Interview with Charles Godbout and Luc Plante

I own a design studio named Topo Design from the past 20 years. I met my partner almost 20 years ago and we started our collaboration from that time. We decided to found the GPA design studio in order to «officialize» our work
togheter.

Design is a way of life. It's «intelligence» in the thinking process. To me, it should be related to human evolution.
It's gonna take some time...

I mostly design furniture for the contract market. Technology is the base. I often start from that.
I like challenges in searching for solutions. Airport seating, office furniture, etc. are my favorite specially when it's involving complex systems.

I like very much concepts from Alberto Meda (Vitra, Alias etc.) whos design approach connects with me.

My real first design was an exhibit system made from aluminium. With a few partners we founded a company to manufacture it and sell it. So I have been a CEO for almost 10 years.

I dont limit myself to just a few materials, but I should say that aluminium is my favorite.

I would say 5 prototypes of our projects, buy it's gonna sound pretentious and arrogant so I wont...

I wake up, have breakfast, and then try to have fun working all day, cook a fine dinner and go to bed trying to have nice dreams...

I teach industrial design at the Montreal University school of industrial design for more than 10 years.
I always tell my students to open their eyes and their ears to everything - arts and culture, economy, politics, etc.
This help you to make links in your mind and find your way to be a good creator.

The positive is related to the the act of searching and finding solutions which could be extremely pleasant and exciting. On the other side it is a 24 hour passion. My wife is sometimes asking where is the«off» swicht ?

Simplicity, which is quite a challenge when dealing with complex systems.

Curiosity, curiosity, curiosity and passion if I can called these «skills»

Depending on the type of project, I would say that it often take a year before it's on the market.
Sometimes it takes longer. There is no rule.

Where do you find ideas ?

To retire as late as possible...

I sometimes work solo on projects, but more of them are developped with my friend and partner architect Luc Plante

Right now we are still developping a contemporary door system made from aluminium. Opposing to what's on the market, it is very flexible and it became some sort of a creative platform for interior designers and architects.
The name of the company we recently started in order to manufacture and commercialize the concept is carrying well this idea : Sesame creative doors.

www.topodesign.ca