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Interview with Oblikus Design Studio |
Home > Designer Interviews > Oblikus Design Studio |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Oblikus Design Studio (ODS) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Oblikus Design Studio by clicking here.
FS: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
ODS: We both went to a Vocational High School for Design, the Industrial and Interior Design Department. Afterwards we both studied Industrial Design at the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade. We were classmates in both schools and we were the two out of four students in total admitted in the department that year. Yes, from the early school days it was clear that design would be our calling.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
ODS: Our design studio emerged from our need to create meaningful design objects and products. Both of us have been working in various creative fields after graduating, and decided to spend some time working together creating things we like and consider important. We started with self-initiated projects that received few design awards and then we started working for clients.
FS: What is "design" for you?
ODS: For us, design is a cross-disciplinary process where aesthetics, technology and emotion are integrated to create meaningful solutions and experiences.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
ODS: We have been designing really diverse works, furniture for kids, lighting objects, audio equipment and really enjoyed every project. Maybe it is the diversity that brings us freshness and enjoyment.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
ODS: We love the legendary Dieter Rams’ designs because they are well thought and honest. The Chair One for Magis by Grčić is beautiful with its structural aesthetic.Two of our favorite projects are Moonlight and Creachair. The first one is a series of interactive luminaires that change intensity with touch. It received A’Design award and the Red Dot: Best of the Best Award, and is currently permanently featured in the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore. We created these as an in house project and have made the luminaire series by ourselves. It it was very unique experience to create and produce such technology objects by means of self production. The other project is also an A’Desing awarded design, a chair with caracter that encourages tactile experience and learning through play for small children. It is of great satisfaction to create design objects for kids, and especially if they enhance creativity. Developing both projects was a wonderful experience.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
ODS: The fist thing we were hired to designed together as a studio was a PET water bottle.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
ODS: Every new project is the opportunity to explore new materials and technologies. So far we have enjoyed working with the aluminum and wood.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
ODS: We feel most creative early in the morning, when our mind is fresh and we are powering up for the day.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
ODS: We try to have a holistic approach to design, where all aspects need to be balanced to achieve a well designed product or experience.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
ODS: Design is a process and we have different emotions throughout all stages. There is empathy, passion, a positive drive to continue the pursuit for the solution. And sometimes stress and excitement when things reach production. Overall it is a very enjoyable journey.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
ODS: Feelings of proudness and joy.
FS: What makes a design successful?
ODS: In our opinion successful design should reach beyond solving the initial problem or need. It should rise above trends and inspire people.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
ODS: We think a really good design needs to examine all aspects of the product as a whole. The user, the need, the technology, the context, the economical side, impact to the environment and the product after life.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
ODS: In our opinion designers should feel responsible not only to be a humanist voice in the modern technological society but to create awareness for the environmental impact of manufacturing. The design of the product should anticipate how that object would be disposed or recycled.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
ODS: We think that awareness for the human centered and holistic design is more present in the filed and we hope it will keep this course. We think that design will be greatly affected with ever evolving technology, automation and digitalization. Hoping it will be used to reduce world problems and make life better and enjoyable.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
ODS: Moonlight luminaires are currently permanently featured in the Red Dot Design Museum in Singapore, as a part of the exhibition "A Preview of the Future"Our last exhibition was in the City Museum of our home town Belgrade in Serbia in May 2018. Celebrating the 70th years anniversary of the Faculty of Applied Arts, our projects were displayed at the Industrial Design section.
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
ODS: We really feel that design inspiration comes from a need to make things better and more enjoyable. Feeding this inspiration is a lifestyle, paying attention to all the things, little or big, that affect your day. We talk a lot about personal insights and reflect on observations. Technology is often inspiring and gives ideas for new possibilities. We are always curious to learn about technology and its application.
FS: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
ODS: We don’t think we have a distinctive visual design style. Our approach to design is to examine all aspects we possible can. Equally integrating aesthetics with needs, users perspective, but also technology and the economical requirements. Visually we choose a simplified appearance.
FS: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
ODS: We are based in Belgrade, Serbia. This region of Europe has had many social and economical difficulties in the resent past that are still making a great impact on the people and the business here. The economy is far from thriving and relies mostly on trade rather than production. However there are a number of companies with a strong focus on the foreign market and we try to work with ones that recognize the importance of good design. One of the biggest pros of living here is having to make enormous effort in order to accomplish anything, and the result is learning an amazing set of diverse skills.
FS: How do you work with companies?
ODS: Most of the companies we have worked with came to us by recommendation. Sometimes we offer collaboration to companies when we have a suitable idea for their production capabilities or brand. When we are engaged with the project we always insist to be part of the whole process, from initial concept to production. Often the very important iterations happen in very late stages when it comes to production, and designers need to be there to make sure the product design, function and all other aspects meet with the best possible outcome.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
ODS: In our opinion that depends on the project as well as the size and capability of the company. Some designers’ strength is being able to create powerful concept, other can tackle the projects to the very detail. There is also the aesthetical aspect or being able to articulate the user data well. Selecting a good designer is finding the one to match the project and team requirements.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
ODS: The Design Thinking has become more popular as a term outside the design industry lately. We find this process very intuitive and natural. We try to truly identify the need to be solved, we try to ideate widely and prototype as early as possible. We always consult engineers and technology experts along the way to see where the current technical boundaries are and try to challenge them. And we are not afraid to question the concept and iterate very late in the development process.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
ODS: Apple product just have to be on this list. So far they have rarely disappointed us with their synergy of hardware design and the whole user experience. Miroslav would add Copic markers, M+R round brass pencil sharpener and Fiskars garden shears. Tamara..
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
ODS: Living in the city is often hectic and chaotic, so we are both trying to find a balance between the things we have to do and the ones we love doing. We both choose morning for most creative work. Tamara also teaches at university so the schedule tailors her week. Miroslav is also a long term contractor for an oversea company and spends a lot of time engaged there. We meet several times a week to work together on our mutual projects, so the time spent is very productive.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
ODS: We would like to stress the importance of getting involved in the industry as early as possible. The essence is learned at schools but the biggest knowledge comes from real projects. It is common for designers to be involved with very different projects in terms of technology, experience and context. We would encourage young designers to gain experience through internships and pro bono projects. And of course expand their knowledge outside design – world culture, psychology, even economy and business.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
ODS: For us the positive aspects of design are those that give you a chance to truly make people’s lives better or easier. To be a humanist voice in the world where every thing is mass produced. The freedom to sometimes choose your projects. The negative can be related to many other modern occupations as well, simply sitting in font of the computer for too many hours.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
ODS: We try not to get carried away with designing things just for the sake of being designed. For us design is much more than form, and we think that overall experience in the related context is equally import.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
ODS: Designer has to be a thinker and has to be able to see things from the widest possible angle. Has to be curious and restless. Then to be able to visualize, communicate and shape.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
ODS: We are big fans of traditional sketching and prototyping. Including clay, foam or cardboard that help you visualize things in real world quickly. We use both surface and parametric software, depending on the project or the stage in the process.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
ODS: One of our university professors used to say that design is a process never finished but abandoned at one point. This is such a wisdom, because you can iterate on any project almost indefinitely. So finding the balance between design stages comes with experience. We always have more to learn but it seams to us every time we do thing better and faster than the last time.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
ODS: Here comes the dreaded “it depends” answer :) Because the designers are one link in the whole process we are often tied up by other people, decisions or events. More straight forward project that do not require in depth user research can be done in one month. Yet we have projects that have been lasting for over two years.
FS: What was your most important job experience?
ODS: Every experience where we learned something about the industry, people or business and how things work in real everyday life.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
ODS: So far our clients have been local manufacturing businesses that recognized the importance of design in the world market.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
ODS: We enjoy projects where we can elevate a really good product with the power of design. We find it very satisfying to see the excitement of both producers and users with unexpected solutions.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
ODS: We plan to engage more with manufacturers directly.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
ODS: We work as a team. We use the best of our sometimes different perspectives and sensibilities to offer unique design solutions.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
ODS: We are currently developing designs for a local high end audio manufacturer. After more than one year of development they are in the final stage so we are excited to reveal the design soon.
FS: How can people contact you?
ODS: People can reach us through or web site www.oblikus.com or with directly with our Instagram page.
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
ODS: No, thank you.
FS: Thank you for providing us with this opportunity to interview you.
A’ Design Award and Competitions grants rights to press members and bloggers to use parts of this interview. This interview is provided as it is; DesignPRWire and A' Design Award and Competitions cannot be held responsible for the answers given by participating designers.
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