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Interview with Mohsen Koofiani |
Home > Designer Interviews > Mohsen Koofiani |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Mohsen Koofiani (MK) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Mohsen Koofiani 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?
MK: As a child, my interest in designing was bright. Art had a special place in our family. Now that I am designing, I am completely happy and I feel good.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MK: do not have a design studio. I'm a freelancer. But since I started graphic design, like all professional design studios, I have been professionally loyal to my clients.
FS: What is "design" for you?
MK: Design is like a sense of liberation to me. It is indescribable.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MK: Designs for food industries and children as well as very luxurious works.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MK: I really like the design that uses illustration. The use of details, both complex and very simple, can engage the mind and makes it think.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MK: Design a frog character.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MK: Anything that can convey a feeling with it is attractive to me. Sometimes using a pencil to create a design and sometimes using software that is used for drawing.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
MK: For me, inner feelings are something that gives me the opportunity to come up with ideas. I have to connect with what I am going to design.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MK: I try my best to communicate with my audience. Color, layout, form, and ...
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MK: I am in a different world when designing, especially when it comes to illustration and idea generation. I dream and I deal with it.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MK: It is unbelievable, but I feel relaxed and light.
FS: What makes a design successful?
MK: Ideation, correct execution, and courage in creating a work.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MK: Every beautiful design is formed from a beautiful mind and has a different world. Every design has a point of view that must be heard and felt and they should not be judged by personal taste. Beauties are a priority.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MK: The designer must be the messenger of the new world. The designer must acquaint the mental and inner view of the society with what they do not see. The designer must show beauty. Create culture and awareness.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MK: Every human being has an idea. As discoveries and knowledge of the unknown world become new every day, ideas and innovations in design will advance. The only thing that is as endless as the world is the beautiful human mind. It is the designers who shape and guide the future of humanity.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MK: My exhibitions are works that are made according to the needs of my customers. Each of the designs that I present and print and enter the market is like an exhibition for me that people will see and choose and take home with them. Maybe I'm preparing for the next exhibition right now.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MK: The world and the people around us are so instructive that they are constantly displaying different ideas. But I take them, nurture them, and let them go with my inner childlike sense.
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?
MK: My design style is based on childish feelings. Now it can be modern or classic. But what matters is the feeling that is conveyed and you absorb it. All my design effort is to create a smile. My approach to design is a universal design. Creating communication between people through design, breaking down boundaries through a common language.
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?
MK: I live in Iran. In the city of Shiraz, a city whose king was once the founder of the Charter of Human Rights. Where there are great poets and beautiful houses. Where its wine is known to the whole world. City of Orange Spring Blossoms. Certainly, the designers of each country have been influenced by the artistic heritage of their own country and the world. If not, the creativity of a designer will definitely not be rooted. The rich art of my country is so much that it has always had a positive impact on my life. Iranian artistic culture has very strong roots.
FS: How do you work with companies?
MK: I understand their needs, I see myself as part of that company, I come up with ideas based on those needs and I present.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MK: In my opinion, every company should find its own style and choose its own designer based on that, knowing its own method of sale and the position of its own brand name in the market. After choosing, they should trust and release the designer mentally.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MK: After negotiating with the applicant company and hearing their needs, I typically examine their market for similar products. I study customer behavior. I provide the data to the customer and by consulting and cooperating with them, I find a good idea according to the type of product and market needs, and finally, I present it.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MK: Pencil, pen and ink drawing, charcoal, office and design paper, watercolor, Wacom pen display.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
MK: I start my day with a relaxing coffee. I check my daily schedule. I will contact customers if needed. I complete daily information. I turn on the music. I prepare the line sketches of the designs I need. I will start implementing according to the priority of things. After work, I spend time with my family and get ready for the next day. (Of course, it was very, very brief)
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MK: A good designer must have a broad vision and plan. Be a master designer. Know art and color and not be far from society. Pay attention to the environment and be beautiful and endless in creativity. To strengthen the mind through study and research, a designer must display his ideas and enjoy what he does. All of this is achieved through practice and perseverance.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MK: The designer must be creative, up-to-date, courageous and, in general, original, that is, himself. But there is one thing that all designers have in common, and that is that they are emotional. A bad event can delay the process of brainstorming in an artist's mind.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MK: Do not copy and always be creative.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
MK: Skills in design, photography, skills in good communication, skills in research.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MK: Pencil and paper, Photoshop, Illustrator, painter, sketchbook pro, camera, and relaxation software.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MK: Sometimes you may fail again and again in creating an effect. In such cases, I empty my mind by listening to good music or designing another project so that I can make the right decision after a while.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MK: I do things very quickly and I am fully aware of this ability of mine. I spend all my time on idea generation. Depending on the idea, each project can take between 1 to 4 days to run.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MK: How much does the design cost and how long does it take to deliver it?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
MK: Patience
FS: Who are some of your clients?
MK: Most of my customers are food and beverage manufacturers.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MK: Works in which illustration is used and has details. Design refreshes me, but when I paint, I feel like a part of me remains in it. In my opinion, illustration is the most effective way of visual communication.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MK: My plan is to create different designs in the future. A design through which I can create a culture or be a messenger to a community.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MK: I develop my own designs. But if we look deeper into the design process, the environment and the people around us are our teammates.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MK: Yes, I have several projects in progress, juice, dried fruit (for which I designed a cultural and support program), flour, and ...
FS: How can people contact you?
MK: Usually either via Instagram or linkedin
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MK: No, everything was perfect
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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