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Interview with Robson Marques de Pontes |
Home > Designer Interviews > Robson Marques de Pontes |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Robson Marques de Pontes (RMDP) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Robson Marques de Pontes 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?
RMDP: First, I don't consider myself an artist, nor a designer. I see myself more as a problem solver. Second, I have been interested in all sort of products and how they work, especially vehicles, since my childhood which brought me to study Industrial Design. But I can't really say I learned about cars and car design while at school. I have learned and I am still learning it on a daily working basis.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RMDP: I am a freelancer, when I am not working from my office at home, I am supporting different OEMs in their own design studios.
FS: What is "design" for you?
RMDP: For me "design" is about solving emotional matters in a visual and materialistic manner in order to improve or add to people's lives.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RMDP: Anything to take people from "A" to "B", with or without wheels, interiors or exteriors, which invites people and houses the human scale, or which is made to contrast against it.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RMDP: The Porsche 911, it is simply sexy. Besides, if something has been out there for more than 50 years, it is surely something special.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RMDP: Helped with a face-lift for a mass production car of a well-known OEM in Brazil.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RMDP: I like to work back in forth between traditional and the computer world, but I solve most of my design doubts in 3D, preferably with the support of virtual reality.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
RMDP: Solutions come in different ways at different times, but usually they come when I am no longer thinking about, or have rested from a specific design problem to solved.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RMDP: The package - everything I have to, or want to, incorporate in the design. From there, I try to connect the dots.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RMDP: I try to put myself in shoes of the potential consumer of that product. What is he or she looking for when using the product?
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
RMDP: I feel there is no turning back, people will either like it or not.
FS: What makes a design successful?
RMDP: For me, a successful design must please a lot of people, but "successful design" doesn't necessarily mean a "good design".
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RMDP: Is it desirable? Does it have perceived quality? Does it attend the necessities of the potential consumer?
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RMDP: I see design as a tool to attend the needs of target groups that might have target matters to be addressed. Therefore, my responsibility very as much as the number of these different groups and their respective matters.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RMDP: In my opinion, after being the exclusivity of a minority, then being popularized for the masses, design is now starting its third phase as a more individualistic subject with the help of new technologies such as 3D printing.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RMDP: As a product designer, every realized project I helped with becomes a different exhibition.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RMDP: Everywhere. Sometimes from different things that have not relation with each other whatsoever, but together they make sense somehow.
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?
RMDP: I have always been attracted to forms that describe speed and sensuality, muscle and bones. But at the same time, to ergonomics and to the touch. Perhaps, one could say that I appreciate a design "from" human scale "to" human scale.
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?
RMDP: I am originally from Brazil, but I am currently living in Germany. I spent most of my life living in different countries and I believe this gave me an upper hand when comes to compare and understand different cultural heritages.
FS: How do you work with companies?
RMDP: Usually as a contractor, freelancer or consultant.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RMDP: Design accounts for a very small part of the overall development cost of a new product. Still, many companies are yet to understand the power of design as a solid investment for their products and services on a mid-to-long term. Choosing good professionals with the necessary know-how and experience is a must, but selecting a professional committed to understand the client's needs could be the game changer factor.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RMDP: Input, research, idealization, output, feedback and refinement. CAS modeling, virtual reality, package verification, presentation, feedback and refinement. Physical modeling and or prototyping.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RMDP: I'd rather not give names, but most of my household items are of a simple and clean design.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
RMDP: My routine changes according to projects and locations. But usually, during weekdays, I wake up very early, take a nice breakfast and go to work. I try to spend my nights with the company of a nice reading. And weekends belong to the family.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RMDP: Keep pushing.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RMDP: In one hand, you are in constant contact with the latest trends, technologies and methodologies, and you are always looking for the best way to solve specific problems. In the other hand however, you will find yourself confronted with the, sometimes, grueling task to defend your ideas and convincing others.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RMDP: Form enhances function.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
RMDP: A good balance between creativity and rationality with lots of perseverance.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RMDP: Cheap pen and paper, a few markers, digital illustration, 3D modeling, CGI, VR, different books, internet and pretty much anything that can add to the process.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
RMDP: I try to make the best use of technologies that provide me with a back-and-forth-non-linear process which allows me to do different tasks at the same time and thus exploring a broader variety of ideas.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RMDP: I depends on the product's complexity, on the client's demands, or any other possible variant.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RMDP: From a client, how long does it take to...? From a non-design related, can you draw me?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
RMDP: Every job experience is important for me.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
RMDP: The major OEMs in the automotive industry in Brazil, Asia and Europe.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RMDP: Transportation design. Think of a globalized world without locomotion.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RMDP: To explore other possibilities within other industries and potential clients and partners.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RMDP: Both.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RMDP: Yes, but they are all under confidential agreement.
FS: How can people contact you?
RMDP: Write me at roby_pontes@yahoo.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RMDP: No.
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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