects for experiences exclusively.

It's never stressful. That's the constant. I wake up when I want to, and go to bed when I want to. In between I create.

I have no wisdom to impart. I'm not wise. But maybe I would just say: Don't be pretentious.

I can't think of anything in particular. It has ups and downs like everything.

Don't obey rules (if they don't make sense).

All of them.

Every project is different, so the tools needed are different.

It depends on each person and the scale and complexity of the object. For me, since I don't design things that surpass my knowledge, I take very little time.

How do you pay your bills?

I have hated every job I have ever had. All two of them.

Name dropping? No. Also, I don't have any, I'm just getting started.

If it involves being creative, and all design work does, I enjoy it.

I want to design for starting brands rather than famous ones.

No teams for me. Design is easier as one person. Others might disagree. I disagree with others.

A lot of them, but why talk about them? They will be worth talking about when and if they are produced. And then, I hope talking won't be needed. Good design speaks for itself.

Through email: cesar@againstdesign.com, or through my website: http://beantipop.com/