Interview with Jeffrey A Day

Brining thoughts into the built world motivates me to design, I became a designer so

It was a natural progression for me becoming a designer, it was a choice for sure.

I design high end furniture and home furnishings, I would really like to design lighting down the road.

Young designers would benefit themselves by gaining broad experiences and figuring out where their interests/talents are and utilizing them to the fullest.

The ability to recognize when a product is perfect... I will add that good designers can design Great products: and great designers can design good products.

Does the product represent the concept in a clear way...

Good design lasts in both duration, materials and concept. People should invest for their own quality of life!

I would love to design an Art Museum.

The interior of a restaurant

I wish I knew...

Charles and Ray Ames,

Drops series, the static tension of the surface is poetry...

To relax and live life observantly.

engineer or artist, more than likely an artist...

design at its core is solving a problem within a set of criteria. Sometimes the problem is ergonomic, or function or aesthetic.

My Family continues to be my biggest fans!

The notion of a perfect design always keeps me looking for the next, best idea.

Honestly, self doubt...

In a way the shows their work the clearest and concise manner.

Seating, A few chaise loungers for sure!

Not sure actually, the finish line keeps moving.

A humble and modest approach with a great idea.

design has facilitated a better quality of life thus far and it will continue to do so.

A family of bar stools

The ones that were fulfilling to me as a designer AND were also a financial success.

Tough to say, I wish I had a magic ball to see into the future to answer that one!

I think the design field will see more use of the the 3D printers with extended capabilities; people will be able to download and print a phone in the future I think...

Usually a few weeks after the prototypes, I always need to live with a full scale version to actually finalize a design.

Gathering information about materials, needs and desires coupled with some market research.

design of others...

throughout history, art, architecture, design and fine arts(music, dance, fashion, etc.) have been playing off one another. These movements create the trends that we all live with and love.

A huge roll, I only sketch for myself anymore. I use CAD software for designing and rendering.

SolidWorks, Rhino, Adobe CS..

Color can be important, the nice aspect about color is that its free! Go crazy with color everyone! Materials is key as well.

What was your inspiration?

GOOD JOB! I then look at very closely to learn what they did and why... Its a great way to learn.

A good friend. Yes, its tough to design in a vacuum.

My first design professor, Bruce Hanna. I didn't realize it the time but his advise, and outlook has shaped my view on design.

Keep exploring new materials and processes.

Pablo Picasso

I enjoy others seeing value in my work and ideas, it feeds my soul.

color is white, San Juan Island, BBQ, Fall, Pentel Kerry pencil, Brand... Day-Studios of course!... lol

Having an idea come together without issue, when a thought translates well into the physical is priceless.

Nope... I wanted to have a lot of different careers as a child, and still actually...

Wow... super tough question... I like to think we humans are living peacefully and harmoniously on earth.

Day-Studios is a boutique firm creating contemporary designs that demonstrate purpose, precision and beauty.

Design for me is progression; a progression of thoughts that turn into products which in turn creates a new interest and/or a new skill set only to feed the next design cycle.

Good question, the next piece is always my most favorite until it is done.

a CRT television stand that swiveled.

My favorite material to work with is wood, it gives so much character and warmth. Plastics being a close second with are versatility. My favorite piece of tech is 3D printing, it's so quick and useful for development.

When my mind is clear, it allows space for something "else" to happen.

During the designing phase I focus solely on realizing the inspiration with respect to proportions and materials. How the design gets realized is addressed later.

Balance, interest and execution.

Balance, interest and execution.

Designers have a responsibility to respect the world we all live in. We play a part in what materials are used and the process in how they are manufactured. It’s a small part of much larger picture and I feel designers are doing their part.

The contemporary design field is finding its voice on two fronts in my opinion. First of all with the proliferation of converging technologies such as CAD, CNC and 3D printing designers are boundless with what they design and how they go about realizing the vision. Secondly, designers are pushing away from the computer screens more frequently and are playing a vital role the production. There is a disconnect from being solely a CAD jockey designer to actual production of an item. I feel designers are trying to strike a balance between both worlds to make better designs.

I strive to create partnerships with companies, I am always fascinated by how others accomplish designs or manufacturing. I try to learn what they do well and how best to translate that skill into real world application.

My design process at the highest level is Ideation, solidification, definition and fruition. Ideation is the spark, or creative idea. Solidification is about exploring options and refinement, where the idea solidifies. Definition is about how do we get it to market, what dimensions work, what kinds of materials can we use; actually defining what and how of a product. Fruition is bringing a concept to life, making prototypes and learning where it can be improved upon.

my IPhone, Brooks running shoes, a 15 year old Pentel Kerry mechanical pencil, Emeco Navy chair, and of course my Drops coffee table.

Good Question, young designers please do your research when the project calls for it, the information will always be useful; More importantly, follow your instincts, they will not fail you.

Balance plus visual interest. I always strive for a product to look and feel perfect. I find

The most important skills for a designer are observation and ideation.

I don't, it manages me!...

Each project is different.