Interview with Rodrigo Berlim
Rodrigo Berlim is a Brazilian industrial designer and artisan whose practice intersects traditional woodworking with digital fabrication processes.
Designer of the Day Interview
22 May 2024
I have been working with design since 2006, initially with yacht design, developing factory projects, then the boat project as a whole, over the years I set up a woodshop to build furniture for boats and homes.
In my youth, I always liked drawing people and objects, at 18, I found a college that sparked an interest in using the talent I had learned, so I entered the world of industrial design
My priorities are function and ergonomics, having defined that, I seek to create something aesthetically pleasing and strong, I like the product to convey confidence that it will last
satisfaction, excitement, whenever I find something challenging to create
I always did figurative drawing, another important factor was my father was a home builder, so I had a lot of access to tools and manual work, it allowed me to be familiar with creating things, I always liked manual work, it made it a lot easier to build my own designs
My future plans are to be able to have my projects manufactured in series and benefiting several people
seek to leave the project, learn to use manual tools and manufacture their projects or prototypes, this experience makes project development evolve
who seek to learn the manufacturing steps, processes and procedures, when you know how to manufacture, everything becomes easier to design
I always go to my carpentry shop, organize, see the materials, design, develop projects for my clients and participate in the manufacturing
Trends are important, they always guide us towards innovation, it is important to be up to date, look for new manufacturing options, aesthetics, sustainable materials
When a design delivers a solution to a problem, it's not just about aesthetics, aesthetics are important to make the solution pleasant and friendly
It's like a piece of art, you look at it, test it, feel it, present it to different people, collect suggestions, modify it and test it again, when you finally feel satisfied, it seems to be ready.
an 80-foot personal yacht
none in specific
exercises, reading, nature, painting, carving
My company is small, I work with customized projects most of the time, always looking to deliver something durable, beautiful and functional
teaching carpentry to people, initiation into furniture making
Mainly, it is a huge challenge, having a unique project in the world, something truly innovative, winning the award is consummating the fact that you manage to achieve innovation in your project, becoming a true designer, creator and trend influencer.
Interview about Velga Folding Chair Design Interview
Design Legend Interview
9 July 2024
I have a degree in industrial design since 2006, since then I have been working in the nautical industry primarily and producing other projects in parallel, I specialized in yacht design at the Instituto Europeo di Design IED in the yacht design course, years later I set up a carpentry shop where I dedicate my time to create furniture
I really liked drawing, painting, creating, I have a taste for manual work, this led me to the world of design, creating products
At first I would have liked to have been an architect, but I ended up choosing design
I like designing boats and their interiors, but when it comes to furniture, chairs are what attract me the most.
just the computer is not enough to create something, getting involved with production and processes are fundamental to understanding how to transform materials into the product you want
A great designer is always thinking ahead, beyond expectations, seeking results in the best possible and objective way.
design has to function in function, meet needs in general, aesthetics, function, ergonomics, market, sustainability, technology, and when you achieve all of this but in the simplest way possible you have a great design, simplicity is great
a good design is never easily discarded, we create attachment, as it probably meets our needs, and normally you use it until you can no longer use it
chairs, pehaps for IKEA
design a Mega Iate
not be afraid of making mistakes
no one in specific, but when it comes to furniture, I like Scandinavian and Japanese design
no specific design, I like everything that pleases me visually, I appreciate when the human-product interaction works perfectly
today is the Velga folding chair, The fact that the jury chose it tells me that it's the best piece I've done
I always seek to learn new ways of manufacturing
maybe he would have been a civil engineer or architect
design for me is the simple solution to a problem
my perfectionist head
a lot of work, a lot of study, a lot of mistakes, a lot of good and bad clients
first to a client, possibly with a prototype, however simple it may be, it works better than a virtual image
more chairs
a mega yacht in the water
teaching, advice
I believe it is creating sustainable products
Today I work doing nautical projects and making furniture
when I manufacture handcrafted furniture made of noble wood such as a table and chair
care with recycling and reusable products
I think the challenge will be competition with artificial intelligence
ends when the full scope of the brief and customer and end user satisfaction are achieved
I start with the main measurements and adapt the ergonomics
that my product lasts as long as possible and brings satisfaction to the user
visionary designers set the trends
auxiliar a fabricação para tornar o mais simples possivel
softwares 3D/2D CAD, Catia, Rhino, Autocad
make it comfortable and pleasant
I hope you ask me to create the best I can
admiration
my ideal partner is the one who complements knowledge that I don't have, who raises questions
anyone around me, I ask anyone their opinion
none in particular
learning from my mistakes and successes
Steve Jobs
I don't consider myself a famous person
Green, Itajaí, pasta, spring, tools, no particular brand
my father thought that when I went to design school, I would just design bird cages
When I'm asked to design something that I haven't designed yet
I thought I would be a visual artist and a firefighter
I hope we still have humanity
I don't know, I'm just a simple person
Designer Interview
28 July 2024
I always liked drawing, my father had many tools and helped me familiarize myself with manual work, so years later I discovered industrial design and pursued a degree
I have my own carpentry office where I produce my pieces manually
design is a solution above all, then simplicity
Chairs, are the most difficult pieces of furniture to manufacture
the velga chair, is a unique piece of furniture
a small boat with 15m
My favorite material is wood because of its versatility, as well as being the only raw material that can be replaced in nature
I feel more creative when I'm asked to design or build something I haven't done before
First I focus on function and ergonomics, this step will determine the entire dimension of the product, then I look for aesthetics and materials to make it strong
satisfaction, excitement, I like a challenging project, especially when I haven't completed something similar yet
relief and satisfaction mixed with happiness
when it goes beyond the briefing requirements, bringing a simple and unique solution
function and comfort, it is not enough to have a beautiful product without these two items
create sustainable things that can be easily recyclable and avoid obsolescence
the products with IA integrated, or multifunctions integrated in a net
My last exhibition was about art paint, 6 years ago
There are many hours of research to be able to create a new concept, in large part the ergonomics itself contributes to the format
I don't believe I have a specific style, but I like functional and simple things.
the cultural environment always influences us in some way, the woods I use are an example of this,
work on projects for other companies,
analyzing the designer's portfolio, if it matches the company's portfolio, with the objectives it intends to achieve
I always start with ergonomics, the user-product relationship is the foundation of the project, then I adapt the functionalities, I try to align a clean and simple aesthetic, and finally I develop the details of the components
I don't have anything specific favorite
I just go to my workshop, where everything starts and ends
always be an empty glass, ready to be filled with new content
Designers are always running after updates, everything changes daily, if you stay out of date for too long, it becomes difficult to keep up with trends
develop a product that the customer comes back to talk to you about hiring again
creativity, the level at which you can imagine something, rotate it, color it, change it, move it, all in your mind
It all starts with pencil and paper in most cases, then software, then handwork
I don't have a specific management, but in general when the mind is tired, it needs to rest, work on other things, take turns to continue developing
It depends on the project, the complexity, whether you will need prototypes or additional technical staff, it is difficult to say about deadlines
What do you draw?
It was the renovation of the wooden sailboat while I was a shipbuilding teacher, which transformed me into what I am today in terms of knowledge and skills.
I have everything from shipyards for boat projects, students and clients for residential furniture
coffee machines, many options to prepare just by pressing a button, magical
develop more furniture
I work alone, but I have had a team in the past
nothing relevant at the moment
nothing relevant at the moment
at the moment no