Designer Interview

---

Interview with Bruno Oro at Sunday 13th of April 2014

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?
BO: I have always been into the design field since young, when I was only 14 I developed some graphic design works such as logos, websites, folders and so on. This made me enjoy the design field early and find what I was looking for a career. Later on I did my bachelor in Industrial Design and then master in Creation and Management of Projects in Fashion Design which gave me a very good knowledge in design trends and human behavior to apply in products.

FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BO: The design studio is situated in different locations to facilitate the communication and development of projects. Currently we have representations in Brazil, India and United Kingdom. This idea facilitates the interaction with the costumers as nowadays I live and work in China.

FS: What is "design" for you?
BO: Design is about bringing something new to the market and explore over boundaries of our common thoughts. It is a piece connected with the human being to fulfill needs and to communicate preferences, imagination and behaviors.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
BO: The challenging ones, especially when is necessary to turn upside down a normal belief.

FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
BO: From other designers, there are so many that is difficult to select. From my projects I prefer people to choose, I just can’t select them as I know I will start thinking in changing them.

FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
BO: As a graphic designer, website. As industrial designer, a chair.

FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
BO: That are many, quite difficult to list them all!

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
BO: Night time.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BO: Usually I focus on concept; I believe it should be strong enough to be developed. Design without concept is just art expression in my opinion.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BO: It goes according to each project, I can say that the ones that involves any sort of disability of disease are the most different.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
BO: Curiosity in how people will react to it.

FS: What makes a design successful?
BO: A good research and development and a good approach on user interaction.

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BO: In the propose of the design, there are products that are not designed to be ergonomic but aesthetic appealing, and vice versa. It varies a lot according to each project.

FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
BO: I think we always have to look beyond the project and try to see what is going to happen with it years after it is launched. On this way we adjust the design in sense of user interaction, materials and manufacturing to get the best of it for the future.

FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
BO: Slowly it is being more recognized, I think it is a matter of time for people in some specific countries to understand how designers influence in their daily life.

FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
BO: In 2009 in Curitiba/BRAZIL. I have no idea about the next one but hopefully soon.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BO: You can find inspiration in anywhere and anytime, depends only on the way you are looking to it.

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?
BO: I like to design focusing in changing the way the products are seeing and used through adding more than its normal function or designing a different shape than what is usually expected.

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?
BO: I think as more exposure and knowledge you get better you become to apply different approaches on design. In the countries I lived before I learned how to use their main characteristics and skills on my design, from signs to craftsmanship techniques. China still a place for learning as it is has many cultural aspects full of different things.

FS: How do you work with companies?
BO: Nowadays I work as an academic and during free time I develop projects for my studio.

FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
BO: The ones that has a different way of seeing design are more interesting. Usually, the designer that believes he knows everything is the one that knows less, it is very questionable.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
BO: Everything starts from defining a design method that suits to the project, then it is just development and focus on the task.

FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BO: As I am always moving I don't have many nowadays, however, my Alvar Aalto Vase is there!

FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
BO: Design?!?!?!

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BO: Think where you want to be and what you want to do in 10 years, that is the goal in my opinion.

FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
BO: Everything is just a question of perspective.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BO: Design without concept is not design.

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
BO: Creativity and analysis of the problem to be solved.

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BO: Several books about design from illustration to manufacture, rhinoceros, photoshop, keyshot, etc!

FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BO: Focus!

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BO: Varies from product to product, can take 2 days to a year. In my opinion it depends a lot on how deep you have to go in the development.

FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
BO: Can you assembly the product that I just bought?!

FS: What was your most important job experience?
BO: I work for several years in a interior design studio that gave a good understand in how to approach users and their needs.

FS: Who are some of your clients?
BO: Random.

FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
BO: The projects that are not rushed and well structured, they are the most interesting to do as you can define well all the steps to develop them and make sure they will have a good quality at the end.

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
BO: Another project!

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BO: It varies from each project, some of them I work with a team, some other by my own.

FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
BO: Not yet, but soon!

FS: How can people contact you?
BO: Through my website www.brunooro.com.br or info@brunooro.com.br

FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
BO: Nops!

FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.

A' Design Award & Competition 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 & Competition cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.