66 www.thedesignermagazine.com Q
Q
Product designer Damian Evans talks inspiration, music... and time travel
How and wHen did you first become wHat profession would you Have wHat projects are you working on
interested in design? pursued Had you not become a now and How do you envisage your
At school. It was way before any kind of designer? work developing in tHe future?
design training was introduced. I wanted An engineer or a scientist. I am doing some housewares and some
to design a table in the art class, draw it up furniture.
in technical drawing and then build it in wHat is your favourite city in tHe
woodwork. I was not allowed to do it and world and wHy? wHat is tHe most important lesson
found that very frustrating. The frustration New York because of the buzz – and the tHat life so far Has taugHt you?
got me thinking about what I now best people-watching in the world. Keep pushing, keep fighting, keep positive.
understand to be ‘design’ but I did not know designer
it as that then. wHat is your favourite memory
from university? damian evans is an award-winning product
at wHat time of day do you find tHe Sitting on the terrace outside the Art Bar at designer who has designed for many leading
most inspiration? the RCA with friends and a beer, with the brands around the world.
Usually late afternoon. By then, all the Albert Hall towering above us.
His clients include the body shop, marks
admin has been done and I can sketch.
and spencer, bisque radiators, philippi
How well do you feel your
germany, gruppo confalionori italy,
wHicH designer/arcHitect do you education/training prepared you for
traidcraft, josephjoseph and bliss Home.
admire tHe most and wHy? tHe world of work?
His products sell worldwide and some of his
Where do I start and with whom? Ettore It was a start on a long journey.
work has been included in the museum of
Sotsass for his wit and because he broke the
modern art in new york.
rules and also designed beautiful typewriters wHat are tHe most important
for Olivetti. Jasper Morrison for his love of cHallenges facing designers today? www.element-design.com
the beauty of the ordinary and everyday. It sounds almost trite, but designing
Michelle de Lucci for the Tolomeo lamp anything in a finite world is a huge
amongst other things. Konstantin Grcic responsibility. How many chairs do we
for his incredible experiments with form. need?
Marcel Wanders for being such a magician
and orchestrating Moooi. Last but not least, wHat is your favourite tv
Patricia Urquiola for taking on a very male programme?
dominated world and flying. Doctor Who.
wHat music inspires you? wHo would you most like to
It depends on the day and the time. I went design sometHing for?
to see the Fleet Foxes recently and they blew Magis.
me away - amazing power with accoustics. If
I could harness such power it would be great. wHat are tHe advantages and
disadvantages of designing for
describe your design pHilosopHy in so many different companies?
one word Balancing loyalties and time.
Innovate.
wHat advice would you give to
wHere do you work on your designs/ young people trying to break into
projects? tHe industry today?
I have a small office space in West London Stand in front of a mirror and say “That
and a workshop I hire when I need to. will be £10,000 please” and look like you
mean it!
wHat Has been tHe biggest cHallenge
for you tHrougHout your career? wHat book are you currently
Designing is not easy and yet the best reading?
designs look easy. It’s working hard to try A Brief History of Nearly Everything by
and achieve what looks effortless. Bill Bryson.
q july pd.indd 66 23/6/09 15:16:55
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