GHOLAMALI BALOUCH

Could 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?

I'm just a curious who try to find the answers and bring possibilities,and I think this is what a designer is responsible for.

What kinds of works do you like designing most?

Every project is a challenge and resolving a problem is the most satisfying achievement.I like to be part of something beautiful,no matter if it's called design or something else.

What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

The "juicy salif" by starck is my idol,for me it's the best presenting icon of design more than any other object.

What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

Rapid prototyping and virtual modeling are very interesting technological aspects in design and manufacturing.

When do you feel the most creative?

Whenever I have the simple,innovative and different answer for a problem.

Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

Aesthetic,functionality and feasibility are my fundamental approach to a design.

What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

Feeling like giving birth to something and being responsible for what I have created.

What makes a design successful?

Its uniqueness and the way it communicates and responds to a specific demand.

When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

For me the right logic behind a design is the fundamental aspect but also a very small bad detail can easily ruins the whole thing.

From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

Designer is like the scales,always has to weighing the achievements and the prices to be paid,keeping this narrow balance shall protect and reserve the environmental and social resources.

How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

Design in future could be very democratic and flexible and widely expanded in everywhere.

When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

It was a lighting exhibition when i was student and for the next one I have not decided yet.

Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

Inspirations come from my consciousness and sometimes from my collective visual memory or sometimes just by accident.

How 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?

I do not believe in style or classifications,all I try to do is to push the boundaries and to break free.

Where 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?

As a foreigner who lives in Italy,having the different backgrounds can help me to have different points of view and makes me feel more experienced.

What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

Design contests can be very interesting for both sides,companies will receive many solutions and designers can promote themselves.

Can you talk a little about your design process?

First of all understanding the problem then research and collecting informations to shape an idea that can brings the correct solution.

What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

I have collected some famous designers small objects mostly from Alessi that inspire me sometimes.

From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

Designer has a very busy and collective mind and this can avoid to feel free,but the positive part is the flexibility and creativity of designer.

What skills are most important for a designer?

Understanding the problem,creative thinking and communicative skills.

Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

The tools are not important too much,the way we use them is more important.every ordinary thing could become an extraordinary tool and a very expensive machine can be useless.

Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

Just not to leave everything for the last minutes and set up some mile stones always saved me.

How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

It could be from minutes to years,depends on complicity and tasks to be done.

What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

Fashion and jewelery and small utility objects design are more exiting for me.

Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

Sometimes it's a work group,but solo projects are most satisfying because I have more control and freedom.