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Interview with Jan Goderis |
Home > Designer Interviews > Jan Goderis |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Jan Goderis (JG) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Jan Goderis 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?
JG: I am an interior designer by training but since my student days, I have been intensely involved in designing furniture and objects. After my studies, I started working on architectural projects where I often designed furniture, lighting and objects. At that time, I kept a sketch diary to note initial designs. Design for me is something that comes naturally and I enjoy doing it. In 2021, I started focusing solely on design.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JG: The design studio is something that naturally grew out of my previous career where I designed interiors and architecture. We focus on a wide range of assignments. It's a challenge to discover new boundaries and challenges.
FS: What is "design" for you?
JG: For me, design is solving an issue. To develop from an inspiration, which can vary greatly, an object of use that is easy to produce, ergonomic, user-friendly, aesthetic, and sustainable.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JG: Every theme is a challenge. It is fascinating and has the satisfaction to develop new utensils. Discovering things that are new and have their specific core characteristics according to use, production, etc.... This can range from cutlery, furniture, a wristwatch or even a car or bicycle
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JG: The design of my 'Japan' chair and accompanying collection. Designing an original chair is more difficult than designing a complex building. Then coming up with a unique idea that is functional and aesthetic gives great satisfaction.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JG: The dismountable table 'Nomad' with a new ash assembly system for the base.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JG: Combining various materials is something I find interesting. That could be solid wood, plywood with visible structure, or leather. Every material has its properties and has its limits according to application. Pushing those limits is an adventure in itself.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
JG: When designs go smoothly, I enter a kind of euphoria. Coming to a solution has a lot of satisfaction. This also triggers new ideas for other designs. When designing, I always listen to music that enhances the feeling.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JG: The functional, constructive and aesthetic aspects. It is a kind of trinity.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
JG: A euphoria that can be compared to going over your limits in a sports performance.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JG: A lot of satisfaction, but being on the road is sometimes more important than the arrival.
FS: What makes a design successful?
JG: If you can move people with your design because of its beauty, functionality...
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JG: Ergonomic, functional, aesthetic. I like simple things but they should have depth.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JG: The materials and production techniques used must be environmentally friendly. The designer has a big responsibility in this, but so do the producer and user. The design should be durable in use, usable for several generations and relevant in form and solidity. Stand-alone experiments with recycling can be interesting but in our current industrial society, ecological mass production is more important to have an effect on our environment.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JG: Now we are in a kind of transition phase. People are experimenting a lot with new materials and designs. But it is fashionable and not sustainable in my opinion. There is a lot of contemporary design now, which makes design elitist. Design should be accessible to everyone. The design industry can answer that.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JG: My last exhibition was in Venice. This is my favourite city. An ancient but vital city that is very inspiring. For the next exhibition, I would like to show my work in Milan. Venice is interesting but Milan is the Mecca for design.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JG: I absorb everything that is useful for a possible design. This can be something I see in a construction shop, an 'objet trouvé', art, music...it's a way of looking.
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?
JG: My designs are architectural and have a sober design but not minimalistic because I find ergonomics and functionality important and do not want to compromise on that.
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?
JG: Belgium is a compact country with a strong artistic culture. There is always something interesting to see or experience. I live in Ghent, a large but compact city, it does not have the bustle of Brussels or Antwerp, which makes it pleasant to live, it is also centrally located. Belgium is a good base to other countries in Europe or the world.
FS: How do you work with companies?
JG: As a freelance designer, this gives me more freedom to work.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
JG: More than in the past, large design manufacturers are focusing more on well-known designers because name recognition is better for sales. It is important to give new talent a chance and bring new blood to a company. People often also select the realized work to see if it is in line with the DNA of the company, it is important to look at the design craftsmanship and to step out of the comfort zone of what has already been realized.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JG: Usually I see something interesting, this can be very broad, which can use as a basis for a design. I sketch the first ideas in my sketchbooks, then draw it out in 2D for further design and then make a 3D drawing to further develop. If I feel it's right, I'll make a 3D print to fine-tune it further. A 3D printer is a rewarding tool for designing.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
JG: The plywood LCW by Vitra, the lounge chair by Borsani, a real sitting machine, the Y-bone chair, a chair by Ikea with an ingenious connection style and my own Nomad table design.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
JG: A strong cup of coffee to start the day, some reading, some designing, to the local art bookstore or one of the libraries in town and if the weather is good go for a bike ride or whatever gives you time to think.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JG: Follow your own path, be inspired, but don't let fashion trends influence your work too much. Hang in there, eventually you will succeed in realizing your dream.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JG: The design process and elaboration into a producible product gives much more than enough. All that is added is ballast, but it also has to be done.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JG: Always question your work, but also dare to draw a line that you will not lose in it.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
JG: Learning to look at things.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
JG: Books and music are important inspirations in design. Books are a source of inspiration and are often the origin of a design or help solve a problem. It provides insights. I use 2D and 3D drawing programs, photo editing programs and layout programs. The Internet is also an important archive for doing research.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JG: For me it is something that comes naturally. Sometimes I work on a design for years, not constantly, I let it rest for a few hours, days, weeks, months, or years and take it back to work on. Also depends a bit on the deadlines, but this does not hinder the design. Due to time limitations, I often start designing in a more focused way. Designing under time pressure often leads to surprising solutions.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JG: This can be a few hours, but also several years.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JG: What is the cost :)
FS: What was your most important job experience?
JG: Designing a chair.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
JG: Design manufacturers, from furniture to hardware.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
JG: The design itself and the development to manufacturability.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JG: Find design manufacturers for my designs.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
JG: I do the designing and I am assisted with administrative tasks. My partner and friends are a sounding board to demonstrate my designs, which is part of the design process.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
JG: I am currently working on hardware for production. I really enjoyed designing hardware, it's almost like sculpting.
FS: How can people contact you?
JG: The easiest is via email 'jangoderis@gmail.com, or via my website 'www.jangoderis.com' where my other contact details are also available.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
JG: To me, designing is like making a work of art and is what I prefer to do and what I am strong at.
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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