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Interview with Pawel Srokowski |
Home > Designer Interviews > Pawel Srokowski |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Pawel Srokowski (PS) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Pawel Srokowski 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?
PS: I graduated at Wroclaw University of Technology, Faculty of Architecture. During my studies, I learnt many things about architectural design, composition, proportions and graphic design. I could also attend drawing, painting and sculpture classes. It helped me to improve my understanding of space and design principles. During my studies and further career, I met many people who helped me to develop my design passion.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
PS: My wife and I formed the Srokowski Design Ltd in 2014. We are both designers, who like simple solutions. People tends to complicate things. We like to challenge designs to be as simple as possible.
FS: What is "design" for you?
PS: Design is a way to express myself and develop my ideas. This days, everything is designed, from a skyscraper to a little box of chocolate. I like challenges, and for me, designing is a finding the best solution for an issue. For ex. in architectural design, I try to find a balance between form, function and construction. In addition, I like to keep it simple, which in most cases is not a simple task.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
PS: I like designing architecture, interiors and graphics. Each design is unique and brings new challenges.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
PS: I like purism in design. In this case, my inspiration starts at 60's of 20th Century, for ex. F. Lloyd Wright, Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, Gerrit Rietveld, Piet Mondrian or Charles & Ray Eames. Their designs are simple and future-proof.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
PS: I started with multiple small projects. However, the first successful design for my company was a winning design at Year of the Bus event. It was just couple weeks after I started the company. I proposed a graphic design named "Invisible to the Environment" for a New Routemaster bus in London. The design assumed little pieces of polycarbonate mirror sticked to the bus form. This simple solution made the bus really invisible for surroundings.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
PS: I always focus on three key parts of a design: form, function and construction. If I manage to resolve each part and make it work with others, I am sure that the design is successful.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
PS: I am excited about challenges which a design brings with itself. Some of them are really difficult and requires to be very creative to find a solution.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
PS: I am proud when my design is built or manufactured. It is really good feel when you can touch an object in real world, which couple weeks ago was represented only on a piece of paper.
FS: What makes a design successful?
PS: As I mentioned earlier, when I resolve a design form, function and construction correctly, I am sure that the design in successful.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
PS: Being designer is very responsible work. We must consider an impact of our design. We shall promote good values and respect the environment. My university speciality was Heritage Conservation. I understand how important is to take into account what surrounds you, when you design something. We cannot harm a neighbourhood or a landscape. I always do a little study of a place where I design.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
PS: I am happy to see that designers tend to use new technologies for their designs. I believe that it adds extra value to a project. However, I also like "traditional" designs, made of materials which we have known for ages.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
PS: My last design, bus named "Invisible to the Environment", was exhibited at Trafalgar Square in London, then in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford. It was a scaled bus graphic design of the New Routemaster bus. I proposed a polycarbonate mirror sticked to the form of the bus. It gave an amazing look of an invisible form of the bus. The bus design was really invisible to the environment!
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
PS: I find my inspirations in simple forms and designs. I like when a design is not complicated, the form is simple and its function is clear. Believe it or not, but sometimes I spend long hours sketching, trying to find simpler and simpler solutions. I really enjoy this challenge.
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?
PS: I am fascinated about the London Underground network. When I was a kid, I used to watch trains and count carriages. This days, I created an exciting game about this fabulous transport system. For Keep London Moving game, I used Flat Design style. You can see it when looking at Fortune Cards' graphics or rulebook graphic. For ex. elements do not drop shadow. The style can be also found in some posters designs.
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?
PS: I have lived in London for 5 years. This city is really exciting and gives me many inspirations. You can find many architectural and design styles here. There are many exhibitions organised in London's museums. In addition, people are very open and happy to give you a feedback about your work.
FS: How do you work with companies?
PS: I used to work with several companies. It is important to understand process of designing something, from a single line on a sheet of paper, to manufacturing and selling the final product. I found it easy to cooperate with other companies. I believe that nothing is impossible, and there is always a way to find some solution.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
PS: I understand that most companies take into account their own business. However, sometimes we should see values greater than money. Some designs can really change our lives or the way we live.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
PS: I always start designing by doing sketches on a sheet of paper. In this case, I am not limited, for ex. by a computer software. I can assume that everything is possible and only my imagination can limit myself.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
PS: Vitra furniture and my son's Stokke high chair. I really like this style.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
PS: Think outside the box. Everything is possible - the questions is "How can I do it?", not "If". The only thing which can limit you is your own imagination.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
PS: It is really exciting for me when my designs become real. However, we must remember that behind each success, is really hard work.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
PS: As answered in question 25. Think outside the box. Everything is possible. Do not limit yourself by your own imagination.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
PS: To be creative and having plenty of ideas. On the other hand, you must be a good manager to develop and manufacture your ideas.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
PS: I agree, designing can be a really time consuming task. The point is to manage your time well. Do not waste your time. Time is very precious. We do not have unlimited time in our lives.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
PS: This is really good question. I do not know. It depends of a project, its budget and timescale. However, I always try to imagine the final product, even before I sketch the first ideas.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
PS: Who are you? Haha, it is sometimes disappointing but it is true. Unless you are very famous architect or designer, usually people do not recognise you as designer. Even you and me do not recognise designers of most of the objects which surrounds us.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
PS: I had opportunity to work in several countries, including Poland, England, Egypt and Cyprus. It is really good experience to work with people from other countries and cultures. I enjoy sharing knowledge and experience.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
PS: I enjoy working with Clients who likes similar design styles and trust me as designer. I like when I am able to inspire my Clients by my design. In most cases the design defends itself.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
PS: My next step for Keep London Moving game is to find a sponsor who can help us to develop the game. We are small company, so even we have brilliant ideas and win design awards, we cannot afford to fund the project by ourselves.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
PS: I used to design by myself, however this changes due to a number and scale of my projects. I am always happy to receive feedback and ideas how things could be improved. This days we work in a small team, so we can challenge our ideas.
FS: How can people contact you?
PS: People can contact me via our website: www.srokowskidesign.co.uk. I always try to reply e-mails in couple of days, however sometimes, due to high workload, it takes me a bit longer to reply.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
PS: Thank you for the interview. I hope that my designs can inspire others.
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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