Interview with Jon Walker

dwiss is a young company concerned with designing products and services that help people behave sustainably. We collaborate with academics, students, designers and makers from across Europe.

Working out how to compete a task with simplicity and style.

Practical objects that make the task in hand easy.

I like Mies van der Rohe's Barcelona chair - proportionally elegant, durable, simple and functional.

The dwiss is our first offering.

Wood is my favourite. I'm enjoying the possibility of 3D printing.

Whilst taking an early morning run.

Human interaction and component interfaces.

Focus, clarity, satisfaction.

Satisfaction, joy, pride.

Functionality that gives rise to elegant form.

How well it achieves its purpose.

Design in a way that supports the circular economy - the conservative use of sustainable materials to develop durable products that can be easily repaired.

The value of design is being ever more realised. Design will move to a more central position in human evolution.

September 2016 at Tent, which is part of London Design Fair. We're hoping to exhibit at Stockholm's Furniture and Light Fair in 2018.

People and world around us. I like using public transport and walking round public spaces to see people and how the interact with the world around them.

Simple, sustainable and elegant. I'm a minimalist and so this style works for me.

I live in Sheffield, UK. We have a strong history of making, starting with steel and cutlery. I think that the durability of this material and product is captured in my designs.

In a real collaborative win/win way.

Listen to their ideas and give them space. I think selectin is gut feel, so extended conversations work best when selecting a designer.

It's very much based around the 'design-thinking' approach. My designs are about the user, providing them with a solution. So rapid prototyping and feedback are key.

An old Singer sewing machine - beautiful engineering. A pan set that we got as a wedding present - simple and durable. A Wedgewood vase that we inherited for some flamboyance. A cutlery set that we also inherited - dripping with Sheffield heritage. My Orange mountain bike - fun!

Rise as early as I can, meditate and shower. Get the kids up and off to school. Come home and design. Lunch and then make calls / have meetings. Then get the kids to bed and grab dinner with my wife.

Talk to as many people as possible to understand an issue from multiple perspectives - you never fully understand anything so react more than you plan.

Positives are freedom of expression, creativity, craftsmanship. Negatives include uncertainty, doubt...

Never consider anything as finished yet know when to walk away.

Communication, vision, ability to suspend judgement.

I tend to sketch in a book and knock up prototypes. I work with the people that are skilled in the use of software to create the digital models.

I don't try and manage it too much but I do apply the principle that sometimes done is better than perfect and move on.

It can be hours or it can be years. The dwiss has been over 10 years in the making but I designed a desk in a few hours.

How did you come up with the idea?

It was actually writing a quality procedure - it talk me how to capture expertise.

In the interest of their privacy I'd rather not say.

The concept stage right at the beginning, when an idea flickers into your mind.

Developing a low cost version of the dwiss made from surplus material that we can supply as a 'product as a service'.

As a team.

I've a desk that I'm working on. The idea is that it can be shipped flat pack to anywhere in the world and built using something as a basic as a rock.

jon@yourdwiss.com

Anyone can design, just think of something that you need help with.