Interview with Nina Lieven

We all have ways of relating and communicating to the people around us, to the wider society, to the nature and to the world. Design is mine.

I didn’t make any dramatic decisions. I think one day I felt that I already am one. It was a natural evolution.

At the moment I design light objects. The light is a phenomenon that inspires me because of its essential presence in our daily lives. I also did some light installations. But my design interests don’t stop with the light. I’m also interested in sound and natural materials.

Don’t try to become a design legend. Just do what you love.

Good designer has a goal a great designer has a reason.

The design should fit into the context it is made for. It must fulfil its inner purpose. It must successfully meet its own ambition, what it is set out to do, regardless of how big or small it is.

There is this Amazonian tribe that has been recently discovered that had no contact with the rest of the world. They are called Cujareno People. I’d like to design something for them.

Paul Schatz, Olafur Eliasson.

My inMOOV lamp that was my submission for this competition. When I interact with it I have the feeling that it’s alive.

Think more. Try to see your design in the broader context. Ask yourself the question: Am I producing just another object or my design has some meaning.

It would be some creative industry for sure or maybe arts. I stared painting at an early age.

Design is a way of relating to the world. It influences our daily lives. We perceive it consciously and unconsciously. Design emphasises meanings, messages and the use of things.

My family.

My connection to nature.

The presentation should fit the work.

Something with minerals.

To be happy.

To answer my e-mail faster.

At the moment this project is called Noa.

Too long.

I start with the conceptual phase that is also the most important part of the process. Thinking, research, reading, drawing and imagining. Them I move on to finding new technical solutions that transfer my design concepts to actual objects.

Design must have a reason.

Both. Depends where you are on the design food chain.

Technology has a big role in my design. I come from Germany where a lot of design is technology driven. Technology is one of the tools in a designer’s tool belt. It would be silly not to use it.

Pen and paper mostly. Some Adobe software too.

Can I touch it?

Can I use it right now?

I worked alone so far in the first part of creation but I can see myself working with another designer. Depends on people and they’re dynamics but it is the same in every field. After the first idea is developed I really enjoy working with more people and discovering together technical details etc.

I’d love to have a chat with Paul Schatz and Jean Tinguely.

Recognition feels good. It is very human to seek and enjoy appreciation for your work. I’m not famous yet.

A big cafe latte in the morning and a few ray of sun in my studio. I just enjoy working.

It was obvious to me that I wanted chocolate ice-cream.

I think this world will be less about objects and more about ideas.

I just started.

Studio Lieven’s main interest is in re-imagining the nature and re-constructing it through the human perceptual vehicles, like geometry and science.

My work tries to re-imagine the concept of natural phenomenon and re-construct them into every-day objects.

Design is a way of relating to the world. It influences our daily lives. We perceive it consciously and unconsciously. Design emphasizes meanings, messages and the use of things.

The light is a phenomenon that inspires me because of its essential presence in our daily lives. But I cannot say that I like it the most.

When I don’t have a deadline.

The majority of my focus goes to the conceptual phase of the process. Also finding new technical solutions that transfer my design concepts to actual objects is where I spend a lot of overall design time.

All of them other than boredom.

I feel happy to move on to my next design.

It depends on how you define success - one unique piece can be as successful as other that is mass-produced.

The design should fit into the context it is made for. It must fulfil its inner purpose. It’s similar with the art. Imagine a work of art or a design as a circle. A good piece fills this circle completely satisfying everything it is set out to do. A bad piece fills it half way. That it true regardless of how big the circle is.

It’s a tough one. On one hand design is a luxury. On the other hand sense of design is global and reaches everybody around the world. Designers in my opinion must adopt sort of designers’ Hippocratic oath to strive to improve people’s lives and make balance with the nature.

Due to 3D printing and digitalisation of things we have going on now increased possibilities to create objects and less limitations to what they can look like. I think that this technological change will produce multitude of styles and new freedom of expression.

At the moment I exhibit at Venice Design 2017, from May to November. I have some unconfirmed plans to exhibit in the US and in Germany.

I can find endless inspiration in the nature. There are so many interesting phenomena, colours, substances, forms that I want to transfer into the language of design.

Germany in general, Berlin in particular. A lot of design in Germany is technology driven. Germany is country of engineers. I felt that as a positive influence in my work. Berlin on the other hand is a cultural island, very diverse and international. Due to its history Berlin still have a lot of empty spaces both metaphorically and actually and therefore a lot of opportunities for people to act and develop.

I start with conceptualisation. It entails a lot of research, reading, drawing and imagining. I’m trying to see my future object in a broader scientific and cultural context. Second step is experimenting. Going into material. Modelling. Breaking things and starting again, mixing things that don’t belong together. As a result of these experiments I make choices. I chose the direction to take. After that comes elaboration. Expanding and perfecting. Than comes prototyping and production.

If you don’t enjoy it it’s gonna be too hard. Don’t give up.

Positives. You get to design things. It’s a creative job. If that’s something that is close to your heart.
Negatives. It’s a good work but sustainable only for few.

Design needs to have a reason.

Creative talents are important but not enough to succeed. You have to also be able to communicate, promote and sell.

from three month till five years

Main idea comes from me but after the conceptual phase I enjoy working with a small group of selected people. I am really grateful to have inspiring and smart people around me that help developing my projects. Its important to have a good team. Btw . we always look for interns.

Through my website. ninaliven.net