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Interview with Thomas Rauscher |
Home > Designer Interviews > Thomas Rauscher |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Thomas Rauscher (TR) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Thomas Rauscher 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?
TR: Being a designer / artist is in best case some kind of freeing yourself from common boundaries like trends or standards. This search for freedom was the initial spark to become a designer, even knowing it might become hard to earn money with it.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TR: Paul Arden once said something, that is true - "If you can´t solve a problem, it is because you´re playing by the rules". Products can be seen as problems, too. So the crucial aspect in the design process is to find the rules and breaking them.
FS: What is "design" for you?
TR: Design is about ideas that push the limits.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TR: There are no preferences. Ok - as a carpenter and interior designer I have a strong connection to furniture design. But in the end it´s all about creativity and ideas. Based on this it does not matter if you design a chair or a website, only the knowledge needed to do so differs.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TR: Might sound funny - the human brain. It grants us experiencing, understanding and challenging the world. So to say - the mother of all design.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TR: A shelving system.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TR: There are no favorites.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
TR: On one hand when having freed my mind from stress and daily obstacles. On the other hand - when not thinking about design - sitting on a chair or standing in the kitchen (as example) and just starring around with your mind going no - and anywhere.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TR: There must be a alternative solution to the problem.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TR: The full scope - from being sad and doubting myself to being the happiest person in the world.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TR: WOW!
FS: What makes a design successful?
TR: When it gives an alternative, hence success is defined by the idea, not by numbers of sold products.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TR: the idea behind the design
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TR: Again - might sound funny - making the world a better place and offering solutions to problems that might change the way we ss things
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TR: I know this will provoke, but I am deeply convinced, that in a not too distant future computer / machines will also become creative. Why? Because our brain is limited - we do not see all options when designing. Programs might access a much greater database and algorithms to convert data into ideas.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TR: Laufen (Switzerland), Design Junction 2014
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TR: I almost keep it like Andy Warhol " I never read, I just look at pictures".
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?
TR: minimal and different from others
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?
TR: I live in Germany. But I would not be able to define what German design would be and why I fit into this or why I do not fit. I think the most important aspect is the freedom this country grants to creative people.
FS: How do you work with companies?
TR: It is like a good relationship - knowing / respecting the needs of the company and showing possibilities.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TR: Consider even ideas, that might seem absurd right now - they might have a spark to change your company successfully.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TR: I have no defined process designing thing - only a favorite feeling - the best ideas come with "Heureka". It means that the creation of the idea is a feeling of surprise in a positive way.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TR: an old chair for children (where I sit on and think of nothing), Puppy by Magis (that gives me a smile everytime I look at it), Hoyoyo (Print of Takashi Murakami, also giving me smile and reminding me of Los Angeles), all my books on art, Art Pen by Rotring - my favorite pen for sketching.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
TR: There are basically only corner stones like getting up early and going to bed late. Everything in between depends on the day, like assignments, creative flow, and so on.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TR: Again a quote - Paul Arden "Astonish Me!" You can substitute me with yourself, your client or the user. It is crucial never to give up looking for this moment of astonishment - this is more important than becoming famous as it gives you a satisfaction money or fame cannot buy.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TR: The most positive aspect is freeing yourself from limits or standards and following your own thoughts. The most negative one comes from the positive one - by not coping with standards your success is limited as mayor companies might not have interest in you.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TR: There is a different way to use / manufacture a product - find it!
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
TR: questioning the world of products and the way we commonly use them
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TR: First of all - the aim (what do I want to design), sometimes a chart of aspects of product to design, for inspiration books / internet for inspiration, a sketch book and a pen, much time for staring into space. When having an initial idea worth following I use a 3D - Software (Cinema4D, AutoCAD) to visualize it or just go to my workshop and build a prototype.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TR: The management of time depends on the deadlines given or tasks to reach within a certain time. Hence there is no schedule that works everytime.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TR: There are two different approaches - designing for myself and designing for a company. The former - some ideas come up within short times, others take month or even years. As there are no time limits I do not need to force a solution and can think of it whenever I want to. The latter - always within the given timeline.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TR: There are no such questions...
FS: What was your most important job experience?
TR: It is the idea that counts!
FS: Who are some of your clients?
TR: architecture offices, smaller companies
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TR: It does not depend on the type of design - it is more the feeling having created something new, that astonishes me.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TR: My next major project is bysomeone.com - an open platform for designer, manufacturer and user.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TR: Mostly I work on my own.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TR: www.bysomeone.com - the creative source. This network is my latest project. Its purpose is to share such ideas like the folding chair, including all necessary information so anyone can build it by himself / herself. Why giving away the ideas for free? Very simple - I did not find a company to produce it - shall I trash this idea in a drawer hidden from the world? I´m sure I am not the only one having such ideas. Hence this platform is open for all creative to join in and share their works.
FS: How can people contact you?
TR: via telephone, mail or on bysomeone.com
FS: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
TR: no
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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