Interviewe mat Klavdija Höfler and Matej Höfler

Matej: I am working as director at Studio Höfler d.o.o. Our main business is architectural planning. In 20 years I have a great private and public clients (ex. Municipality of Ljubljana, Municipality of Medvode) and I have worked for a great architect organizations (ex.SADAR+VUGA d.o.o., Demšar arhitekti d.o.o., Dans, arhitekti d.o.o.). Klavdija: I work in the toy industry for four years now. I started with designing and making toys. I needed the networking. I needed an organization or a network with knowledge of the toy area. A place where you can exchange views and help each other. Because I did not find such organization I establish organization Institute for toy development in Slovenia, which networking an organizations from toy area. The idea came from collecting ideas from different manufacturers of toys in Slovenia.

Matej: I have always been fascinated by objects or spaces, from my childhood on. I was fascinated by pictures of my grandfather, which hung on the walls of our home and plans turbines of my father, who is an engineer. I like to draw. All these led me to the study of architecture and contact with the design. Klavdija: I like designing and drawing from my childhood. I usually followed fashion. So I decided to go in High School of Textile. I wanted more knowledge in the field of management, so I also study management. I always wanted that my profession is connected with design and art. My desire to develop over the years grew and I decided to move from words to action. In last four years I am strongly working on the toy area.

Matej: I am using digital tools and latest technology- Acad tools for drawing and rendering. Sometimes I draw on the paper. Klavdija: I draw my idea first on the paper. Then my husband draws the plan and make rendering with the computer. In the future we will also like to make physical models.

Matej: When I design I feel joy. The most exciting is in the beginning of the project.Klavdija: When I design I feel enthusiasm, freedom and joy. The most exciting is in the beginning.

Matej: Skills: Spatial artistic sense and ability to communicate. For the non-designer, there is meaningful communication and a holistic view of the project.Klavdija: When I was working in the organization, where was no creativity allowed, I did not feel ok. I started to identify that something is missing. In searching what is the reason, my memories of childhood woke me up. I was also impressed by my husband's work. Then I felt pleasure. Yes, that is my area of work.

Matej: My dream design project right now is house in nature. In the future I would like to focus on designing the larger projects.Klavdija: My first future plan is our own brand in the field of toys and working on the goals of Institute for toy development in Slovenia. The most important for me is to design and develop what people need at the moment or in the future.

Matej: Loyalty to the profession. The main problem is poor urban planning legislation. Try to do the best in all situations. Klavdija: If you have an idea and ask others what they think, you can be disappointed. Listen to yourself. Follow your inner feeling and your dreams. Keep an eye on reactions to your idea. Focus on your goals. Be prepared to learn constantly. I had a great mentor in the year 2017. He always prepared to selfless help me. I learn from my mentor a lot. I grow my knowledge to listen and work. But I always check my inner feeling if I go on the right way. I am very grateful for that experience and try to transfer to others.

Matej: Do the best you can be. Klavdija: If you have a idea, go for it. Focus on your goals. When problems arise, stop a little, take a breath and go on. It's part of the process. Think positive and beautiful thoughts.

Matej: In the morning I take care of the kids, then I go to work for usually ten hours. Usually I work during the weekend, for ex. ten ours. I read architectural magazines magazines at home. A lot of times I look it with my wife. Klavdija: I work eight hours first and then I go to pick up the children in the kindergarten and school. Then I usually work two hours afternoon and in the evening. Usually I work during the weekend, for ex. four ours. When comes a boring business day, I usually turn on some music that I like or I draw.

Klavdija&Matej: We stick our own personal design style. We want to develop a collection that is purely of our own. But we always check what’s hip this season.

Matej: The main criteria for me are: Strength, usability, beauty, according to the architect and theoretician Vitruvij. Klavdija: The main criteria for me, to judge that some design is good, are: Functionality, visibility, usability. Common mistake to avoid for making good design is: The design is very nice looking but you can not use it anywhere.

Matej: It is never perfect for me. At some stage it is necessary to be satisfied, but I always look back, how could I do better. Klavdija: I have my picture in the head. When I see and test the design, then I decide if it is ready. I have the criteria I followed. It must be fulfilled. Yes, sometimes are not, so I try to balance. I stop doing, when I saw it will cost a lot. But I always keep an open tab in my mind to make my earlier designs better. My project made a success, when it's sold well. That means that people like the design of the product.

Matej. Arrangement of the market in Ljubjana.Klavdija: My biggest and best work is the toy Portable baby crib Sofia. It is special because I work together with my husband. We put a lot of work on it. Inspiration for the Portable baby crib Sofia design was wooden cart for dolls, produced by the Slovenian traditional craftsmen from Ribnica in the 19th century. We began to wonder what kind of toys would be right for our daughter and what will she play with in the next few years. Then we searched for answers to the questions, what kind of shape would be suitable and how would it blend with the environment. We came up with an organic shape, illustrating the softness of the relationship between a child and a toy baby.

Matej: Architects Jože Plečnik, Alvar Aalto, Frank Lloyd Wright. Niko Kralj, the Mosquito chair. Achille Castiglioni, Lamp Parentesi. Aldo Rossi, La Cupola espresso coffee maker. Klavdija: I like designers for brand Versace and Guess. For toys brand Hape. Also the impact on me made my young cousin Pia Česnik, Fashion designer and marketing coordinator at Toper.

Klavdija&Matej: Inspiring cities are Istanbul, Rome, New Delhi, Ljubljana. The music is very important part of our creativity. Sometimes when we hear a specified music we get some ideas. Good design makes people happy. People like to see nice and beautiful things.

Klavdija: I have projects where I need to work with partners. Usually it is very easy to work with me. When I am selecting business partners I look for good communication, professionalism and reliability.

Klavdija: In the frame of Institute for toy development we represent a promote designs and designers on the toy area and area of child product. We also enable that young designers or people who wish to support.

Klavdija&Matej: We are very satisfied and impressed about the system. Also we saw positive progress from last years. The main benefits of participating to design awards and competitions as a designer are: 1. It help us to think and to write the right connect to represent the product, brand and our salves. 2. Focus 3. Different prices for different type of organizations- opportunity for start-up company ect. 4. You are prepared to communicate with the public. The main benefits of winning international design award: 1. Promotion 2. Better or higher value of the product 3. After the winning we still cooperating (interviews, promoting). 4. Networking. 5. If you intent to spread the business it is easier to get in touch with the different people. The competition is important. It has many positive points, especially when you get the award. You get the rating of your design and in some way confirmation. You can see if your design is noticeable. Regardless of the competition, it is necessary to work on sales. We thank all the group of the A’ Design Award for positive experience.

Matej: I have always been fascinated by objects or spaces, from my childhood on. I was fascinated by pictures of my grandfather, which hung on the walls of our home and plans turbines of my father, who is a engineer. I like to draw. All these led me to the study of architecture and contact with the design.

Klavdija: I like designing and drawing from my childhood. I always wanted that my profession is connected with design and art. My desire to develop over the years grew and I decided to move from words to action.

Studio Höfler d.o.o. is mainly an architectural studio, where we design smaller, larger buildings and open spaces. We decided to create a new department for toy production and develop a brand.

Matej: Everything with the idea that there is something beautiful, useful and permanently. Most things devises or spaces that are useful and inspirational people. When designing products and spaces it always leads me user experience. It is not importnat only visual aspect, but also experience of the type, smell and sound. In addition, am committed to democratic design. This is a design that allows the user to different approaches and the use of the product.

Klavdija: When I think about good design, I think about beauty, functionality, good presentation and story.

Matej: Buildings, furniture and toys.

Klavdija: Toys, ornaments for christmas and parties.

Chairs of Slovenian designer Niko Kralj.

Matej: The moste of my time I do building design. In the past I also do occasionally graphic design. Now I design a toy, portable baby crib Sofia, together with my wife Klavdija.

Wood in all possible shapes and processes.

Matej: Mostly in the evening.

Klavdija: when I am very relaxed or I see something beautiful, like nature.

Usability and beuaty.

Something between passion, joy and doubts.

Matej: Something between satisfaction and doubts.

Klavdija: Satisfaction and hapines.

Matej: When the product is a long period of time under construction and you can still be able to say that it is good and modern. Although the modernity at product design is not a lead for me.

Klavdija: That people notice the design and buy the product. That customers are satisfied with the product because they get inspiration for their work or because like to use or watch it.

Matej: The most important aspect for my criteria is usefulness of the product. In addition, it must be beautiful, because beautiful things we rather touch and used. An important criterion is the the strength or manufacturing quality. And if there is something beautiful and quality made it is also permanently, which has given me an important criterion.

Klavdija: Beauty, usefulness, quality, innovation, tehnology, design presentation.

We, designers are certainly responsible for the work that we do. By this I mean the responsibility of users, subscribers, environment and of course to the people who made the product.

Matej: I have had a several exibition like an architect, the last was on Month of Design in Ljubljana, Slovenija, October 2015.

We plan the first exibition for a toy in Bled in Slovenia in the shop Zakladi Slovenije, Treasures in Slovenia between May 2016 and September 2016. The second exibition we plan in Ex-Chiesa di San Francesco, Viale Lorenzo Spallino, 1, 22100, Como, Italy, between the dates 9th of June 2016 and 28th of June, 2016. The third exibition we plan on A' Winners' Exhibition at Cube Design Museum, Museumplein, Kerkrade, Netherlands, between July 2 and August 4 2016. The fourth it will be on A' Winners' Exhibition at Bologna Design Week, Italy, between September 28 and October 1 2016. Five exhibition will be on Month of Design in Ljubljana, Slovenija, between 19 October 2016 and 19 November 2016. Six it will be on' Winners' Exhibition at "Shenzhen International Industrial Design Fair" Shenzhen, China, between 6 and 8 November 2016.

Matej: Inspiration may come from multiple sources. I am often inspired by an older product, where the manufacturer also a designer. This I combined with perception of the image, or use of a new product, more on a subconscious level. And I try to discover in what form, image or pattern, this relates.

Klavdija: Inspiration I get when I feel totaly freedom.

Matej: I do not believe too much in the style of design. Closer to me is idea of the right approach, because each product has their own story.

We believe that our cultural heritage make us more reacher and also is an important source for inspiration.

We work with a lot of diferent companies. We work very good.

First we talk about what we wanted to do. Then we make first sketches. After that we make smaller models. Then we made plans and go to craftsmen. And then do prototipes.

The Mosquito chair designed by Niko Kralj.

Lamp Parentesi designed by Achille Castiglioni.

Wodden bike Woodster.

Tripp Trapp high chair for our daughter Sofija.

La Cupola espresso coffee maker design by Aldo Rossi.

To follow the main idea in all phases od designing.

Matej: The most important tool is my hand. Important software tools are Rhinocerous, Autocad and Archicad.

Klavdija: I use my imagination, then I draw my ideas on the paper and hang it on the wall. I also use books.

It depends of project. Mostly about 6 months.

We design our product by ourself. We outsource graphic designer.

Address: STUDIO HÖFLER, projektiranje d.o.o., Gradišče XV/5, 1291 Škofljica. Phone: +38640-670-810. E-mail: info@kukulila.eu, https://www.facebook.com/kukulila.eu/.