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Interview with Mikko |
Home > Designer Interviews > Mikko |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Mikko (M) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Mikko 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?
M: I started to draw as a very little boy. Then became interested in designing cars. Even used the millimeter paper. It was just a fascinating hobby, thanks to my young age. I kept on drawing. In the school breaks I used to draw birds and fantasy characters. Along my artistic journey, I encountered the metal graphics, it quickly turned out to become my absolute favorite. I got inside one of the Finnish art school and got good feedback for my artist mindset. Should I say, finally, I got hooked by 3D-modeling in 1995. It was the dawn of the first CAD studies in Finland and I got mesmerized by the capability and all of the opportunities that I was able to already vision for the future of CAD. This specific area truly became my main form of express my every traits. Being an visionary inventor, artists (game designer), art director and service designer. 3D world totally changed my way of design. It paved the new era of artistic expression by all measures.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
M: MikonCAD really is my alter-ego. So far I am in a process to start my client acquisition for concept design cases. MikonCAD is probably also changing it´s name but that is yet to be confirmed.
FS: What is "design" for you?
M: Design is free expression, my way to showcase new ideas and art to the world. I speak nature. From there I aim to bring something that support the mechanical part in fluid fashion. Bio-mechanical?
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
M: Mechanical gadgets. Something new and possibly game changing -concept. At least it should support that pioneering finger print.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
M: I think it is one of my Design Handset models. I really like the concept that I came up with the model I named: Dynamo. It is a manually chargeable design handset. You can charge it like the similar way that standard bicycle dynamo operates. But by charging instead of emitting light energy. Fast charge it by attaching it to the tire frame of the motorcycle. Or simply roll it to charge it by your hand etc. So it support something pretty interesting. It is small and easy to carry along. Of course, like any other design handsets, a person can wear it as a necklace or let it hang on the belt etc.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
M: Tribal Fire, most likely under MikonCAD. It is a improved and updated version of X-Speeder from 2007.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
M: PUR, wood and light aluminium. Platform (OS) I would go with Android. Technology wise, flexible OLED and DIY electronics, like Raspberry and Arduino. Of course all of these wrapped with the parts from 3D-printer.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
M: When I am about to fall a sleep.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
M: User friendliness and design outlook. Material what comes to support the over all user experience.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
M: Greatly inspired by the prototyping iteration rounds. The whole spectrum of being smart and creative to find the proper solutions. What else can you possibly add when simplifying the mess.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
M: Job well done and of to the new project. Public feedback. Not necessarily interested so much to read critics without any weight and value. Sometimes and many times it is well enough that client itself likes it and the feedback given is supportive or even beyond.
FS: What makes a design successful?
M: When main audience accept it and it makes waves. The feedback for a hard work and when someone really appreciate all the effort. It all comes down to the stage when you finally are able to simplify the mess into the meaningful and especially, fully functional product. Sometimes it is enough just to please the niche group and have sort of cult reputation to enjoy the triumph. It should also stand time effortlessly.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
M: Whether or not there are any design flaws. In that case the proper prototyping iterations has not been successful.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
M: Society is becoming more and more environment and ecological as a new standard. So it is hugely important for us, designers as well to follow the guidelines. The sustainability and eco friendly is worth to keep in mind when choosing different materials for mass production. This not necessarily mean cost effectiveness but it is a new norm when taking into consideration the amount of waste we leave behind. We simply can not afford to build any short term products any longer. By using eco friendly materials and processes that support the long-term goal we are able to continue our journey along with nature.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
M: I see a lot of potential in all kind of sun ray collecting inventions and the solar tech itself. Like solar panel spray, flexible solar panels. Also looking forward to see the graphene in mainstream application use. Obviously the 3D-printing and design handset as home printing. This will finally enable all of us to express ourselves in a whole new way. I can also clearly see the assimilation between us, the humans and computer technology. A lot of potential in VR and AR- tech coming our way and sooner than we can think. But in general, thanks to 3D-printing, crowdsourcing- and funding services all kind of design has already reached every households. It is just a matter of time when the breakthrough in home made 3D-printing is to be found. Maybe it will be in printing customized design houses for the masses?
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
M: My first exhibition is constantly online.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
M: I try to follow the modern tech sources. I am also a huge fan of science, so everything related to modern tech and science, greatly inspire me. I like to spend a lot of time in nature and obtain it´s influence by walking in the forest, training outside in the park, hiking and camping. Meditation sometimes. I also like to listen different kind of music to transmit myself to the right tune. But in general. nature has it all covered and for ages. So we really are provided with a vast library of all necessary design options one can possibly imagine. Just go and explore.
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?
M: Futuristic yet on current time. Timeless, perhaps. At least that is what I aim for. Futuristic inventions and predictions to become as a next era tech trend. I am very much into creating that futuristic design language.
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?
M: Currently I live in Tallinn, the capital of beautiful Estonia. I consider to be more cosmopolitan than willing to be pin pointed with some specific country. I feel strong connection with Estonia because it has that rich medieval spirit. On contrary I am almost obsessed with that era when it comes to feel the connection. So here I am close to my favorite era and also reside in a country that supports the becoming high-tech. This combination works very well indeed in terms of getting and staying inspired. Being authentically artistic.
FS: How do you work with companies?
M: It depends on the company size and work habits. Some companies requires a lot more time to get the whole process started and smaller companies have much more fluid way of working. It really depends on the case.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
M: Pay attention to their invention mindset more than just simple design language. There are a lot of great designers out there but unfortunately many of them lack visionary way of thinking. In case some specific designer is working by him/herself, then pay attention to his/her way of delivering quality results. It tells a lot of a person´s priority ordering. However, fast is not always the best measurement but a good indication.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
M: Idea, sketching, first 3D-model and renders. Iterations and technical aspects in case some of those electronic gadgets. Prototyping process and more into details of mechanical parts. A lot of iterations and countless of photo realistic renders with different material and color variations. More insight into the design itself. Many times some modifications needs to be executed in terms to reach the final version. Logo and branding for the model presentation. Of course along the way, posting my facebook wall in order to receive valuable feedback to improve the over all design and functionality.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
M: Probably the most precious is our RUFFNEKK Fight gear -apparel design for MMA. The entire clothes line.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
M: I use to work at night. Some naps along the day in case no client meetings. But some gym in case not too much in a hurry. Also search for inspiration by reading different related articles and TV-shows. Walk on the nature, training in the park to be close to the nature for new ideas and especially source of inspiration. Sometimes/many times listening some music will send me to the right frequency.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
M: Don´t dream in case you are not willing to put a lot of effort to get out of your dream. In general, stay focused, be genuine along the journey. Be active, yet smart in networking. Remember sharing is caring, so halp others! Don´t restrict your information hunger simply by following your own industry in general. Stay humble. Always read and learn. Try to avoid becoming a product. Have you the right mentality to withstand the competition? Have you checked out that you have not became the product yourself?
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
M: Being you and expressing yourself in the most freely manner. Fierce competition in the highly competitive industry. It is really a tough challenge to earn name.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
M: Look back only to learn from the previous mistakes.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
M: Tendency and will to learn -endless curiosity. Persistence to keep the wheel grinding. Express yourself by following your own design language.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
M: Pen and paper to very start with. Moment of Inspiration (MOI), Xara Design Professional for 2D, Fusion 360 for photo render. Books, I tend to browse internet for certain articles, research sources. Now a days more and more the self-development and enlightenment.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
M: When I am in a flow, I am really committed to reach the set goal. Because I am so highly goal oriented person this becomes the main priority -big time. Time wise, well, I should learn to manage my time and decrease the amount of being workaholic by trait.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
M: It depends. More often several weeks because of the endless iteration rounds. Let´say average 8 weeks. And that demands some serious brain gymnastics.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
M: Why you are still nobody.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
M: Every single of those startups I have either started by myself or worked as a co-founder. Of course those several Hackathons in combination.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
M: Used to be. Citycon, Nokia, Senseg, Towermedia, OIN and several smaller companies, like Motocut, Sitanet.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
M: Something that includes mechanical innovation. I really liked to invent the closing and opening mechanism for my design handset. It was a challenge indeed. I liked to come up with different looking models and especially the rendering process when those objects came to live. The over all cycle from idea to 3D-concept. In addition to found the support from third parties to finance the development.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
M: I am still committed to become a global well known concept designer. I also want to continue my role as an game designer, especially from the game monetization part. Then express my artistic trait by 2D and possibly by drawing some portraits. Then I have a one very interesting traveling industry game project that I am one of the founders. For MikonCAD I am constantly looking for new clients.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
M: In MikonCAD, I walk alone at the moment.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
M: The Secret Path. I am one of the founders and game designer in that project. I do also all the image creation and also actively participating the business development.
FS: How can people contact you?
M: mikko@mikoncad.com, pro1league@gmail.com, mikko@muidugi.com
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
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