Designer Interview

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Interview with Bahram Salour at Monday 14th 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?
BS: Art and design have always been my primary interest, unfortunately however, instead of following my heart and going to art school, I followed the advice of those I thought were older and wiser, and went into the sciences. I have to say though, that what I learned while studying Physics and Engineering have served me very well in design. After working many years in product development and marketing for the photonics industry, I decided it was time to follow heart. I enrolled in design courses and felt at home for the first time in my life. In 2004 I started Bahram Salour Design Studio and later co-founded Tivan Furniture Manufacturing company in 2006.


FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
BS: Bahram Salour Design is focused on creating "game changing" designs that are highly user-friendly. In other words, the designs challenge preconceived notions about what a particular type of object should look like, while being even more user-friendly than the more traditional form. It is a design studio primarily involved in designing furniture as well as home ware for home and office. Apart from Ciel Home Bar, furniture items such as lounge chairs, coffee tables, stools, dining tables, conference tables, cabinetry, stacking chairs, outdoor furniture, children's furniture, as well as timepieces, and clothes hooks have been designed.

FS: What is "design" for you?
BS: For me, design is the process of creating an object that is both aesthetically beautiful as well as useful and highly user-friendly. Beauty is very much a quality of life feature, in my opinion, since a beautiful object brings joy to people's lives when it is viewed. However, when beauty is coupled with useability and user-friendliness, which make people's lives easier and more fulfilling, then one can say that an object was properly designed.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
BS: Obviously the form of an object is critically important, since it must attract the buyer/end-user by creating a powerful emotional bond or desire. However, the design must also be comfortable, and easy to use so that it will become the user's favorite possession. Finally, the design must be manufacturable otherwise no one will ever buy it or use it.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
BS: Euphoria

FS: What makes a design successful?
BS: A successful design is one that captures the public's imagination. However, an excellent design is one that is both beautiful and extremely user-friendly. But a great design is beautiful, user-friendly and ecologically sensitive.

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
BS: Aesthetics, quickly followed by user-friendliness.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
BS: My sources of inspiration are very diverse. Nature as well as man made objects such as classic cars, movies, airplanes, architecture and even a rusty old air conditioning unit have provided inspiration for past designs.

FS: How do you work with companies?
BS: Because of my physics and engineering background as well as my experience working in manufacturing industries, it is easy for me to work with manufacturing companies. I have an interest in technology, an understanding of the manufacturing process as well as an appreciation for the concerns and goals for manufacturers. In fact, two of the aspects of design I focus on while designing are marketing and manufacturability.

FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
BS: My favorite is my Isamu Noguchi coffee table.

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
BS: First, follow your gut feeling. Second, remember to take time away from a design, then come back to it with a fresh perspective.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
BS: If there is one thing I learned while working on product development in high-tech it's that user-friendliness is paramount.

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
BS: I first sketch my designs by hand on paper, then go to AutoCAD.

FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
BS: I give it as much time as it requires, as long as it doesn't negatively impact my family.

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
BS: That depends on the object. But, at the very least it takes a couple of weeks.

FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
BS: I work by myself.

FS: How can people contact you?
BS: By email is the easiest and most efficient way. My email address is bsalour@yahoo.com

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

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