Saïd Belmir

Specialized in Design.

Saïd Belmir

About Saïd Belmir

Passioned by artistic process as well as the building technics used in architecture, his projects are the result of deep thinking taking in account the singularity of contexts. The architectural one obviously matters (orientation, sizing, building integration…), but sometimes one must also consider historical, social, cultural or religious contexts. All these constraints combined are as many challenges that push him to find creative and original responses in his work. After his graduation, and as he's still eager to learn, Saïd Belmir decided to self-educate himself to become familiar with hi-tech tools, to master the realization of his thoughts, and live architecture in line with his progressive vision. That’s how he became a 3D-Artist recognized by its peers for his ability to create realistic 3D environments, his aesthetic sense, and his attention to detail. Excited by what the 3D-printing could offer in terms of construction, and virtual reality in terms of immersion, Saïd Belmir always strives to keep himself up-to-date about new technologies.

  • Winner of the A' Design Award.
  • Specialized in Design.
  • Original Design.
  • Creative, Diligent and Innovative.
  • All Designs

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Interview with Saïd Belmir

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've always been interested in art in all the fields. In high school I have been composing music and urban poetry a lot, frequenting many scenes in France and Belgium. In parallel, I used to always compose pictures by sketching a lot, by taking photographies, and now mostly, by making renders. While I was studying architecture, I began to be initiated to the design process in a more academic way, which fitted very well with my own background. Also during my studies, while I was living in a shared flat, I began to appreciate cooking, and composing foods with different flavours. In all of these fields, music, poetry, drawing, cooking, design, and architecture, there is the same skill at the origin: the composition. And I use this energy to stimulate our senses in many fields. So I think, that is my natural interest for composing which made me who I am.
Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
I currently only represent myself, and I always strive myself to apply my philosophy in architecture and design.
What is "design" for you?
For me, Design is creating something clever enough to make people think that the solution was obvious. The product has to find the good balance, for not being too much simplistic or complicated. When this fine feeling between simplicity and cleverness invades you, that means that you have reached your balance, and got your design. As Brancusi said: " The simplicity is the complexity solved."
What kinds of works do you like designing most?
As an architect, I like designing spaces and structures that can transmit feelings to the visitors. And from these works, I can also make derived products as home furnitures or lamps by using the same design process. For instance in a similar way, the architect Renzo Piano realised a stylistic work with a handbag inspired by his own work on the Whitney Museum of American Art.
What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
My favorite design object is the common broom. The broom is so amazing than the design has not evolved for thousands years. We just made some tecnical adjustments but the raw concept is the same.This is for me the proof that our ancestors have reached their goal, by making something simple, clever and intemporal. We still didn't revolutionize that old concept, and the only alternative that we made is the vacuum cleaner, which needs bags and electricity for working, which is bulky, and which makes a lot of noise. What a progress, right ?
What was the first thing you designed for a company?
I don't remember exactly but I think the first thing I designed for a company is probably a logo.
What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
I really like to work on flat pack design, with a laser cut or CNC machine.
When do you feel the most creative?
I feel the most creative when I'm processing a project in my own way, with my personal vision. The creativity is a consequence which comes from the way we treated the project. We don't have to see the creativity as a goal to reach. The creativity is a gift that comes after you applied our unique thoughts on the project.
Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
I focus the most on the structural and aestetical aspects during designing, and I try to find a common answer for these two aspects. A beautiful product that couldn't be made is a frustration, and an ugly product which works well isn't attractive.
What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
we cross a lot of emotions during a design process. In the most of my cases, it always begins with a big enthusiasm, then when you begin the work on the details and technical aspects, the enthusiasm leaves you, to be replaced by the doubt and frustation.Then when you still don't find any technical solutions for your idea, you begin to not believing anymore in your project, and become sad and hopeless. And only here that you get your declic : you get your perfect technical solution from nowhere, everyhting works perfectly as you wanted, and you're filled by fullness and peace.
What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
When my designs are realized, I'm happy for having reached my goal, and this is always a big emotion for me to be able to touch my works, in real and physical. But I know there is still a lot of steps to do after that. The promotion of the design product is the next step, which is almost as hard as the previous one. We have to raise the curiosity ans the interest of the customers.
What makes a design successful?
There is a lot of things to take in the equation to define what is making a design successful, so it's very hard to respond. In my own experience, I think a design could be successful if it fills three points : good design of course, good recognition by the professionals in the field, and good communication.
When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
The first aspect that I consider for judging a design as good or bad is the affordance.
How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
The design field is living a revolution since a couple years with the apparition of a lot of fablabs, and the technological developments about 3D Printer, Laser Cut and CNC machine. It was never so easy and cheap to make prototypes in limited editions thanks to this new tools and services. We are truly living the third industrial revolution in the design field.
When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
My last exhibition was in Prague, Czech Republic, for my international winning award Inspireli 2016, in architecture. That was a great opportunity, and the dream is to do it again in famous museums and galleries around the world. These are great opportunities to introduce people to my design works and make networking.
Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
My design inspiration comes from the geometric art of the Mauresque's style and architecture. These patterns are intemporal and they can be applied in so many different ways in Design and Architecture. I feed my creativity each time I visit a monument, or when I read some books about geometry. for instance, I recommand to read the thesis of Craig S.Kaplan titled "Islamic Star Patterns from Polygons in Contact" from the School of Computer Science University of Waterloo.
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?
I'm born and I'm still living in France. I've got an European education but I also have a cultural heritage from Morocco thanks to my family. That is influencing a lot my design process, and as you can see on my winning project, the Geometric Art from the Mauresque Style defines the heart of the project. Geometric patterns are fascinating supports for making beautiful and original structures.
How do you work with companies?
When I have to work with a company, the most importance thing is to establish a confidence Relationship between us. To reach that, we have to communicate a lot, be transparent and clear on our tasks. In same time, we have to listen their demands, and be able synthetise their problems to give them the best possible answer.
What is your "golden rule" in design?
My golden rule is from Brancusi : " The simplicity is the complexity solved."
What are your future plans? What is next for you?
The next goal about my design is to sell my creations to the customers around the world. Thanks to the collaboration with Dutilleul-Industries, I can produce my table XX in the highest quality. If I get nice feedbacks for my works, I would like to expand my activity with a company.
Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
I develop all my designs by myself. I still don't find the match for the perfect teamate.
Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
I'm currently working with the Louvre Lens Valley on a design project named EGG. This project is about the cultural mediation.

Designer of the Day Interview with Saïd Belmir

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I've been attracted by design during my architecture studies in Brussels thanks to Mr.Levy and its singular approach. After my graduation as architect around 2016, I've got the opportunity to work as graphic designer for supercar racing teams such as Bentley and Ferrari. Parallely, I designed a prototype for a new cultural mediation, which has been accepted to the incubator of the Louvre-Lens Museum. In 2017, I've got the Public Prize at the International Inspireli Awards for an architecture project, and the Silver A'Design Awards for the XX Table. This last prize allowed me to exhib around the world.
How did you become a designer?
Every young graduated architects know the struggle to find an interesting job after school. In my case, I didn't find any agency ready to hire me as junior architect. So when you're jobless you have a lot of time to develop your own concepts. So that's what I did, I used my skills in architecture into small scale, and then, I became a Designer.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I love the Brancusi's approach, specially this sentence : " simplicity is complexity resolved ". This sentence sums up my whole work, because I like make my work so simple and obvious, than we forget the complex design process to reach this solution.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
designing is like a need, because when an idea is growing in your mind, you have to extract it on a sheet for not being submerged by it. Then, you can judge if this idea deserves a development or not. If it does, the most exciting part of the design process is building the prototype
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
Nothing was really expected, design wasn't my first priority, I wanted to be an architect. And this is our environnement, the difficulties that we have to cross, the encounters that we gonna do, the struggle that we have to undertake, these things will shape us as a designer.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
As I just said previously, Everything that I have planned didn't happen as I expected. So let's just live in streaming and check what is gonna happen.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
Try, fail, learn from your fails and try again until to reach your goals. To sum up in one word : Perseverance.
What is your day to day look like?
working on some ideas, checking their feasibilities, choosing the ones which worth to invest time on them, developping them at 100%, and then checking the networks for the product promotion
How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?
On social media, I always follow the main design and architecture magazines to know what is up in the field. But I don't try to follow a trend in my work, my approach doesn't fit very well with this idea. However, as I'm looking to do something intemporal, my works could be in the past, the current, or the future trend.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
A design is currently good when it reaches its goals in any aspects. it's a functionalist approach, but more in the alvar aalto's way. It's means it's including physiological psychological aspects.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
You know your design is ready when everything that you gonna add is superficial.
What is your biggest design work?
Actually this is the XX Table, I didn't expect this recognition from the field for this table and it's still going beyond all what I've expected. And I'm still curious to see where this table will finish its path.
Who is your favourite designer?
There is a lot ! But currently I really appreciate the Benedetto Bufalino's works.
What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
I would like to propose some smart solutions that could improve or save lives around the world. Actually, I'm doing exactly the opposite by making expensive products and designing buildings for rich people. But that's cool, everything comes to those who wait.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
The A'Design Award bringed me prestige, recognition and visibility. I clearly stepped to a new level thanks to this contest.

Extended Interview with Saïd Belmir

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?
I did a master of architecture in Brussels, where I had the opportunity to study design in several aspects: Social design in an urban scale, furniture design, graphic design, and webdesign.
How did you become a designer?
I find my motivation in the pleasure that I take when I create objects that express my ideas. Design is another form of communication that reaches users in a more implicit and sensitive way than traditional ways.
What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
I chose to become a designer and I had no relationship in this world before starting my studies in this direction.
Which emotions do you feel when designing?
I like to design furniture that express purely physical balance and that have original structures. I like that the design object can express a concept, an idea.
What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
To become a design legend, you have to be able to create something that is iconic. I do not yet consider my work as legendary, it is still too early and presumptuous to award me this title, but I hope wholeheartedly to achieve it.
What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?
A good designer does what we expected from him, and a great designer does what we expected of him and exceeds our expectations. The great designer adds to his products answers to needs that we had not yet identified as a user.
What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
I try to find out if the design is unreleased, if it responds ingeniously to a problem, and if by the answer it brings, it encompasses a broader reflection than the basic instructions.
You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
A good design is a timeless design, a design charged with intelligence, which expresses an idea, and which could become a source of inspiration.
What is your day to day look like?
I would like to continue my research on assemblies that require neither glue nor screws, and create a whole range of furniture easy to assemble, without tool or special preparation. I would like if one day the opportunity presents itself, offer my services to brands of furnishings.
How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?
It is still too early to define a miracle recipe that will work systematically. I will be able to answer this question if in the future I win prizes regularly.
How do you decide if your design is ready?
My references are mainly related to the world of architecture, such as Eero Saarinen, Kazuyo Sejima, Renzo Piano, Herzog & De Meron ... But I also appreciate some modern designers like Charles Eames.
Who is your favourite designer?
I am very proud of the table that I realized because it combines the structural and aesthetic aspect while giving a modern interpretation of a Moorish geometric motif.
Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
It is always necessary to continue learning, to experiment new things, to continue to collect references, to meet new people to exchange know-how.
Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
I have always imagined myself as an architect, I have never seen myself do anything else. As it is a multidisciplinary profession, the design aspect is included in this profession.
What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?
My family, my close friends, the directors of the company Dutilleul-Industries who believed in my project and who produce my table, and my design teacher when I was studying Architecture.

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