Interview with Attila Stromajer

I have always been interested in creative activities: DIY, modelling, drawing, making maquettes. In all areas of my life I have been looking for innovative and revolutionary solutions. I have become more serious about designing in the past 3 years. I started out by designing musical instruments and continued with furniture and home decor. It was a hobby that has turned into passion. I was also inspired by my father, who was an architect.

Besides the digital modelling (Rhinoceros, 3ds max) ways for me it is very important the self-manual, hand designing and modeling. I mean: paper drawing, paper-folding technique, clay work, modelling with wood, etc. Top three aspets of my design is brainstorming from instinctivity, expressing emotions and feelings, problem solving throught the realisation and functionality, intellectual play, beauty and aesthetics. For me it is important to give some message to all of my designs. Not for the reason of teaching, just I beleive that a particular furniture can be more than an aesthetic or functional object. Therefore, while designing I make use of my knowledge I gained as a psychologist about the needs and drives of human beings.

There are many types of emotions I have, when I design. But most of all I can mention the FLOW experience (Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi) where space and time disappear and the designer merge with design activity. Each part is exciting to design, but for me the most exciting part is the initial idea and the journey of design.

I really do not know what is the key to design success. I just design and follow my own path.

I would like to find more good designs and to realize them, that's it. And for the most important thing to learn, learn, learn…

I do not know I'm at the beginning of my career too.

It is a tough question because in many cases – at least in my experience – the opinion of experts about a design is different from the opinion of customers. We are different with different tastes, expectations but I think the most important things in a design are innovation in form, and use of material, in functionality and concept. I also think it is our aim to evoke feelings through our work.

There are no routines, each of my days are different.

I follow up the latest design trends but I trí to ignore that into my design work. I try to follow my own inspirations and ideas.

I think there is no good design, no good building, no paintings or no good art. Just there can be impacts and feeling which can effect us. With functionality, beauty, enthusiasm, specialty, with anything. In my experience, people mostly decide by their emotions. But this is a very subjective and complex process. I do not believe in the perfect and all-knowing design, but in my opinion, everyone could finds their own house, furniture, car, etc. which is the most appropriate for her.

I think a design can never be done. Planning is a process that can always be shaped, rewrapped and resumed at any moment. I also have a moment when I can say that this is done, if I do not look at it next day.

I do not think I made it yet.

There are many many good designers who have impressed me, but one of my favourite is Zaha Hadid.

I live in Hungary, I was born here, this is where I feel at home. I am proud to be a Hungarian. Our culture is really colorful and bears a lot of impacts, which makes it unique. Hungarians are said to be creative, innovative and resourceful, which I feel effects me, too. This, which is I think the result of our not really happy and carefree history, can be a blessing and a curse at the same time.

I work alone, but I hope it changes over time, I want to work in a team.

Az értékek előmozdítása és megteremtése létfontosságú, különösen olyan világban, ahol a tömegtermelés és a gyenge minőségű produtusok jelenlétét kompenzálni kell. Szeretném hangsúlyozni a hasznos és támogató funkciók fejlesztésének fontosságát is, amelyek a világot jobbá, szebbé és méltóbbá teszik. Véleményem szerint a tervezőnek meg kell próbálnia javítani az emberek életét akár esztétikai hatáson, akár funkcionalitáson keresztül. És mindig figyelembe kell venni a fenntarthatóságot és a környezetvédelmet.

It is a great honor and experience that A 'Design Award appreciates my creations, my design work and choose me the designer of the day. I see many adventages of this. I get feedback from my thoughts and art from serious and credible professionals. I feel good thank you.

I have not really thought about it yet. It is new for me to be looked at as a designer. I am attracted to beautiful, special and unique things. I am inspired by the task of giving an already existing object further functions or designing something that has multiple functions and also catches the eye.

It was completely my decision. I take it seriously and I enjoy it. My aim is to become a full time designer.

Recently I have been focusing on designing furniture and lamps. I mostly use minimalist or modular design but I am open to other styles and pieces, too.

I am certainly not a design legend but I would advise them to stick to their own ideas when it becomes to the realization of a design. They should not make too big compromises. They should work out of pleasure and joy and not out of duty. I would advise them to try and create something as unique and progressive as possible.

I do not know but I would like to be one of the latter.

I think a good design should display innovation and novelty in functionality, usefulness or esthetics or in all three. It should be innovative, useful and inspiring. It should also trigger some feelings in people.

I think a design primarily has aesthetic and functional value which is always worth investing in. Its financial value may depend on many factors.

I would design anything for anybody if I am able to execute it. Industrial design or technology is a bit far from my profile but I am open to any challenges, maybe as part of a team. At the moment I am involved in designing outdoor and indoor furniture, installations, building parts and lamps. These also include kitchenware, home decor and handicraft.

I have many plans waiting to be realized. If only I had two lives… Architecture is my passion, I would love to work as a designer on such project. Basically, I am open to anything in designing.

During planning I realized that for me proportions are the most important. I would also stress the general effect we create by the use of certain shapes, colors, material and functions. The adjustment of the minor details is especially important. In my view, the key to success often lies in these minor details. Some designs do not look special or exceptional at first sight. However, if we look closely into the details, the original use of material, technology or joining method and the recommendations to the golden number, we can discover why a design is more exquisite than we previously judged.

I am a great fan of many masters. I could go on listing and praising them for hours. Let me just highlight some of my favorites: Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Philippe Starck, Imre Makovecz, Ross Lovegrove, Pininfarina, Santiago Calatrava, Hakan Gürsü, Arne Jacobsen, Ora Ito, Scaglione Franco, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughmann, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, Greta Grossman, Daniel Libeskind, Sir Norman Foster, Oscar Niemeyer, Kris Lin, etc.

I have a lot of favorite desings, for example Deglon’s Meeting Knife Set is one of my favourite. Beautiful, pure functionality. Innovative and manly, which is also a factor for me.

Well, I am not sure I am the best person to judge this but to tell the truth, my table named "Wave" is my favourite. As I see it, it displays duality and combines opposites. It is standardized in its elements but unique as a whole. It seems technically easy but it is rather complex. It seems heavy and robust but at the same time light and transparent. It is traditional in material but modern in shape.

I find it very important to study other designers’ works. We should investigate why we like what we like, what is the secret behind it. Also, we should learn and use 3D softwares in modelling but drawing, mock-ups, paper-up technique, or claywork is also important. They help us feel the shapes, the proportions and the possible functions. If we can, we should also regularly visit exhibitions to get inspired.

For me designing is not the past but the future, but if I had to be something else, I would be an architect.

Considering my life, design for me is passion, a process of creation and a chance of revival. As a phenomenon, I see it as the merging of innovation, art and every day life.

My greatest help was certainly my wife, who has supported and still supports me on different levels. If I get tense, she tries to calm me down, if I am happy about something, she can be happy for me. She supplies the bits I am lacking. She is my private psychoanalyst.

I am still just dreaming about being a "great" designer, but now that I have received this award, I know it is worth being a dreamer.

I do not consider myself a master, but I faced many obstacles, especially at the stage of realization.

Ideally we should present our works live. Showing only a graphic design without making the prototype can raise different problems. But with the prototype at hand, who needs a graphic design?  Seriously, graphic design is a great tool to show the function, complexity of a piece, or visualizing its possible colors and surroundings. It can enhance the value of a product if you can attach a hand drawing to it, but it can be really time consuming. Therefore, I would recommend to use artistic photos to highlight the beauty and function of the piece as long as they do not distort its real qualities.

I am planning to create a lamp and a dresser. I cannot tell you more at the moment. You will see.

My ultimate goal is self-realization. This way I could serve my community the best. Who needs more?

I guess they expect more and more designs which make them happy. It is not directly about me but about my products, but this is the way it has to be.

Creating user-focused technological solutions and environmental friendly innovations is the most important. Our task is redeeming the damage mankind has caused to nature and creating a more environmental friendly, more human and peaceful way of living. I do believe that we can develop and create pieces without any destruction. However, „money” is not always interested in art and the establishment of values.

It is a secret.

Do you mean my project? It has not been created yet.

It might be a commonplace and naivety to say but I would like to see more handicraft and less technology used in the future. Especially if we consider that it can reduce lavishing our resources, the lack of workplaces, and producing waste. But it is more the job of the polititians and the tycoons to raise awareness about this not that of the designers. The latter know their jobs, I think.

I cannot tell. Maybe rise of the robots. :)

A project is never finished. You just stop working on it. :)

I start working on it in my head. I give it a lot of thought, then I make even more sketches.

If you cannot be free in other ways, at least be free in your thoughts.

I think it works both ways. A really strong and paradygm-shifting desing is capable of changing the trend, but I think in most cases, trends set the designs. Designing involves research of the current trends, partly copying them and being inspired by them, and it is also a business. If you want to be successful, and profitable you had better do something that is already accepted and favoured. Who would order furniture today that no one would buy? Even if it is really revolutionary.

It depends greatly on what I am working on.

I really like the 3D, vector and raster graphics editors too, but I'm just learning the most of them. For example Rhinoceros 5, Grasshoper, Vray, 3Ds max, Illustrator, Photoshop, Inventor, Fusion 360. They are great softwares! I am always amazed at what they can do.

They are very important for me. At least as important as the shape or functionality.

I would prefer them not to ask questions about it, just keep gazing at it.

Why did not I come up with this idea? 

The ideal partner for me is active, motivated, inspiring, witty, reliable and enjoys work. Later I would like to work in a team, too.

So far unfortunately nobody, personally. But I always try to get inspiration from great designers.

One of my favourites is: The Whole Story Paperback by Elizabeth Wilhide, Jonathan Glancey

I am not a master designer but when I look at the world I try to gain inspiration from what I see: nature, animals, any object around me. When I look at some object, I often examine what else it can be used for. I also study other designers’ works. Apart from that, I read books on the subject and perfect my knowledge about 3D softwares. I spend a lot of time modelling and going to exhibitions.

Anybody who is open and interested in the matters of the world and is not too preoccupied with himself.If he happens to be interested in design, it is the icing on the cake.

I am not yet famous, but at A' Design Award I have received two prestigeous awards as a beginner designer, which is really upliftingand reassuring. This feedback shows me I could have a future in designing. Since I got this award, I have received more positive feedback than in all my life. It is a bit strange, but I think I will be able to live with it. :)

I do not have one favorite color but I like blue, black and orange. My favorite place is the Alps, and other mountains. As for food, I like Hungarian cabbage stew „Székely” style, macaroni milanese, and knödel. My favourite seasons are spring and fall. My favorite object is the guitar. I have't got a favorite brands, but there are a lot of brands, which items I like, for example: Ibanez guitar, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Tag Hauer, Fossil, Italian furniture brands in general.

One of my designs has been built by at least 4 constructors and it is about to arrive at a new one. Just like a traveling trophy...Nobody has been able to figure out what it is but everybody has liked it so far. They have called it mirror, statue, stand, rack, lamp and sliced whatsitsname. I have been working on it for two years and for a while I myself was not sure what it is going to turn out. I know by now. It is entertaining to obsesrve what people can see in the same thing, just like in a Rorschach test. Sometimes I find the form first and later the function.
Another story: someone said the other day that our daughter is our best design everI think he was right. Our daughter was planned although not on paper or by softwares, and we can hardly create anything nicer or better.

Unfortunately I can only work as a designer part time, because I have a full time job, so I have to divide my time. I hope to be a full time designer soon. If I look at my work and I feel that I have really achieved something, then I feel motivated. Maybe the next day I will not like it as much, but it gave me satisfaction for the day of creation.

No, not at all. I think you can be contented if you can live up to your potentials. And what else can be more important than to be contented in life?

I really don't know, but I hope the world will be more peaceful and livable place than now and the design can efficiently contribute to this.

Never give up your plans and dreams! Work on realizing your ideas.

The aim of Stroodesign is to create pieces of quality furniture that apart from fulfilling their functions add something to our lives emotionally. We pay attention to sustainability and creating durable furnishings. We believe that our furniture has an impact on us, triggering feelings and thoughts in us. It effects our well-being and inspires us. Therefore, while designing I make use of my knowledge I gained as a psychologist about the needs and drives of human beings. Besides being conscious during the procedure, I also like to rely on my intuitions. I look at furniture pieces as our partners in life. My goal is to help people realize that these are much more than objects. They should be seen as an important part of our every day lives and should reflect our personality. Keeping to our mission, apart from bringing our own ideas to life, we are open to subcontracting and creating furniture imagined or designed by our customers. In this case, we try to adapt the products to the customers’ style, personality, or image as much as possible.

Considering my life, design for me is passion, a process of creation and a chance of revival. As a phenomenon, I see it as the merging of innovation, art and every day life.

At the moment I am focusing on designing furniture, lamps but I am also interested wall covering, panelling, kitchen tools, architectural designs, spatial installations, etc.

I like modern, minimalist and futuristic design, but I like Bauhaus, Art Deco, etc. One of my favourites is the modular and parametric design, which usually uses simple and organic forms.

I have a couple of ongoing plans, but I can not say anything factual about these yet.

I like to work with natural or recycled material like wood, metal and glass. Respect of nature and sustainability is very important for me.

When I can submerge in work. Stillness, peace and nature inspires my creativity. And of course, my daughter’s smile

I put emphasis on form, innovation and function as well. The most important aspect for me is the artistic effect and the emotions a piece triggers in people. As my objects are used in the households, I also concentrate on functionality. In the most desired but rare case artistic expression can meet functionality without either of them get hurt. However, in most cases we have to make compromises and decide in favor of one or the other. As for me design is primarily art, I usually favor artistic effect.

I can experience flow. Time and space disappears. I am alone with my design. However, I do not strive to have only positive feelings. As a human being I am prone to having bad moods and emotions as well. I have to accept them, too.

I feel happy, contented and most of all relieved as usually realization is the most difficult stage in design.

It is a tough question because in many cases – at least in my experience – the opinion of experts about a design is different from the opinion of customers. We are different with different tastes, expectations but I think the most important things in a design are innovation in form, and use of material, in functionality and concept. I also think it is our aim to evoke feelings through our work.

I choose not to judge others’ designs as I think it is a matter of taste what we consider good or bad, nice or ugly, useful or useless.

The promotion and establishment of values is of vital importance, especially in a world where the presence of mass production and poor quality produts need to be compensated. I would also like to stress the importance of developing helpful and supporting functions as in Hakan Gürsu’s "Shelter Pack Post Disaster Shelter" or in other designs that make or world better, nicer and more worthy. In my opinion a designer should try to improve people’s lives either through esthetic impact or functionality. And we should always take sustainability and environmental protection into consideration.

I think the future of design lies in user-focused technological solutions and environmental friendly innovations. Our task is redeeming the damage mankind has caused to nature and creating a more environmental friendly way of living. I do believe that we can develop and create pieces without any destruction.

I have been exhibitoin in Hungary last year. I was invited to abroad many times but I have not been able to go abroad untill this time. But we plan to go this year.

I was inspired by the architecture of pyramid stairs and also the movement of the waves. I wanted to create interesting and original 3D structures by using simple geometric forms. I multiplied and then rotated the frames. My objective was to build a static object in which the steps of transformation can be traced so that it incorporates and expresses the dynamism of change. I was also inspired by organic principles that can be static and dynamic at the same time, like water.

My design style involves modern minimalist and some futuristic attributes. To balance this, I use recyclable, natural and environmental friendly material. I try to achieve a rustic effect by using wood to balance the overwhelming use of plastic I notice nowadays. I would like to create designs that are simple yet innovative at the same time and fulfil their functions.

I live in Hungary, I was born here, this is where I feel at home. I am proud to be a Hungarian. Our culture is really colorful and bears a lot of impacts, which makes it unique. Hungarians are said to be creative, innovative and resourceful, which I feel effects me, too. This, which is I think the result of our not really happy and carefree history, can be a blessing and a curse at the same time.

It is very difficult to find a reliable and talented partner with the right capacity. But it seems I'm on the way now.

I do not know. I do not know that side of the business.

At the first stage I do the planning mentally. I play with the ideas, variations, and give them a lot of thinking. Then I make one – or to be honest a hundred- rough sketches so that I would not forget the ideas. Later I sort the better ones to further develop them. After that I start the research. I also make sure not to design something that already exists. There is no challenge in copying. Then I go on with modelling some sketches in 3D program to check their feasibility. Then I continue designing. The final and hardest stage is when I finalize the model considering the advice of the executors. This covers economical use of material and technological solutions as well. I often do the modelling with wood, clay or paper. Then instead of sitting in front of the computer I carve and drill. If it does not turn out to be a masterpiece, my daughter can always use it as a toy.

One of my guitars, my favourite glass, my laptop mouse, one of our vases and of course, our daugter: our most beautiful and most precious „design”.

There are no routines, each of my days are different.

I would advise them not to be influenced by others, not to make huge compromizes in creating their pieces. They should aim at creating out of passion not out of duty. Try to create something unique and innovative. Sometimes it is hard to let ourselves enjoy the freedom we have in creating.

For me nothing compares to the flow it gives, or to the desire of creating something new. However, I have to admit that sometimes the constant brainstorming that can keep me from sleeping is really exhausting. It can result in sleeping disorders. Furthermore, it reduces the time I can spend with my family, which is hard to digest. I am a perfectionist with all its positive and negative effects.

The golden rule for me is to be unique and innovative, to create value and quality. I would never copy someone else’s work. In planning the main task is finding the right proportions. For me, esthetically this is the key for a good design. And of course daring to be as free as you actually are when you start a design.

Creativity, knowledge, wide circle of interest, accuracy, elaboration, strong imagination, good perception of depth, drawing skills, experience in digital modelling, art history, science, sensitivity to novelty, to new technologies, buta t the same time, respect for traditions, styles and designers. Sensitivity to social problems, open mind, love of liberty… I could go on and on….

Drawing, digital modelling, paper-folding technique, clay work and books on the subject. Rhinoceros, 3ds max, research, studying the literature. Sometimes just contemplating on the everyday world around us.

Time management is really tough. I have no idea how I do it but I try to do my best and it usually works.

It depends on the actual work. One piece took 15 minutes, while another has been preoccupying my mind for a year. I have found that the great ideas come out of the blue and take a short time to design but with the modifications and final touches it could take quite a long time to bring them to life.

People usually ask me how on earth I got this idea to be a designer.

As I am at the very beginning of this carreer I cannot identify such thing yet. But as soon as I can, I will share it with you.

I would like to talk about this later.

I like all of them, because I like the designing process.

I would like to create my designs and design new furniture or decorative objects. I am looking forward to getting orders. I am going to put emphasis on building my brand and working on two new pieces in the near future.

I do the planning and designing all by myself but in the creation and development of the pieces I cooperate with joiners.

No, not at the moment.

https://stroodesign.hu/contact/