Interview with Erik Christopher DeMelo

I love making stuff.

I chose to become a product designer.

I design all kinds of products. But at the moment I do a lot of tools and machines for leather processing. I like making tools in general so I am pretty content doing what I am doing right now.

Well first off I would not classify my self as a design legend. Nor do I really understand the drive to become one quite frankly. Just enjoy what you do and make things that have value that others can use to realize their goals as best as you can. Let God take care of the rest.

The line between good and great is one of service. If your really seek to be a great designer than serve others well with your talents.

Look at an Apple iPhone or Macbook Pro and you tell me. There is a perfect example of good design.

Good design means you need or want less because it ultimately satisfies. That is the value of it and why it's worth the investment.

It would be fun to make a totally custom bicycle from scratch.

Making something I would want to buy and use. I am a bit picky with my product choices.

Deter Rams, Cecilie Manz, Jonathan Ive to name a few. The universal man Leonardo da Vinci, and men/women like him have always inspired me.

I recently got a Beoplay A1 speaker which is a beautiful piece of hardware. Very clean, minimal aesthetic that is appropriated for its purpose.

The Kwik Set handpress is certainty climbing up the ranks quickly as my greatest design. I have created many kitchen based tools which work great. I personally enjoy using them and so do a lot people based on Amazon reviews and write ups. Those products I admit don't have the same presents this particular one does.

By God's grace I grew up in a wonderful and supportive family who encouraged me to pursue my talents. I was fortunate to work with very talented people from a young age and had plentify of divine appointments along the way to help me get to where I am today. My wife is pretty amazing too. I would not have won this award without her.

The design world is not too easy. In the beginning it takes time to find your strength and skill. As I gain experience, I begin to see the value I can bring to the team, company and my clients. Its very similar to the way you approach product design actually. Building self-confidence is both challenging and rewarding.

You should always put your best foot forward. For example a clean professional and well thought out content for the intended audience is important. If you are not great at a certain aspect like graphic design, have someone give you suggestions and keep it simple. Make sure you can communicate your interest , ideas and processes well.

Ivan Leathercraft Co., LTD was founded in 1980, the company has been serving the needs of leather crafters around the globe for 37 years providing a wide range of products, fresh designs, innovative tools and machinery.

Ivan Leathercraft Co., Ltd. is the brainchild of a leathercraft initiative led by Mrs. Szu-Ti Feng, the creative director and Mr. Hsiu-Keen Chen, the president of the firm. Thanks to Mrs. Feng’s long-standing craftsmanship know-how and Mr. Chen’s exceptional experience in the product development field and his business acumen, together they managed to bring to life a successful enterprise that has turned the Taiwan-based company into an industry leading and globally recognized leathercraft brand and manufacturer.

The company specializes in product innovation of hand tools, buckles, conchos and other accessories to be mainly used in the small leather goods and Do-It-Yourself leathercraft sectors. Carrying over 100,000 items and exporting to more than 80 countries worldwide, Ivan Leathercraft is one of the world’s largest leathercraft suppliers. Since 2010, the company has also entered into the retail market in Taiwan that has grown steadily over the years, with 3 stores in Taiwan island-wide and 1 store in Hong Kong.

Ivan Leathercraft is committed to the sustainability of our environment by ever improving the use of materials and our manufacturing processes. Since 2011, we began the process of switching our buckle and concho production to use lead-free materials, and for new items that require plating, we only use environmentally responsible plating processes.

Design is the combination of form and function which is harmoniously fused into an object.

Tools happen to be my favorite thing to work on.

This is an difficult question to answer in part because I don't have any one thing in particular in mind.

The first product I designed was a blood glucose monitor while I was interning at AgaMatrix, a Boston company that specializes in innovative solutions in diabetes care.

I enjoy working with steel but I also have extensive experience in other materials such as wood and plastics.

Usually in the morning.

Concept and engineering phases.

It depends. Especially when deadlines are tight you can have intense feelings of anxiety and stress to get the outcome you envision. The opposite is true when you have a strong concept, a well planned execution strategy and time on your side. At times like this, it is a pleasant and enjoyable state of affairs.

Happiness and satisfaction.

Designs that are successful to me are those that meet the needs of users, as well as brings them delight.

There are a lot of designs that look amazing but it does not necessarily make them good designs. How it works and the user interface are vital aspects to consider. Good designs happen when all parts and experiences deliver.

Stewardship and preservation are really the responsibilities of all of us. It's tricky though as the world testifies against mans pursuits in both the societal and environmental realm though not totally. My approach is to make great products that have timelessness and durability at their core.

The design field is so broad now and has so many facets it's mind boggling. Compound that with constant changes in technology, tools and capabilities it can truly overwhelm someone. I believe designers will need to have a pretty broad spectrum and a systematic mentality when they are faced with problems or challenges. That has always been the case, but technology is blurring the lines between what once was impossible to now which it's not only possible its probable.

My last exhibition took place at the Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island, USA in 2005.

I use digital content all the time from design blogs, Pinterest etc... I like building and fixing things so a lot of inspiration comes from how others solve people's problems in our built environment.

Simple, honest and timeless are words I would use to describe my approach. I can't say I adhere to a certain design style. Though I do love and have a deep appreciation for certain ones.

I currently live in Taiwan with my wife and daughter. I am a native New Yorker and have very much an american approach to my designs. That means they need to be beneficial at the right price for the intended audience.

Carefully and set realistic expectations and deliverables.

Companies should know that designers are really a very technical and skilled advocate for the end users and ultimately want to give the users the best experience possible. That is great but realize that this is a very tricky balancing act which I am sure Steve Jobs could tell you has incredible rewards or failures all baked in. Ultimately you need to make sure the designer understands the big picture. Sometimes the big picture is not to make the best product, rather the needs to fill a certain void. When selecting a designer it's important to get one with the most appropriate personality and skill set that can thrive in you company environment.

My design process is most likely similar to all other designers because quite frankly it works. Research, concept development, evaluation that inevitably goes back and forth a number of times. Also a good idea is talking with factories early on. Chances are if you think something might be hard to make or expensive then it probably is and need to know fast so you don't waste time. Also some makers can give you good ideas if you have a good relationship with them.

I love my bike, Sonos, iPad Pro, DWR cross extension table, Eames lounge chair.

Hectic. I am responsible for all internally designed products, engineering and have to see it through production. I also travel a lot and have to manage what customer wants and their expectations. Everybody wanted everything yesterday mentality is what I get a lot of. I am totally convinced most people think things just fall out of the sky and exist.

Well first and for most I am a Christian and completely know that we are created for a purpose and have infinite value in God sight. So much so that God gave us his son not to condemn us but to save us. If you don't think that is important than you have no idea how difficult the life of an artist or designer can be. It is natural for us to equate our worth through our work. But what if you find yourself rejected or contanstly getting laid off? Beside if you derive your worth based on your constant performance you will be miserable. When you should be having fun. After all design really is a great field. If I could give some advice, it would be simply "find out what your strengths are and pitch that to your future employers". You don't have to be prefect because no one is, just do a few thing well and know what they are. Over time your confidence and skill set will grow.

We all want to make something that has value, and being a designer certainly lends you that opportunity. Like most things in life the road in the design field is loaded with frustration, set backs and sometimes the massive disappointments. But if you stay the course and you enjoy it, there are great rewards like seeing or hearing people take great delight in using something you've made. Those moments are nice. It's the end users that determine the value of your product, not you.

Do not forget the people you are designing for! If they can't use it , can't afford it, or do not want it than it's a failure.

Problem solving is important. Knowing how to work through issues and technical set backs can make all the difference. Your tools and how you use those tools are important and are vital assets to get to the end goals. Tools can be learned and everyone will have different mastery of them. What I found harder to learn is critical thinking and having an organized process.

Solidworks, Solidworks Composer, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Keyshot, Outlook, Preform and Simply 3D.

Yes it absolutely can be. You really need to determine how important something is and how much time and resources it will need to get the task done. I personally like to get rid of the low hang fruit first that can yield results fast. And keep large on going projects simmering and give them focused blocks of time when things free up a bit. It works well but you have to be organized and very strategic.

Seriously! It really depends. If you want me to design a tool rack or a piece of machinery you are going to get two very different answers. Also it depends on how big your team is and who is in it. For some thing simple I can design it in a week or two with technical drawings and have a 3D sample in hand. Unfortunately, not everything designers work on has the luxury of time in your favor. In general, better results are begotten the more time you spend on them and having a clear direction and parameters help speed things up. It's also important to know when and what projects need time to work through and those that do not.

The main question that inadvertently comes up everytime I am asked about my profession is what products do you design?

I have had the opportunity to have many great job experiences. In both design and non design related fields. All the experiences have helped me get to where I am today.

Tandy Leather is one of the important customers we support.

Personally I love the challenge and the trouble shooting it takes to make great products. I am a systems kinda of guy, so a variety of large and smaller projects mixed in is fun. My favorite part is the concept development and engineering parts, and the back and forth it usually takes to get the project to the next level. I spend a great deal of time working in 3D environments and running round to factories all over Asia.

I work as the director of product design for Ivan leathercraft which is our family business. There are so many projects and things that require my attention that I will be in this for the foreseeable future.

While I enjoy team projects, lately I have been running a lot of solo projects that needed my attention in the office.

Not at this time.

Email is the best way to reach me.