Interview with Thomas Rauscher

To have a job based on freedom and questioning the world, as well as satisfying clients.

I chose to become designer.

I started with furniture. But when dealing with the creative process itself I realized, that it does not depend so much on the type but more on the idea itself. Hence creativity is the essence to follow.

Be and stay original!

A good designer is successful and earns much money - a great designer does not have to, he / she follows his / her own aims.

Definitely not the numbers of sold products, it is the quality and conversion of the idea behind the design.

The value of good design is to increase the amount of options and solutions for problems.

With my latest project www.bysomeone.com I try to come a step closer to the what and who - designing whatever comes to my mind and handing these ideas to anyone who likes to use them.

Two publications on the theory of creativity - how to find more needles in haystacks than you expect.

"There must be another solution to the problem than I know right now - find it!"

This is quite difficult to answer, I have a strong connection to minimalism, design reduced to a bare essence. This does not mean having a person as an archetype but more of a direction.

Basically I like all designs that reduce its idea to a bare minimum.

Right now it is my latest project bysomeone.com as it changes the way of dealing with ideas and connecting creatives with local manufacturers and potential users worldwide.

Following your ideas, not listening to people telling you the world works in this or that way.

Becoming a surgeon.

One of some ways to define and have an impact on the future.

People supporting me to develop a free mind and will

The belief that things might also work in different ways.

People telling me this and that does not work.

Upright and standing to it - it is the idea that counts. But also knowing that it can be improved, the idea is never the final solution.

The next project is bysomeone.com, a creative source for designer, manufacturer and user. Its aim is to give an alternative to established ways of dealing with ideas, production and reaching clients.

Being able to earn enough money to make creating ideas my only task.

by giving more choices and opportunities

www.bysomeone.com

right now it is three that come to my mind - a shelving system, the folding chair and bysomeone.com - all three are united in the way of creating them, or better how the initial idea came up in an instant moment...

more courage

to the user

Depending on the size of the project - from a few hours to days or month.

Focussing on the project for some time and then forgetting about it - freeing my mind and getting inspirations.

Astonish me!

This depends on the orientation of the designer - if you want to have success and earn money - your have to follow trends. If you are independent and follow your own rules you increase your chances to set new trends, but it is less likely to become famous or earn much money.

A minor one - technology comes into play when the idea is born. It helps converting it to a product.

pen and paper for the start, later tools, materials and a workshop or computer and software like Cinema4D in the following phase.

These given aspects color and ambient play a minor role, as they are independent from the idea itself. The material is more important, as the idea depends on it converted to a product.

Curiosity...

Wow - great idea...

Someone who has a strong belief in ideas and also is looking for innovation.

All those who gave constructive critics.

Might sound superficial - Paul Arden "It´s not how good you are..." and Austin Kleon "Show your work!"

Mark Zuckerberg

no, because I am not...

black, San Francisco, n/a, late spring, n/a, n/a

The astonishing moment when I had the idea of the folding chair, made a simple prototype of two panels, a piece of used carpet and a stapler within a few moments and sat on it for the first time - this conversion from "uhh - this will not work" to "WOW! - It works!"

When having the feeling you came up with an astonishing idea or at least you made a step forward creating one.

No, I wanted to become a surgeon.

Hopefully mankind still exists. If so - it will be much unimaginable different from now (ask a person born in 1000 ad how mankind would look like today - that would be fun!)

Visit www.bysomeone.com and join!

Paul Arden once said something, that is true - "If you can´t solve a problem, it is because you´re playing by the rules". Products can be seen as problems, too. So the crucial aspect in the design process is to find the rules and breaking them.

Design is about ideas that push the limits.

There are no preferences. Ok - as a carpenter and interior designer I have a strong connection to furniture design. But in the end it´s all about creativity and ideas. Based on this it does not matter if you design a chair or a website, only the knowledge needed to do so differs.

Might sound funny - the human brain. It grants us experiencing, understanding and challenging the world. So to say - the mother of all design.

A shelving system.

There are no favorites.

On one hand when having freed my mind from stress and daily obstacles. On the other hand - when not thinking about design - sitting on a chair or standing in the kitchen (as example) and just starring around with your mind going no - and anywhere.

There must be a alternative solution to the problem.

The full scope - from being sad and doubting myself to being the happiest person in the world.

When it gives an alternative, hence success is defined by the idea, not by numbers of sold products.

the idea behind the design

Again - might sound funny - making the world a better place and offering solutions to problems that might change the way we ss things

I know this will provoke, but I am deeply convinced, that in a not too distant future computer / machines will also become creative. Why? Because our brain is limited - we do not see all options when designing. Programs might access a much greater database and algorithms to convert data into ideas.

Laufen (Switzerland), Design Junction 2014

I almost keep it like Andy Warhol " I never read, I just look at pictures".

minimal and different from others

I live in Germany. But I would not be able to define what German design would be and why I fit into this or why I do not fit. I think the most important aspect is the freedom this country grants to creative people.

It is like a good relationship - knowing / respecting the needs of the company and showing possibilities.

Consider even ideas, that might seem absurd right now - they might have a spark to change your company successfully.

I have no defined process designing thing - only a favorite feeling - the best ideas come with "Heureka". It means that the creation of the idea is a feeling of surprise in a positive way.

an old chair for children (where I sit on and think of nothing), Puppy by Magis (that gives me a smile everytime I look at it), Hoyoyo (Print of Takashi Murakami, also giving me smile and reminding me of Los Angeles), all my books on art, Art Pen by Rotring - my favorite pen for sketching.

There are basically only corner stones like getting up early and going to bed late. Everything in between depends on the day, like assignments, creative flow, and so on.

Again a quote - Paul Arden "Astonish Me!" You can substitute me with yourself, your client or the user. It is crucial never to give up looking for this moment of astonishment - this is more important than becoming famous as it gives you a satisfaction money or fame cannot buy.

The most positive aspect is freeing yourself from limits or standards and following your own thoughts. The most negative one comes from the positive one - by not coping with standards your success is limited as mayor companies might not have interest in you.

There is a different way to use / manufacture a product - find it!

questioning the world of products and the way we commonly use them

First of all - the aim (what do I want to design), sometimes a chart of aspects of product to design, for inspiration books / internet for inspiration, a sketch book and a pen, much time for staring into space. When having an initial idea worth following I use a 3D - Software (Cinema4D, AutoCAD) to visualize it or just go to my workshop and build a prototype.

The management of time depends on the deadlines given or tasks to reach within a certain time. Hence there is no schedule that works everytime.

There are two different approaches - designing for myself and designing for a company. The former - some ideas come up within short times, others take month or even years. As there are no time limits I do not need to force a solution and can think of it whenever I want to. The latter - always within the given timeline.

There are no such questions...

It is the idea that counts!

architecture offices, smaller companies

It does not depend on the type of design - it is more the feeling having created something new, that astonishes me.

My next major project is bysomeone.com - an open platform for designer, manufacturer and user.

Mostly I work on my own.

www.bysomeone.com - the creative source. This network is my latest project. Its purpose is to share such ideas like the folding chair, including all necessary information so anyone can build it by himself / herself. Why giving away the ideas for free? Very simple - I did not find a company to produce it - shall I trash this idea in a drawer hidden from the world?
I´m sure I am not the only one having such ideas. Hence this platform is open for all creative to join in and share their works.

via telephone, mail or on bysomeone.com