Interview with Andras Kelemen
Design Legend Interview
26 April 2017
I went to a secondary school that specializes in art. You were required to choose a practical subject alongside mandatory subjects. I enrolled in the furniture design group, where for four years I had the opportunity to study the philosophical and technical aspects of the profession. from there, the road lead straight to the University of Applied Arts in Vienna, where I am currently studying industrial design and am graduating this year.
I have always wanted to be a designer. I only chose a specific direction within design later on, when I had a better understanding and overview of the field.
I usually work on ideas that I can grasp and understand completely. I prefer to be involved in each step when creating something out of an idea, that way I can feel as if it's my own. Currently I am motivated by eyewear design, but I would like to design more furniture as well.
The most important thing in my opinion is that a designer should be able to view the world around them as a child, as if they were seeing and discovering it for the first time.
If a person can distance themself from the current design trends and question those, then they are on a steady path of showing the world their own unique style and way of thinking. It's important not to reproduce a design just because of its current popularity, as this leads to us being just one of many. Design for me is a tool for self-expression and I keep that in mind at all times.
Creativity and perseverance are the basic principles when I am designing. There are problems that can be solved quickly with acuteness and creativity, however perseverance is key when working on a large project.
It is important to be up to date and open to new things.
As an industrial designer I am always balancing between art and technology. If I couldn't be a designer, I would be a sculptor because it requires continuous thinking and working with materials is a main part of sculpting.
I have a lot of frame ideas for glasses, but I have been designing childrens' furniture recently as well, which I would like to show the world this year.
To allow people to see the world the way I do through the items I design.
Since my brother and I established the company I have been putting a lot of energy into designing eyewear. I am currently designing this year's collection, which is exciting, because this is the company's second collection.
I try to keep the idea in my head as long as possible and think about potential problems, because if I have it sketched down then that already gives it a visual limitation, which I try to adhere to involuntarily. I aim to think it through thoroughly first and then start the actual design process.
3D programs and rapid prototyping help in creating a concept precisely and quickly.
I usually use Rhinoceros for 3D planning and Photoshop for visualization.
With the founder of Ic Berlin because he makes amazing eyewear. Their technical solutions regarding the frames inspired me to start designing frames in the first place.