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Interview with Charlotte Friis |
Home > Designer Interviews > Charlotte Friis |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Charlotte Friis (CF) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Charlotte Friis 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?
CF: As a young person I found myself fascinated by the design world. To pursue the goal of being an established designer I decided to enroll myself to Royal College of Art from London and after Royal Academy of Fine Arts in the Design Department in Copenhagen.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
CF: I came up with the concept to design across form and function that became the core of my work. It basically means to attribute existing objects new meanings and new ways to use them.
FS: What is "design" for you?
CF: Design is a mean of communicating an idea that breaks down the function through studying the individual parts that construct the item.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
CF: I enjoy drawing up pieces that express a story about the daily life and the way we interact with them. I like rethinking usual objects and giving them a twist in the style by adapting my view on the materials and purpose.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
CF: I cannot really chose a design but I am intrigued by a work from Ingo Maurer called the Birdie Pendel. It talks to me through it's humor and the unusual way of construction.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
CF: The first thing I designed for a company was called the Rosettte Pendel. It was inspired by the architectural rosette pulled out of the ceiling and having a black top.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
CF: I guess I don't have a favorite material- I like to explore different materials. My range of materials is set from metal to tapestries and all in between.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
CF: I think I feel creative all the time...I cannot really separate myself from my creative thinking mode.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
CF: The most intriguing part is coming up with the initial concept and solving the problems that occur during the execution of the prototype.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
CF: I feel isolated from the world because I try to capture it in my design. It give me a sense of distance to everyday life.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
CF: I guess excitement is in order. Trying to see how to use it... Like sitting on the chair, or turning on a light, for the first time. But, it can also feel scary...
FS: What makes a design successful?
CF: I think it lies more in what the user experiences. If he gets a new feeling, hopefully of joy. That after the mood change it has to be by all standards - functional.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
CF: If it's good, it has to be different from what I have experience before, afterwards I'm going to test it out, and if it passed that as well, I'm convinced. A bad design is something copied and doesn't add something new or it's not functional.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
CF: I often reflect on the aspect of where my materials come from. Sometimes I try to integrate a clue about the origin of the materials.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
CF: I somehow hope that it's going to be more experimental - but open to wide range of people. Also, I expect the producing companies to be more open towards more usual design that triggers the imagination a little more than normal day items.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
CF: At this time I'm exhibiting a chair within The Victoria and Albert Childhood Museum in London. I wish to have a solo exhibition with "story telling furniture" somewhere outside of Denmark.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
CF: I don't really have specific sources of inspiration...The ideas simply come to me by my daily life experience, but I do find glimpses in objects that are not necessarily interesting in the design world.
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?
CF: I don't consider that I have a specific style, but I like to make stories about the objects I make. I think I don't have a particular approach when it comes to designing an object but you can identify my objects because they are a little unusual.
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?
CF: I currently like in Copenhagen. Denmark has quite a tradition when it comes to design. I think the classic danish design is familiar and of good quality, but I feel I don't fit right in because my process is more experimental.
FS: How do you work with companies?
CF: The experience is very different when designing for a company. There is always lot of changes from the initial submission. I find them more like impediments into bringing something new to the market. There is always a lot of compromise.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
CF: I think they should be a little more open to the designer, maybe compromising also on their side ? They should grade and value more originality.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
CF: First of I get an idea in my head, but I can't explain specifically where it comes from. I almost always finish the design in head before I start to draw it up.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
CF: I enjoy my box chairs inspired by the powder container with can open and close from a stool to chair. A lamp that folds from a cozy light to a reading light. The ceiling rosette light that looks an ordinary rosette. The kitchen table that is also a clock. I like my trellises in sitting room.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
CF: I get up in the morning and send my kids to school. Then I go for a walk around the lake near by my house to clear my head. When I come back I have one cup or two of coffee before I start to my design process. It only lasts until my kids come home...
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
CF: Don't look at something which is already done. Find your own inspiration. Think for yourself. Try to take an unusual starting point for starting up your design.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
CF: Well positives..it's rewarding to get a design into production. It's nice to satisfy your crave for imagination and getting a new perspective over your life.Hard because the pieces become your babies and it's difficult to let them fly from the nest.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
CF: I always think about the purpose and how it will interact with the world...and make a prototype with real materials to get the feeling of the materials and scale. I never show only drawings, I need to experience my pieces.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
CF: To have a vivid imagination. It the most important ingredient. And work. And dedication.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
CF: Inside my tool box is my pencil... paper, rulers, knives. I draw it up in autocad and cutting it out in flamingo...basically I make models of my designes, so I can feel the scales.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
CF: I spend as much time as I need...two years if it takes that long. Sometimes I put them aside and rework them again after a while.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
CF: It can span from one week to two years...The end result it's one that matters.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
CF: I often get the question : " Do you sell? ", and "Where can I buy it?"
FS: What was your most important job experience?
CF: I am actually a freelancer, I enjoy working in my own time.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
CF: I do mostly exhibitions, with funding. But I also sold my designes to producing companies like BoConcept.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
CF: Concept development is my favorite one, because in my opinion that is most creative part.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
CF: My plans are aiming towards getting more solo exhibitions and selling designes outside of Denmark.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
CF: I work only for myself. I have sometimes an assistent.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
CF: I currently work on upholstery chair that offers the user the option of assorting the decoration to his/her taste.
FS: How can people contact you?
CF: I can be found on my e-mail : info@charlottefriis.com and webside www.charlottefriis.com.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
CF: To young designers : Follow your intuition and never take no for an answer and keep on trying.
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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