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Interview with Adrian Light |
Home > Designer Interviews > Adrian Light |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Adrian Light (AL) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Adrian Light 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?
AL: I initially decided to be an architect when I left High school. I thought at the time that it was a good mix of Art, Science and philosophy. This turned out to be correct.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AL: ONE20 Group architects have offices in London and Melbourne.
FS: What is "design" for you?
AL: Design is the solving of a problem in an efficiecent and innovative manner.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AL: I like to work in the area of adaptive re-use. Iyt is a challenge to bring new life to an old building. The bones of the old give us great inspiration.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AL: Some of the lines of art nouveau really excite me. The seemingly nerending lie is very evocative.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AL: I was lucky to be involved in the Masterplanning of the Sydney Olympics. This was a great early involment working for Lawrence Nield.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AL: I like to work with metal and timber, but also brick, but only old brick. New brick is too uniform. Old brick has the edges taken off and is more individual and expressive.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
AL: I feel the most creative at 1am
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AL: Design firstly has to be functional. It is then that expression of the function which is design.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AL: When design is going well then it feels very free.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AL: There is a great sense of completion
FS: What makes a design successful?
AL: A design must be functional first of all.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AL: It annoys me greatly if elements do not aligh. If they do not then there must be a reason for this. Design always involves making a decision. If the decision is not to make a decision and place something at random, then its placemnet must work otherwise it hurts me.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AL: Architects have a great responsibility to society. Initially we satisfy one of the three great needs; water , food and shelter. I would like to see architects advocate more for refugees /assylum seekers. The conditions Australia houses these people in are shameful.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AL: Certainly computers have made a tremendous difference in the way we design, but also social issues such as climate change.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AL: Our works are always on exhibit. Creating architecture means your design is on public display.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AL: Inspiration comes from the site and its context.
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?
AL: I was educated as a Modernist, so I respect the ideas of Form and function.
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?
AL: Melbourne is a city that respects design. I feel I have the permission of the city to express myself.
FS: How do you work with companies?
AL: I always work collaboratively with any client.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AL: Trust your architect and give them full reign. But also inform them of what your needs are.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AL: We have a unique way of working with our clients. We are a solutions provider, so much more than just being a supplier of architecture and design services. We like to work alongside our clients and other design professionals. This collaborative business culture is geared to smarter ways of operating, enabling us to achieve high standards of delivery and performance within budget and time constraint
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AL: 1. Nelson Swage chair 2. Fritz Hansen Spin chair 3 Poltona Frau Kennedee couch 4.Citroen Pluriel 5. flat steel spatula - unknown welder
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
AL: I have 2 children, 11 and 17. So at the moment I am home schooling them while trying to juggle my Architecture work
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AL: Work efficently. You do not need to be working until midnight in the office. Have a life outside of your firm
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AL: Freedom to create is the best part of being a designer. Having design skills undervalued is the worst.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AL: There must be a reason for every design decision.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
AL: As a sustainable architect, I am interested in the whole lifcycle of the built environment. This includes the construction, waste, utility and demolition of any building.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AL: A house will usually take 2 years. One year to design and get approvals and another year to build.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
AL: Working on the Sydney Olympics in 2000
FS: Who are some of your clients?
AL: Rubu Cha , Cha, Tesco, Nations Healthcare, The AFL , Netball australia,
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AL: I like to adapt old buildings to new uses. This is a very sustainable way of building.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AL: My firm ONE20 architects will continue to strive for excellence in sustainability. It was s an honour to be shortlisted for a lifetime achievement award, and at just 51 year, I consider myself only halfway through my life as an architect.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AL: I am intrigued by architecture’s link to the environment, I have always been concerned with waste and the most efficient use of resources. Lately I am becoming more interested in more natural environments and the way they are inhabited. I may well look at researching a PHD in this area.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AL: We are converting an old hat factory into a house with a 3 storey green wall of vegetation and a moat
FS: How can people contact you?
AL: ONE20 Group Australasia 54/A Eastment St Northcote Vic. 3070 Australia +61 (0) 423 355 137 adrian.light@one20group.com
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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