Interview with Responsive Spaces
Responsive Spaces is a studio for creative technology, that creates and develops immersive and interactive brand experiences.
Design Legend Interview
25 April 2018
I studied "Media Technology and Design" and always considered myself as a rather technical person. After the university I spent almost 20 years working in the digital field. Starting as a pure developer I grew into new roles as the agency I worked for grew as well. The design aspect of our projects became more important to me over time. To me, I´m still not a designer at all, but consider myself quite capable in regards of interaction design and creative use of technology to create unique and fitting ways to enable people to interact with it.
I don´t consider myself a designer. I like to see myself as a storyteller who uses any kind of digital technology that´s feasable to lifts the storytelling to new heights. Technology used in a design-thinking kind of way that is focussing solely on the story or message and never just because something is technically doable is art to me.
I kind of just happened. Thinking more like a designer in different aspects of our work feels like a natural development, if I think back. As our projects evolved and got more complex and sophisticated, the role of any kind of design just grew by itself.
My team and I, we create, design and develop walkable and tangable digital installations, at the edge between digital worlds and physical places. That´s were the company´s name Responsive Spaces derives from.
I would not dare to call myself a design legend. On the one hand I´m way to young for this and on the other hand I still consider myself more a creator than a designer.
Stubbornness. Great designers don´t go for compromises. Keeping an open mind and surrounding yourself with great people helps as well.
For our digital installation this answer is easy. If they are not design well in every aspect, they fail in their purpose. The graphical design, the spatial design and especially the interaction design can´t be overstated.
Building a complete interactive and immersive exhibition area or brand land for an international brand would be for sure a dream project.
Always staying childish, curious and never thinking something can´t be done.
If my company, Responsive Spaces, establishes itself as an international recognized agency für interactive and digital installations, than I´d be very satisfied and happy. Something like an ultimate goal doesn´t really exist, because what would it mean, if someone reaches it. What would be next?
The larger part of our projects gives my team and myself satisfaction. At least we know the whole story behind those projects and those stories are all unique. Since we love what we do, the satisfaction comes by itself.
For our projects, the role of technology can´t be overstated because it´s the base for everything that we do. Sometimes it´s really a pitty, that we always strive to hide the technology as much as possible. Perfectly hidden technology would appear as pure magic and give the perfect stage for the stories and messages we want to tell.
Leonardo da Vinci.
Never. But than again, I still don´t think I am a conventional designer. I´d stick to terms like creator, technology-oriented storyteller or interaction developer.
Designer Interview
11 November 2020
For almost 20 years I´m working solely in digital media. I consider myself more a creator than a designer but aren´t all the roles blending nowadays anyway?
Responsive Spaces develops walkable and tangible digital installation. Therefore we work at the intersection of the digital and the physical world.
Everything that draws and keeps my attention.
Technology-based interactive storytelling in different scenarios for different clients
None. I really like to stay away from such boundaries as a favorite "somehing".
When my team and myself sit together in some sort of brainstorming and all of a sudden things start to flow.
Does it serve the purpose and is it helping the overall story?
Joy. For 20 years now.
If our projects stun people and still manage to make sure that our clients messages get through. We have a focus on B2B communication and truly successful projects don´t feel like business but trigger curiosity and joy.
Do I understand it?
Design is THE key. Functionality with nowadays technology should be automatic.
Responsive Spaces does all its work for other companies and it´s always a collaborative process.
Focus on the story. Never use technology just for the purpose of the technology, but use it to lift the story to new heights.
I consider myself not a pure designer, since my team and I develop walkable and tangible digital installation. Nevertheless for me, the main skill is multidisciplinary and the self-control to keep the right focus.
Looking back I have to say that every experience is important. The most important lesson I learned though is, that being courageous and being able to sometimes convince a client to be courageous too, is a challenge but offers huge potential.
BMW, Cineplexx, Delacon Biotechnik, Primetals Technologies, ZKW Group, Kraftwerk Living Technologies, ...
Responsive Spaces as a company is 4 years of age at the moment. The development and growth of Responsive Spaces, that´s what´s next for me.
The team of Responsive Spaces features 10 very different minds with different backgrounds and specialties. Everything we do is a team effort.
visit us at: www.re-spaces.com or vimeo.com/responsivespaces or contact me at mp@re-spaces.com.
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