Interview with Zbigniew Dubiel

I always loved vehicles: cars, trucks buses. As a child, my back pages of school notebooks were always filled with drawings of cars, bikes, trucks,shoes. I thought of something and I would draw it. I just like to imagine new things, seeing things being improved, better, nicer. Although I would like to improve many aspects of our everyday life, due to my speciality and passion, I focus mainly on transportation.

Definitely, it was my decision.

I design all kinds of vehicles. Mainly public transit ones. I would like to work more on next generation of autonomous buses, delivery trucks and vans.

I don't really consider myself as a legend but if I had to give out prospect designers any advice, I think it would be not to give up, try hard and if it doesn't work, find another solution and try harder.

I think we need to look at the great designers and their achievements.

I think when any product, space, building or a service makes its users life easier, more pleasant, safer, more relaxing and on the top of it, it brings joy, that means that it was not only well engineered but also very well designed.

One of the things I would love to design in the near future would be new, fully electric with completely rethinked technical platform coach bus. We need them.

Maybe the one above.

Possibly good planning and time management, aesthetic management, staying open for new inspirations and ideas.

One of them would certainly be Mr. Tom Matano - original Mazda Miata designer and my former Transportation Design teacher and director of Industrial Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. I learned a lot from him.

This days I really admire the new Tesla car sporty exterior and minimalistic interior design. Great use of the latest technology in a practical and easy to use package.
I am also a big fan of simplistic design style of Dieter Rams.

I think looking back at Harley Earl era and the cars he designed makes me always very inspired.
I love the emotions coming from those huge sweeping and elegant forms.

I think, besides hard work and being motivated it is really quite personal thing how you get better.

I think maybe a big semi truck driver.

"Design" already has a established definition, but for me personally, I would say it is a constant and infinite process of creating functional, intuitive and importantly beautiful things which help us with our daily lives.

I have always been supported by my family.

The question is: should I consider myself as a great designer. Maybe not yet. Let others to decide :)

I am not in a position to consider myself as design master.

In person with clients.

Probably some new energy, ecological public transit vehicles.

Help others by design.

Good work, finding solutions to people's ideas, bringing new ideas.

By innovating and improving.

I am still involved in couple of projects including Torqway, and I am very excited to see the fully working pre production prototypes being tested.

I have to say Torqway Hybrid was one the most challenging ones, maybe because it is a completely new type of product, there is this big satisfaction to see it on the road. While working at Solaris Bus and Coach I helped with the development of the intercity bus Interurbino and now to see this bus carrying passengers in many markets makes me proud.

I would love to see more intuitiveness and simplicity in future design solutions.

One of the direction certainly goes towards more eco friendly and autonomous, AI solutions.

It all depends on individual project.

Always with speaking with clients in order to learn as much as possible about their company, their needs and goals.

Hmm, always try harder.

I think it works in both ways.

Most of the time it is a pen/pencil and my sketchbook, but I would say the Photoshop is the major tool in my toolbox.

It certainly plays a great role especially when working with vehicle interior design.

I am always curious and keen to visually study it, read about it.

I think co-designing may be not only inspiring but it can make the process faster.

I've reading recently Altered Carbon, which is this cyberpunk novel by British writer Richard K. Morgan. It is a mindblowing view into the future of humanity.

I am still in the process of mastering this art.

It would have to be Leonardo da Vinci.

Although I appreciate the award I got, I don't look at myself as a famous person.

I like blue, Mediterranean Sea, Italian food, summer, my mountain bike.

I exercise in morning and this boost my energy and makes me ready to start the work.

I love this question. I think the humanity will be very busy creating solutions of how to expand our activities to other galaxies :)
I think transportation design will be booming sector.

I've recently created DubielDesign Instagram profile, so please keep checking this and my website as I post some news and new designs from time to time.

Dubiel Design is the idea created long before I actually started it. On the beginning, while I was working as full time bus designer, I also wanted to work on external smaller projects, to explore more options and to challenge myself and at the same time of course make some extra money.
Over the time this idea evolved to fully independent design services, which allows me to work with various clients on different projects.
Running your own business is very challenging and demanding job, but I love it.
I look forward to grow and evolve from a single man freelance design services to a bit larger business providing beautiful and smart solutions to my current and future clients, and by doing so, I would love to contribute to better quality of life around us. Transportation design is big now and it'll certainly a huge part of our society in the future. Personally and as a Dubiel Design I want to be a part of it.

"Design" already has a established definition, but for me personally, I would say it is a constant and infinite process of creating functional, intuitive and importantly beautiful things which help us with our daily lives.

I enjoy designing every part of the vehicle but for some reason, for me the exteriors are most fun.

It would have to be a car, but there a few of them. It is impossible just to point one.
- 1963 Corvette Stingray Split Window
To me it is the vehicle full of emotions, created by timeless lines, curves. It appears to me as very sporty with a little bit of elegance. In my opinion its exterior design shows a good balance between supercar and everyday sports car.

My very recent favourite design would be Tesla Model 3 - the more I look at this car and the more I learn about it, the more I like it.

It was the lightweight camping caravan Campini. It was my first bigger project as an independent designer.

I am really into the EV Skateboard style platform drivetrains. It gives a lot more freedom to create modern, much safer and practical vehicles.

Late morning hours.

I think all of the elements of design are important but I would say getting the proportions right is crucial thing.

Satisfaction.

I am sure, the successful design is when by its innovative and disruptive nature enhances its users quality of life.

How the look and the aesthetics of the product represent the technology used under the product skin.

In my opinion it is our (the designers) role along with engineers, to create effective and innovative projects, which hopefully will spark the will to create better and cleaner world for our society.

The design field has always been part of human life (even before it was defined as design) and I am certain it will continue to be that way.
We see more and more digitalization of our everyday life and I think design field will play even bigger role in this process.

As a Dubiel Design I haven't had any yet.

Watching how people live, behave, how they interact with others and with the products they use. I look at nature a lot.

I think the style is vastly influenced by our background. Although I currently live in the UK, I was born and raised in Poland and I spent my young adult live in United States, most of the time in California, so by default my style has quite a lot of influences from those cultures.
It is hard to describe my style as working with different clients requires quite often different approach to the projects.
I 'd like to think about my style as... confident.

I currently live in the UK but quite often I am in different countries in Europe, so it is hard to say that only one culture inspires my work.
There is definitely one thing which is completely different in Europe, especially in the UK and way different in America - it is the space. I think when designing anything in Europe in general, we subconsciously use the space in little bit more economical manner.

It is important for me to make sure I listen to the client requirements and ideas carefully.
Good and smooth communication is also the key to successful collaboration.

The best way to select a good designer... I reckon just by checking the dubieldesign.com website and then getting in touch with me:)

I like to listen carefully what client has to say first. Then I research as much as possible, I sketch as many options as possible in given time.
Then there is 3D modeling and visualization phase. It is good to organize the process in the way, so the clients can feel like is taking a part in the design process, so a proper face to face consultations are very valuable.
It gives us (designers) and clients the opportunity to adjust and improve the design along the way, rather than investing time and money afterwards.

I don't really have any at home that I really like that much.

Besides the obvious ones, I work a lot - designing is my passion. There is always something that can be improved. I like to have my sketchbook and pen always close to me, in case some idea comes.

I don't think I am in the position I can suggest to others how to design. Well, maybe there will be one thing, that I can actually say - never give up, just keep pushing (finding solutions to problems) until it's done.

I don't really see any negatives. I love what I do. There are many positive aspects of being the designer. Working in creative environments, meeting interesting people, visiting exciting places and most important being able to create new stuff.

Trying not to limit myself. I always look to learn new.

I think one of the most important would be: being able to visually communicate the ideas.

Most of the time it is a pen/pencil and my sketchbook, but I would say the Photoshop is the major tool in my toolbox.

I like to plan ahead and have things organized.

I don't think there is one answer to it. It depends on what type of product is being designed and on the complexity of this product.

"So, are you an artist?" :)

Seeing the full size working prototype of the bus, which was just a sketch a year earlier.

Well, the Torqway Sp.z o.o. from Torun is one of my most important client. I have recently worked with Chinese bus manufacturer Jiangsu ALfa Bus located near Shanghai.

The sketching ideas is the most enjoyable part for me.

I would love to keep growing as a designer and hopefully Dubiel Design will participate in many successful projects, developing eco friendly, sustainable and beautiful vehicles for the better future.

Both. It depends on project.

I have been researching lately about new type of city buses.

The best would be to email me at dubielddesign@yaho.com, or call me at +44 7789553818

No, but I would like to say thank you very much for your interest and time.