I was pretty confused until around age 22! Initially I went to university to study Oceanography & Geology, but dropped out. I still wonder whether this wasn't a big mistake on my part. Following that I travelled around Europe for a while, then decided I really had to do something with my life! Was always pretty good at art, and had good science-based school qualifications... So, thought about Architecture - but that was 7 years duration... Then I heard someone talking about something called product design...
After a decade working as a design consultant, and another as an educator, I really wanted to try producing my own stuff. So I set up Newmakers. The name of the company pretty much describes it well... We simply try to make new thing. It all started out in Northern Thailand, and now has moved back to my home country; the UK. We use simple materials and a mix of hand and automatized production, depending where the product is made. Whatever we do is always self-production, and very hands-on.
I'm sorry to say, but the word 'design' has, I think, become vastly over-used and perhaps corrupted to some extent. I work in the 3D arena, so I get concerned when I see so many 3D simulation images which claim to be objects. I don't think many of these shiny pictures are really any more, or better, than a sketch. If you've had experience making things, either craft or industrial, you can quickly see that a lot of this stuff either just can't be made, or would collapse, or is just plain useless... I'm getting old I suppose.
I like designing for kids! Fun is a big part of what we do, and kids have no opinions, or knowledge of trends or fashion. If they like something - they're all over it. If they don't, they just ignore it! I think that makes my job a lot easier - instant, honest feedback!
The Opinel pocket-knife. I've had the same one my Dad bought me as a kid on holiday in France. They are honest, useful, have a really simple locking mechanism, and are easy to sharpen. I always feel good, and remember our holidays, when I pull it out of my pocket.
Relief! I take a long time to finalize things, and tend to work on multiple projects at the same time... So it's always good to think you now have more time for the others... again, it's unrealistic and never really works out that way.
I don't think it's just a designer's responsibility, I just think we all really need to take a bit of a reality check, and become more responsible at all levels. Right now the world seems a total mess, and it's our fault. Everyone needs to stop talking the talk, and start walking the walk.
London Design Festival 2011. It was nerve-wracking because the whole economic mess thing was in full swing. So I spent four days on my feet having lovely conversations with people... But knew after day two that I was going home at the end with very little business to show for it. I have had a lot of interest in my kids stuff from Korea... I'd love to show all the new things we're working on for the first time over there!
All over... I get a lot of ideas from technical magazines, just watching things (not TV, I haven't got one), and I also steal a lot of inspiration from a very good friend of mine who is an artist... and hasn't seemed to notice yet!
Someone described the style as 'Simple, fun and quirky'. That's fine with me. I do tend to start complicated then reduce, reduce, reduce. This has to do with my own background in Germany and Asia, because efficiency of form and function is important in both
Right now I live back in the UK. Previous to that I was in the US, Germany & Asia. I've done work in countries from all over. I don't think the UK has influenced me so much. However Germany has been a very big influence in how I approach both quality and production. Aesthetically I am probably most influenced by my time in Asia, especially Japan and Korea design.
I used to work as a design consultant, with big clients like AEG, Siemens, Bosch, Daewoo. Now I work on my own designs for our own Newmakers brand. Maybe I'd like to do some more work for exterior companies if the project was right.
Don't go for either the cheapest, or the currently in vogue! I know so many extremely good, experienced, designers who find it very difficult to get work because they have not been in a magazine for a while, or will not offer discounted (unrealistic) pricing. If it were my money - I would invest it in someone with a lot of experience who charges a sensible price.
As I get older, it takes longer! I don't really have to work to such strict deadlines now as previously. This allows me to work on multiple projects at the same time. Sometimes, if it's not working, I will leave something for maybe a year before coming back to it with some new material, idea, or production technique.
I honestly don't think I own a single design item! My mobile is an ancient Nokia, and the rest of the stuff I have is mostly just useful things. When I started moving around a lot, I drastically down-scaled, so now I don't own much of anything really.
Early out of bed; a lot of coffee; check internet for anything needs doing; into the workshop; grab snacks intermittently; walk my dog somewhere peaceful; a beer; early to bed with a good book.
Sad to say, but I think the positives have reduced greatly from when I started. It is a very insecure job, and usually poorly paid. A lot of the projects you are asked to work on are completely pointless and not needed. I would not recommend my children to become designers. However, for creative minds, I think areas like alternative energy, housing etc offer terrific opportunities to make new things that are really relevant and positive.