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Interview with Birger Linke |
Home > Designer Interviews > Birger Linke |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Birger Linke (BL) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Birger Linke 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?
BL: I studied graphic-design at Kunstschule Alsterdamm, international school of communication design, in Hamburg, Germany.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BL: Birger Linke Design focuses on graphics & identities, packaging & products, spaces & experiences, and communication & collaboration in Beijing, Hamburg, and Singapore.
FS: What is "design" for you?
BL: A solution to a problem, beautifully executed.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BL: Anything that solves a problem, except religious or political ones.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BL: It is quite satisfying, when people actually want your design so much that they go the extra mile to get it. For example, I got calls from collectors interested in a limited edition product (Ashkenazy Lager for London Philharmonic Orchestra) or have users bid for it on eBay (Collaboration with Stikfas toys for Republic of Singapore Navy).
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BL: A top-up card for a telecom provider
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BL: One that is relevant for a given project.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BL: Late at night, just before I fall asleep.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BL: Does it solve a problem? Is it beautiful?
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BL: It's a satisfying process. Of course, it can come with a fare share of frustration, too.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BL: It's the point why we're in this, isn't it?
FS: What makes a design successful?
BL: It solves a problem, making the world a better, more beautiful place.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BL: Does it solve a problem?
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BL: To make the world a better. more beautiful place. That obviously includes the environment.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BL: There will always be problems to solve. Design will help to find solutions.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BL: Work was exhibited at "Neue Sammlung" of the Pinakothek der Moderne in Munich, Germany – one of the world's leading design museums.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BL: Inspiration can come from anything, anyone, anywhere. So it's important to go through this world with open eyes.
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?
BL: Relevant to a given project. A smart solution to a problem, beautifully executed.
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?
BL: Originally from Hamburg, Germany, I'm currently based in Beijing. Being an outsider and looking at things differently helps to come up with a fresh approach to a problem, that others might have just overlooked.
FS: How do you work with companies?
BL: I start by asking a lot of questions – to truly understand the company's/the client's problem.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BL: Have a conversation. Is the designer really interested in the company? Does he have a point of view? Does he try to understand the problems the company faces? In addition, a look at the designer's previous work wouldn't hurt.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BL: I start by asking a lot of questions – to truly understand the company's/the client's problem. Then it's time to let the imagination run wild ...
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BL: I'll wake up and get ready for a day at the office, with conversations and the attempt to putting something to paper (or the screen). Have some breaks in between. Except when I'm traveling, exploring, watching a movie, or doing other nonsensical things.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BL: Follow your passion, and then don't give up.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BL: Not many people have the opportunity to create something every day – though 90% of it is for the bin.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BL: There's always a solution.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BL: Persistance.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BL: Open eyes, imagination, paper and pencil, Adobe Creative Suite, or and means necessary to execute an idea.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BL: Setting realistic timelines.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BL: That can be anything from an hour to a year, depending on the project.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BL: Can you just help me with this?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
BL: Watching people that care about the details.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
BL: While on one hand I work for multinationals (at the moment I'm looking after VW China), I also run my own design consultancy, with many clients form the healthcare and wellness industry (i.e. Bioformula, Vitalorga, Livinguard).
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BL: Any work that allows me to solve a problem. If this work also makes an impact on people's lives or even society as a whole, that will be perfect.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BL: The next project.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BL: That depends on the project. I'm always open to collaborations.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BL: I am currently rolling out a new brand design for an Italian skincare brand across China, that will give it visibility in more than 500 beauty clinics across the country.
FS: How can people contact you?
BL: +8613716216427 or at birger.linke@birgerlinke.design
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BL: Just get in touch!
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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