I began designing before I even knew the word itself. I used to design my own toys. I guess my father beign an engineer was a big influence. Whe would spend a lot of time creating things that moved.
01Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?
I began designing before I even knew the word itself. I used to design my own toys. I guess my father beign an engineer was a big influence. Whe would spend a lot of time creating things that moved. I became an advertiser and worked as such for many years before founding wodibow.
02What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?
Because I love creating things from scratch. I love analysing the things that we use or sorround us and rethink how they could be better.
03Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?
It was my choice and after all these years I still enjoy it a lot.
04What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?
I design almos anything. Toys is my main activity as a designer right now, but I also design furniture, kitchen utensils, whatever I feel like.
05What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?
Work very hardand never stop looking, never accomodate..
06What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?
I wish I knew, but I would guess that it is part you being a good designer and people considering you a great designer.
07What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?
Putting together nice looking designs and usefulness in a very open meaning.
08What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?
I think that our mision is to make life more beautiful and easy, both together. If you have akitchen appliance, for example, you want it toworkperfectly but if on top it is also beautiful your life is better.
09What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?
More toys and Iwould love to keep designing for my own company: wodibow.
10What is the dream project you haven't yet had time to realize?
I am right now working in my dream project: The woonkis. It is a character with a lot of different scenarios that will be the mos playable toy in wodibow but always within the philosophy of the company: ecological, didactic, and tons of imagination.
11What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?
I am still looking for it.
12Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?
A lot of different people from different counries. There is a lot of good design in the world.
13How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?
Curiosity and keep the children ability to surprise ourselves.
14How do you define design, what is design for you?
Development of a concept into a pattern. The design should be a plan to make the item come true in a future.
15What helped you to become a great designer?
Lots of hours of work, no fear, no tabus.
16What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?
There is not a lot of work for designers. We all love design but not everybody pays for it.
17How do you think designers should present their work?
I think that prototypes are a good way of presenting products.
18What's your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?
The woonkis I already introduced before, and we have an endeless list of different ideas to be develop. We only need the time.
19What's your ultimate goal as a designer?
Make the world more beautiful.
20What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?
Improving, seeing my products in different stores around the world, awards...
21When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?
Not at all. Life is made of little decisions you take every single minute and that is what makes you what you are today, so it is almost impossible to know as a child what will you be as an adult.
디자이너 인터뷰
38 질문
Although I have been for more than 25 years an advertising designer and creative director, my real vocation was to design things. I wanted to go further than just concepts.
01Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
Although I have been for more than 25 years an advertising designer and creative director, my real vocation was to design things. I wanted to go further than just concepts.
02Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
Wodibow was born under the idea of designing products that could have the following ingredients: surprise, be interactive and 100% natural.
03What is "design" for you?
A different way of creating objects. Interpreting things from different perspectives so as to make them more useful and more beautiful. Make life better by adding design to it.
04What kinds of works do you like designing most?
Toys that are not only for children. Mechanical objects.
05What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
It is difficult (or almost impossible) to choose. I think there are a lot of people doing a lot of wonderful design around the world.
06What was the first thing you designed for a company?
A Christmas card, when I was studying design at university.
07What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
Wood, magnets and CNC.
08When do you feel the most creative?
Like David Ogilvy used to say, when taking a shower. The best creative moments are those in which you can not do anything else but think.
09Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
Simplify, synthesis, just the essence. No added resources.
10What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
It is a mix of anxiety and illusion. It hurts although it is a very exciting feeling.
11What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
Relief on the one hand, but a new anxiety grows inside: is it the best solution?
12What makes a design successful?
I wish I knew!!!
13When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The first thing is: "Do I like it"? Emotional perception is stronger than what we want to believe.
14From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
The responsibility of us all is to make the world a better one. A small step forward to build in that direction.
15How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
More and more everyday. The future of design is enormous: there are a lot of things that can be redesign to make life more beautiful, easier...
16When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last exhibition was Maison&Objet last September in Paris. We will be back to Maison&Objet next January and SPIELWARENMESSE in Núremberg (Alemania) next February.
17Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
From as many sources as possible. Books, comics, films, music, people, places. From the most unexpected sources and moments.
18How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
None extra elements. Honest design.
19Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
I live in Madrid/Segovia, Spain. I believe that we live in a world without barriers, but I am sure there are cultural aspects that affect from the environment in which we have grown. My father was an engineer and he loved to build things, I guess I got more influence from him than form living in Spain.
20How do you work with companies?
I amnow just working for my own company, so I do not work for others anymore. I used to work with other companies and the main challenge was listening to people. It is not good to start designing until you have a clear idea of what they expect from you. So, expectations is what a designers needs to handle with care when working with third companies.
21What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
A very accurate brief. There has to be a lot of thinking before getting into design. Companies should look for whatever suits their necessities. I am sure there are different good designers for different kind of companies.
22Can you talk a little about your design process?
First an idea that just pops in. Then the process of maturing the idea. And then thinking, drawing, rethinking and redrawing. Finally you get all the strength to start with prototypes, and it is again one after another until you get to the final version which is never final.
23What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
My Guzzi motorcycle. My Dyson vacuum cleaner. My David Weeks wooden gorilla. My old iMac. My WMF coffee machine.
24Can you describe a day in your life?
They are so different! They only share one thing: always running.
25Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
Focus. Be critical with yourself. Never stop learning. Search for the best.
26From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
It is very positive to feel that things you have thought and design become real. The very worst is frustration.
27What is your "golden rule" in design?
Keep it simple.
28What skills are most important for a designer?
Curiosity always on.
29Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
Walks to be able to think, a pencil to be able to draw, a lot of paper to be able to redraw, 3D tools to get as close to the real object as possible and CNC tools to build it.
30Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
It is a good question. I wish I knew.
31How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
It depends. I have a lot in mind, some take just a few weeks other can be around for years till you reach the final design.
32What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
How did you get to this idea?
33Who are some of your clients?
Wehave lots of clients around the world, most are small toyshops that are focused on selling very special, ecological and didactic toys.
34What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
My own projects because I feel free and it is just you to be blamed.
35What are your future plans? What is next for you?
Design and produce new beautiful toys and make wodibow grow to become an interesting worldwide company
36Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I always need good and critical points of view from people of whom value their opinion.
37Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
We have some new projects but let me wait until the next year.
38How can people contact you?
Through wodibow.com. You can find in our website different contact ways.
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