Andras Kelemen

I went to a secondary school that specializes in art. You were required to choose a practical subject alongside mandatory subjects. I enrolled in the furniture design group, where for four years I had the opportunity to study the philosophical and technical aspects of the profession. from there, the road lead straight to the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where I am currently studying industrial design and am graduating this year.

I have always wanted to be a designer. I only chose a specific direction within design later on, when I had a better understanding and overview of the field.

I usually work on ideas that I can grasp and understand completely. I prefer to be involved in each step when creating something out of an idea, that way I can feel as if it's my own. Currently I am motivated by eyewear design, but I would like to design more furniture as well.

The most important thing in my opinion is that a designer should be able to view the world around them as a child, as if they were seeing and discovering it for the first time.

If a person can distance themself from the current design trends and question those, then they are on a steady path of showing the world their own unique style and way of thinking. It's important not to reproduce a design just because of its current popularity, as this leads to us being just one of many. Design for me is a tool for self-expression and I keep that in mind at all times.

Creativity and perseverance are the basic principles when I am designing. There are problems that can be solved quickly with acuteness and creativity, however perseverance is key when working on a large project.

As an industrial designer I am always balancing between art and technology. If I couldn't be a designer, I would be a sculptor because it requires continuous thinking and working with materials is a main part of sculpting.