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Interviews with Eric Lalande
Designer profileDesign Legend Interview
23 April 2021
As a kid, I would always try to figure out how objects and products were made. Eventually, it was just a natural progression.
Curiosity is my driving force.
I chose to become a designer. I am a late bloomer (lol).
Useful products.
Be curious and always improve their skills.
I am still trying to figure that out.
Personally, a good design is something that is useful. A "nice" product kept on a shelf and never used has no interest to me.
My opinion on this issue is very simple: We are in the business of creating value. Value-added products should bring more sales.
I always incorporate inclusive elements in my designs. If I had the time (and resources), my next project would be something related to mobility.
A reimagination of the door handle.
My intuition.
Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Philip Johnson and others
Muscle cars. I just like them.
The paper clip: simple, cost-effective, useful, intuitive.
Get a job in a shop. Find a job where you have to work with your hands. I had the privilege in my twenties to work for a pipe organ builder. This helped me better understand the relationship between design and manufacturing.
Mechanical designer
Making something better. Anything can be designed or redesigned.
My teachers.
My curiosity and a good amount of luck (lol).
Time. I am a late bloomer.
So far, entering design competitions has worked great for me.
My next project will be for the aerospace industry.
Have fun every day.
If you can figure that out, please let me know (lol)
I'm interested in inclusive design.
It's a secret... (lol)
My final project in school. It was my first time designing something from A to Z.
Some designers should focus their energy on the design process and less on their ego.
We will have to wait and see.
It varies.
Sketching, sketching, sketching...
"Will this be useful?"
It works both ways.
It varies. I am interested in crafts as well as mass production design work.
It's a toolbox. You have to select the right tools for the job.
Very important. I like using colors to had a fun element to my designs.
"Where can I get one !!!" (lol)
Why didn't someone think of that before?
It depends on the work. Some work is better done alone. Some works require a team.
So many people had an influence on my vision of design. The list would be endless.
Mechanical Handbook 26th edition, books about Cubist-Impressionists painters, books about crafts and metalwork.
Trial and error.
John B. Watson
It's more about improving my skills than being famous.
Orange, Tokyo, New Orleans cooking, Fall, watches, Coca-Cola
During my school days, I made a cardboard model of a product for an exhibit. I used the wrong scale for my prototype. I ended up with a model half the size of the others student's models. That was a fun learning experience.
I stay motivated by alternating between design work and craft projects.
I would take apart appliances to see how things worked.
The future is uncertain...
I am a jack of all trades.
Designer Interview
23 April 2021
As a kid I would always try to figure out how objects and products were made. Eventually, it was just a natural progression.
I mostly work alone.
Functionality
I like designing useful products with an inclusive element in them.
The paperclip. It is a useful, simple, cost-effective, and recognizable design. It may not be very fashionable but it represents what design is to me.
Aircraft cabin interiors.
It's not something I fully control (yet). It just happens. I rely on instinct.
The end user's experience. I am interested in creating products that won't end up being dust collectors on a shelf ;).
Excited. It's the same feeling I had as a kid when unwrapping Christmas presents.
Very excited. Thrilled.
A successful design is something that is actually used. Its purpose is to improve the experience of the end-user.
A bad design generally has over-styling with little or no significant usefulness.
Bridge the gap between various technologies and the end-users.
That's a good question... Eventually, everyone will be able to design their own products with the help or rapid prototyping at home.
I am planning to exhibit in the 2021 A' Design competition.
Inspiration comes from anywhere. It can be from music, arts, muscle cars, and manufacturing processes.
My style is "no-nonsense". I am not sure if that qualifies as a style (lol).
We have the opportunity to experience four distinct seasons in Canada. That might have some sort of influence. The constant transformation of our environment throughout the year could be an influence on my design.
It's all about "fit". There has to be some sort of connection between a company and a designer.
I usually start with a rough 3D model and then rework it until I feel it's ready. For the Albatross project, I made fifty-two designs before being satisfied.
I have an original Luxo drafting lamp. After fifty years, it's still working like a new one.
Don't take shortcuts.
Useful useful useful
Curiosity
I don't have a specific list of tools. I use the best tool for each job. The bigger your toolbox is, the more options you have.
It varies depending on the job.
It varies depending on the project.
"How much will this cost?" Lol.
Working for a pipe organ manufacturer in my twenties. I had the privilege to work in a traditional shop.
New twists on "classic" products.
I mostly work by myself
My next project is for the Aerospace Industry.
via email
Grand Interview
22 October 2025 · Esc Contenitore per il Trasporto di Siringhe
Under special conditions or extreme circumstances, pre-filled syringes can need to be transported and distributed to caregivers in various locations. These situations could be major disasters, offsite medical interventions, or immunization campaigns.The ESC provides protection and a temperature-controlled environment for ten 1ml syringes. A colour-changing cold pack offers visual cues to assess the internal temperature of the capsule quickly. This feature ensures the syringe's content will stay at a temperature ranging from 2 to 8 degrees F for up to 3 hours. The capsule also includes various security features to alert users of potential tampering.
I was concerned with the overall size of the casing. That limitation resulted in the number of syringes. The device was designed to be held with one hand, and temperature control was mandatory for such a product.
During a recent vaccination campaign, I was able to witness how the entire vaccination process could be complex (from the preparation of syringes to the administration of various vaccines). It was obvious to me this process could be facilitated by a new tool allowing in advance the preparation of syringes. These could then be stored in kits in refrigerators and distributed as required with constant temperature monitoring.
The container is built around the modularity of spaces. When a tamper-proof seal is installed on the main access panel, no syringes can be reached without removing the seal or destroying the casing. In both cases, it appears evident some form of tempering has occurred.
This product had to be useful for emergencies and at the same time for organized vaccination campaigns. Both situations required different specifications based on the speed of distribution. First respondents need characteristics maximizing the resistance of the container and its content in harsh conditions. For mass vaccination, the storage and temperature control of the pre-filled syringes was taking priority.
I based my design on an extreme hypothetical scenario: What if a group of people were trapped underground (in a collapsed mine for example)? How can we provide medication or vaccines in various pre-filled syringes in the most effective manner? The idea of this “box” was to simplify the distribution and management of medication. In the absence of medical staff, anyone could select the right syringe for a certain situation by colour code or numbers on the storage compartment.
Various variants of the ESC could be envisioned to answer other needs or other markets. The content could be varied and the overall size could be modified. There are multiple needs this design could satisfy. I have two other versions of the ESC: One for surgical rooms and one for vaccine transport.
Since this product can be sterilized via autoclave, for example, all parts can be removed and reassembled in case of damage. A medical facility could purchase a certain number of units and maintain a constant number of operating capsules by “recycling” via mix and match of individual parts. This could reduce the operating cost when deployed in large numbers.
The temperature of the syringe holder guided the development of this product. This is a critical element in vaccine management. My goal was to provide a simple solution not requiring electrical power or sensors. It also had to be intuitive. Communicating vital information via Color was the obvious choice.
That's a very interesting question. What I am most proud of in this design are the various intuitive features. With minimal information or training, anyone can operate this product with maximum results. This is probably a major aspect of future medical equipment: Simple and intuitive designs.
