Interview with Sasank Gopinathan

I have always been drawing and doodling since I was a kid. In a way, I never grew up, and I’ve always wanted to integrate my love of drawing and creating to a professional career. When I learnt that being a designer could be a profession, I never looked back.

I was never forced to become a designer. Growing up in a household of music and being involved in art at a young age, I feel choosing to be a designer was more of a natural inclination.

I tend to design products, mostly furniture and a couple of consumer goods and electronics, as well as cars and transportation. I have also dabbled in iconography and typography. I do wish to design more cars and transportation related products.

Practice makes perfect. Keep being curious, be open to new perspectives, and look for inspiration outside your field as well as within.

I think when your work emanates your personality rather than data, focus groups and cues only from other designs… That makes you a great designer

A good design is something that doesn’t need a spokesperson. It speaks for itself, and it can convince you of its use with minimal to no explanation.

I believe that a society that invests in good design evolves faster. In this regard the value of good design is the power to change, to evolve, to improve, to educate, and to utilize with more ease.

I am most comfortable with designing consumer products and vehicles, and if I had time, I’d work with any client, small or large, as long as their ideas are great and they need my help to realize their vision.

I aim to create an international design language with Indian heritage and roots, probably starting with the region where I come from: Kerala. I hope to eventually nail it with a diverse range of applications.

Rest. Sometimes when striving for an idea, you can overwork yourself and any time spent working after that is a waste. If my brain is fried, I take my mind off from my work and rest for the day/night. The next day you will have a fresher mind and you tend to have better solutions and ideas.

In the field of automotive design, I’m greatly inspired by Marcello Gandini and Giorgetto Giugiaro. In architecture, I’m inspired by Bjarke Ingels. In product design, I'm inspired by Oki Sato & team (Nendo). In graphic design, I’m inspired by Christoph Niemann.

I love the Stratos Zero concept by Marcello Gandini, as the design was so radical it still looks futuristic after 50 years. Christoph Niemann’s ‘household item’ instagram posts challenge my perspective on how I view everyday items, which blows my mind.

If people want to improve their overall skill sets, it all comes down to regular practice. If people want to improve their creativity, they should start looking around, watching videos related to creating ideas, and even read books that can broaden your imagination. Watching improvisational comedy, creative speakers and Youtube Videos spark inspiration within me.

If I hadn’t studied design, I would have probably gone to pursue sound engineering and music production.

If engineering is the brain, design is the heart. A co-existence is the perfect balance. A product/design with all brain and no heart, or a product with all heart and no brain, will be either useless or unsuccessful.

My family, and my friends from school & college come first. My next biggest supporters are the friends I met on online design communities, who helped me develop my skills with constructive criticism.

Practicing my skills as regularly as possible, and constantly making sure my mind doesn’t stay idle. I make sure I’m either creating something, or learning/discovering something. My brain constantly craves for knowledge or action.

I think most of my obstacles were from within: procrastination and distraction. Avoiding both these qualities can help you accelerate your progress in anything.

It would be best to present their work with minimum words regarding a basic description of the brief, concept and purpose. Basic descriptions of the brief, concept and purpose. The rest should be spoken by the design itself.

let it be a surprise! It will still be within the industrial or automotive design categories

My ultimate goal is to leave a legacy. My legacy needs to be either a product/design that changed people’s everyday lives, or create a movement that evolves the field of design.

Clarity in idea and story

Design is like subliminal education, which can subtly embed perspectives in people. When exposed to good design, people would realize the value of design when it is absent, especially in society. For example, this can be clearly seen when people who live in cities with well designed train maps get lost when travelling in cities with badly designed train maps.

I’ve been working on icons of Indian Architecture, a fun project I’m doing for myself. I have become more and more absorbed in the project as I’ve continued my research. I’m thinking of creating a book that can showcase the cultural and regional diversity of Indian architecture throughout the millennia.

Design projects that have a long term positive environmental impact, or promote green or sustainable design, give me the most satisfaction. I feel that making an impact in design should also benefit the environment in some way.

I would like to see the design industry approach nations where it is still undeveloped or in its nascent stage. People will only embrace design if they’re educated about it, and the only way for a lot of people to know about design is if the design industry goes to them. More exposure on design and design methods should democratize the field and bring more ideas to the table.

I think the design field is headed into a more environmentally sustainable direction, and if it isn’t, it should. As the population and resultant consumption increases, we need to ensure that our consumption doesn’t come at the cost of destroying our environment, at least for the sake of maintaining comfortable living standards. There would be no point in consumption if the world is deteriorating, and that would start a negative feedback loop.

Depending on the project it can range from a month to two years.

I start with research on the subject matter, especially if it is a topic which I have no experience in. Doing as much research as possible will provide a better understanding of the objectives that need to be met for the project, and how to achieve them.

Stay a little crazy and never grow up.

I think there’s a mix of both. Revolutionary designs set trends, while evolutionary or catch-up designs follow trends.

My use of technology is mixed, but I usually begin with hand sketches before I start using my computer. My first connection to technology would be using my Wacom to do digital sketches or beautify my hand sketches. Eventually, if 3D design is required, I use my CAD software to make my models. I also make 3D prints when required, and to organize my presentation panels as well.

I use Solidworks for my CAD, and Keyshot for renders. For 2D-related design I use Photoshop, Illustrator and SketchbookPro. In terms of equipment, I have my pens+pencils, my wacom, and my 3D printer.

A product without colour, materials and ambience in design is like a bowl of white rice without the curry and side dishes. Also, the meal is only perfect when the curries and side dishes complement each other. So a good design should find that right combination of colours and materials that complement each other.

Story origins, inspiration, and aim

A great design or product is something that alters my way of thinking. I’ve suddenly been opened to a new perspective, and I’m able to see new applications or new meanings.

Co-design is successful when partners have matching wavelengths of thought. That’s when the optimum resonance is achieved. An ideal design partner for me is a person who shares a similar wavelength of thought and thought process as me, so we can jive together, no matter our personal differences.

My meeting with designers at a workshop hosted by ex-BMW designer Chris Bangle was very crucial for me to change and improve my method of sketching and presentation. Other people include my close friends who are also designers, and my peers from online design communities.

Practice, learning by imitating and deconstructing other styles, allowing myself to be inspired in any possible way and not just by design.

I would love to have a chat with Marcello Gandini or Giorgetto Giugiaro, as they are true legends and I feel that saying them having a huge impact on car design and design as a whole would be an understatement.

I'll give an answer when I become truly famous. Still getting there.

I love the colour orange. Any place where I feel at peace, is my favourite place, and Malaysian & Indian cuisine are my preferred choice of cuisine.

My day is made if I discover something I’ve never seen before, or come across a piece of music I’ve never heard before, as it makes me gain new perspectives. I motivate myself with good music.

When I was young I used to draw all the time and I never stopped as I grew older. I figured if I get good at something I love, I could make a living out of it, and eventually earn a name for myself. So maybe it wasn’t glaringly obvious when I was a child, but I guess the writing was on the wall.

In a thousand years from now, if we all haven’t decided to kill each other in wars or die from diseases, I think we would have pushed new realms and discovered new dimensions. If we went from farmers and sailors to astronauts in a thousand years, anything is possible!

Karimeen Incorporated (or Karimeen Inc.) is a budding company which currently features the design and sales of T-shirts themed on the state of Kerala in India. I had been conducting freelance work under my own name for many years, but I recently decided to integrate both my company and freelance service under the same company name. I also have a day-job as a furniture designer in a Malaysian corporate furniture company, where I’ve been working for the last 5 years now (Bristol Technologies). I work in a team that designs and develops seating systems.

Design to me is the essence of good living. The ability to discern the benefits of good design can help improve the society as a whole. Good engineering keeps the world running, but good design can change the world.

I have always been interested in cars, and therefore, have loved exploring ideas for vehicle and transportation design. Working as a furniture designer, I’ve come to learn and love furniture design. As I explore new fields of design, I get a fascination to work on them. My recent fascination has been on translating architecture to minimalist art.

My first job was at a Steel company and I was tasked with designing modules for stainless steel kitchens. My first freelance job was to design an electric taxi platform for a company in Madrid.

My current favourite technology is 3D printing, as it is still a nascent technology, and it has already shown several possible applications. I strongly believe that in the next few years, evolutions in 3D printing tech will start revolutions in manufacturing and other fields.

I usually feel most creative at night, with a warm-light table lamp and a good musical track in the background. That is the best moment for me to work on my designs.

I tend to look into the visual impact and emotional connect first before I work in the functional aspects of a design. Some people would say form should follow function, but I feel that form is sometimes just as important as function.

Several. Mostly a mix of enthusiasm, excitement, frustration, anger, concentration and bliss.

Seeing your designs realized feels as good as cooking and then eating that perfect meal. It’s a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction.

The ability for a design to function with minimal or no explanation, and rather it speaks for itself through its form and function, is what in my mind makes a successful design. The user should feel intuitiveness to the design and be able to use it with ease.

When I judge a design, the first point is: form+function. Can I visualize the function of the design/product purely from the form? If I can, it is a good design. If I cannot, is the design meant to conceal its function for a reason, like delusive looks? If yes, it is a good design. If the mentioned criteria are not met, then I would consider the design bad upon first judging it. If there are reasons that have been justified by the designer on why he/she made the design so (like cost, resource limitations, specific rules/requirements), I could still change my mind and consider it a good design.

In today’s world of degrading environments, pandemics, and stressful workspaces, design needs to evolve in order to achieve the following things:
1- Bring a sense of ease or comfort to the user, or support the user for whatever task/chore he/she is doing.
2 – Improve efficiency of the task in order to gain maximum results with minimum effort.
3 – Ensure that the environmental sustainability needs are met, and to design responsibly with a less “consumerist” approach and a more “needs” approach.

As the general populace realizes the impact of ecological sustainability and their role in contributing to pollution via consumerism, design is also evolving to ensure that consumption can be made sustainable and eco-friendly. Recycling, upcycling, reusing, and biodegradability are all the latest themes in which we produce designs, and in the upcoming years, I believe it will transform from a trend to a norm.

My inspiration comes several sources, from design studios like Nendo, architecture studios like BIG architects, any form of music that connects with me emotionally, as well as other fields like science and technology. I have discovered several artists, performers, musicians and public speakers on YouTube that have inspired ideas within me. Sometimes even looking out at nature or my environment can inspire me to create.

My design style would probably be best described as “quirky”. Most of my works tend to have an oddity about them, or something ‘cute’. I feel I’ve sometimes never grown and my inner child is evolving skills to better represent those basic emotional connections into a style. My approach to design is strongly based on visual emotion and function. The design first and foremost needs to express rather than impress.

Even though I am an Indian, I’ve lived most of my life in South-East Asia, particularly in Malaysia and Singapore. I would say that the cultural heritage of the country of origin and the countries I have resided in, affect my design aesthetics. Living in Malaysia has given me more exposure to my field of product design and the applications in varied fields, while living in India has given me a perspective on not losing focus on the functionality of design, and to keep things as simple as possible in order to navigate through the chaos.

In a brief timeline: Eat, sleep, think… draw… listen to some music… draw some more. Idea seems interesting…do research, watch videos, watch unrelated videos for fun, resume ideations. Stumbled onto some good music… ideas start flowing, more concrete images in the mind. Nights pass, it is dark, warm light from my desk lamp, deconstruction of the main concept, mind map of deconstruction, filtering out the good points and addressing the bad, develop and evolve design/idea. Take a look online to see if idea exists. If the basic concept is there, what makes mine different? More great music… Have some snacks, think about possible outcomes. Develop final concept on paper, translate to 3D and assess feasibility.

1 – Wacom Intuos: it has been a faithful friend and its ease of use and design quality is above par.
2 – Sony waterproof NWZ WS walkman: the intuitive buttons, the sleek design, and it’s waterproof.
3 – Carving knife with Xacto blade: works like a pen, super sharp, great for sculpting.
4 – Shell chair originally designed by Hans Wegner: classic, elegant, comfortable.
5 - TERTIAL lamp by IKEA: affordable, so easy to use, classic design, a great friend when sketching.

Always keep learning and keep your mind open to new ideas. Be prepared to learn or be inspired from any medium that comes your way, be it a book or a painting or a building. Always be curious and inquisitive.

If you are not a creative person, a career in design is probably a bad idea. As a creative person, being a designer is a crazy world of ups and downs, moments of bliss and accomplishments, other moments of depression and failure. But I consider this quite similar to life with a little added spice. Through thick and thin, my love for design lives on.

Be open to new perspectives, but make sure that you and your design are honest to each other. If there is no honesty between the idea and the result, and if you start getting self-biased, your design may most likely not work. Conviction follows prior self-critique and the assessment of critiques from trusted sources/professionals/peers.

One word: Adaptability. If I may use an analogy, the creative process of a designer is almost similar to that of an improvisational comedian. You need to be able to adapt to new inputs and situations, and produce a positive solution/idea in a short timeline. Being able to adapt to new environments, new problems, and new rules, I feel are crucial for a designer.

I use pencil/ballpen and paper, sometimes a fine-nib pen to do tiny drawings. For the digital drawings and 2D I use a Wacom intuos, and work on Photoshop, Illustrator & SketchbookPro. I use Solidworks & Keyshot for my 3D work.

Honestly, when I’m fully engaged in design, managing other daily tasks gets hard, so I don’t always manage my time well, despite trying to maintain a daily routine. Priority usually goes to deadlines.

It can vary depending on the scale and detail of the project. Some of my projects have been just a month or two months long, while others have been up to 2-3 years.

I’ve worked with clients in the fields of transportation, public mobility & consumer products. They’re mainly based out of Belgium, Spain and Hong Kong.

I enjoy designing products (consumer products, furniture, etc.), as I’ve been doing that as a career and as a hobby for years. I also love designing cars and vehicles, and I’ve been doing that as a kid as well.

As I’ve learned in life, future plans are unpredictable, though one can aim at a trajectory. I wish to eventually run a highly influential design studio with my own distinctive design language or, even better, run a vertically integrated manufacturing company which can help provide well designed products to lower-income groups and farmers, in order to improve their lives and livelihoods.

When I work in my day job as a furniture designer, I work in a team, while back home I tend to develop more conceptual personal projects by myself, though I do also work with some peers and co-develop designs for freelance projects

I can be approached on my behance profile (https://www.behance.net/sasankg ) or via email ( sasank.kinetia@gmail.com )