Designer Interview

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Interview with Heloise Rajkumari at Thursday 20th of October 2016

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?
HR: I have Bachelor's Degree in Architecture from National Institute of Technology, Raipur, India and also attended Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India and earned Master of Design in Product Design and Manufacturing.

FS: What is "design" for you?
HR: A creation for better experience.

FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HR: Furniture and lifestyle products

FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
HR: My most favourite design is my "Humming Tree" Dining Table. It is a fusion of floor vase and dining table for holding human sized arrangement of dry flowers, tree branches, etc. The design aims to bring the diners close to nature and help them reduce negative feelings of exhausted city life.

FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
HR: Dining Table set.

FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
HR: Glass

FS: When do you feel the most creative?
HR: When I get inspired by something that I see.

FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
HR: Functionality, aesthetics and ergonomics, its value to the target market.

FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
HR: Happy

FS: What makes a design successful?
HR: A design is successful when you know the real needs of the target market and when your designs deliver them.

FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
HR: The design intent of the designer and whether it has been delivered or not.

FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
HR: I believe designers can change the world and the way we live and how we react to the environment. Designers can change the way people think and do activities.

FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
HR: Design is always evolving for better life and perfection of creation. I feel the future will be more of intelligent products.

FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
HR: I get inspired mostly from Nature. Some of my sources of inspiration are leaves, rocks, water flowers and organic forms.

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?
HR: My style is contemporary and minimal. I like designs which have least elements, for example a mono-bloc design or may be two to three elements. My designs are mostly characterised with few elements, bold colours and organic form.

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?
HR: Imphal, Manipur, India. Yes I feel that the cultural heritage and vegetations affect my designs since i get my inspirations mostly from what I see around.

FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
HR: My design process starts with research and finding the key problems and the needs of the target market. Then, I start developing ideas by taking inspirations from various things. I like sketching, so I sketch till I get what I am looking for. Then detail out, carry out simulation and make a mock up or a prototype for visualization and testing. And make changes wherever necessary for the final design.

FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
HR: Sofa, Tables, Lamps, Jugs, Vases

FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
HR: Innovate and become a trend setter.

FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
HR: Being a Designer, I can create what I want. I don't see any negative.

FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
HR: Uniqueness

FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
HR: Sketching, keen observer, listener

FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
HR: I use pencil colours, markers, fine liners while I sketch. Software such as solidworks, alias automotive design, keyshot, Ansys, 3Ds Max, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop are used. For mock ups, I use mostly card board, thermocol, foam boards.

FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
HR: 3-4 months

FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
HR: Furniture and lifestyle products. They are the products which one cannot avoid in any case. So I want to give users a new experience with features that excites them.

FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
HR: I planning for a start-up company.

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

FS: How can people contact you?
HR: Through email.

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

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