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Interview with Tiago Rato |
Home > Designer Interviews > Tiago Rato |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Tiago Rato (TR) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Tiago Rato by clicking here.
FS: 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?
TR: My experience in interior decorating led me to develop and spill my skills to design projects on a micro level (items best suited for the spaces and the variety of clients I and others work with).
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TR: Its an emerging company, founded last year, that emerged from the need to design furniture and lightning well suited for interior design projects.
FS: What is "design" for you?
TR: It's the harmonious mixing of the visual impact of a piece, its functionality and the space it's intended to fit in.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TR: The preference goes to furniture pieces and lightning.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TR: The "Strange Wave". A sideboard produced by SadusLuxury that conveys the Giants Causeway in Ireland.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TR: The entire furniture set for a private client interior design project.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TR: Definitely wood, if I had to choose just one.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
TR: When I am sleeping and dreaming.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TR: Both functionality and materials harmony.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TR: Passion, and then joy that leads to satisfaction.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TR: The sense of accomplishment that comes from fulfilling a dream.
FS: What makes a design successful?
TR: Visual impact; originality; and the recognition from your peers and the public in general.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TR: Originality, functionality and the quality of the materials employed.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TR: The designer is responsible to design projects that aim the harmony of society and environment and its sustainable interaction.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TR: The design future pathway is towards ecological and sustainable use of materials while attending functional needs and comfortable use of the final outputs.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TR: We are always open to show our portfolio. Our next exhibition is under planning and we are heading towards 100% design in London.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TR: Everything around us is an inspiration.
FS: 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?
TR: Contemporary and edgy. There is a gap in the market for this type of pieces. It conceptualizes in mixing noble materials and how we came to their harmonization. Our approach is to visualize furniture pieces as art.
FS: 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?
TR: In Portugal. There's a huge influence from our Portuguese tradition in artisan craftsmanship. We are also influenced by the use of some traditional materials.
FS: How do you work with companies?
TR: As a partnership.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TR: A good designer must possess the ability to be inspired by any object and settings surrounding her or him. This should be the main feature to look for a good design by any company.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TR: It is a simple process. I get inspiration from all sorts of environments and items. From there I take my creations. No specific or ranked sources of inspiration. All is equally inspiring, from a trip to somewhere special to a simple flower.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TR: Tables, chairs, sofas, sideboard, and cabinets.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
TR: Well, I am kind of a workaholic. Every day is a quest for inspiration, and I always notice carefully everything around me.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TR: Be hardworking, be creative and stay tuned to everything around you. Travel as much as you can.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TR: Pros' include participating in the creation of pieces paramount to improve the spaces around you. The cons arise when you interpret wrongly the ideas or conceive projects that are not feasible or functional. Mixing materials that do not go together is also catastrophic.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TR: Harmony between originality and functionality.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
TR: Pay close attention, be creative, and original.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TR: SketchUp Pro, PhotoShop, Adobe illustrator, magazines, books,...
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TR: I am extremely organized. And I always comply with deadlines. Tasking is key.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TR: A couple months most times.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TR: Where does my inspiration comes from?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
TR: To be a part of the inception of a luxury furniture company.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
TR: We work a lot with individual clients, and their interior decorators but also with public, institucional and companies clientele.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TR: Mostly furniture pieces and lightning. They are the soul and center of attention of any space.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TR: Keep creating new pieces that meet the clientele needs and grace recognition from peers.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TR: We always work as a team.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TR: We have a load... but as we all know, there's always a time to revel a secret. Keep in touch to find out more later.
FS: How can people contact you?
TR: At www.sadusluxury.pt; or by emailing us at: geral@sadusluxury.pt
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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