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Interview with Petra Jungebluth |
Home > Designer Interviews > Petra Jungebluth |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Petra Jungebluth (PJ) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Petra Jungebluth 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?
PJ: I have stated my carrier in fashion working as a designer for international fashion brands, when my own dog John, a black lab brought me to designing dog accessories. There were hardy any products on the market that I could relate to in terms of design and quality that I got inspired designing my own products.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
PJ: Cloud7 was founded in Berlin and has now moved office to the country side just outside the city. We now employ 8 people who luckily all share their love for design with their love for dogs. Meanwhile we have seven dogs appearing at work every day who, next to enjoying themselves, are also running our the product testing department.
FS: What is "design" for you?
PJ: Designs always follows a purpose. The shapes usually just come naturally from the demands that are applied to them. In our case we just want to give the dogs the best possible product he needs and also try to respond to the taste of the sophisticated dog owner.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
PJ: I like minimal design, that focusses on its purpose. Any useless decor should be cut out.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
PJ: A dog bed for my own dog.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
PJ: Anything that is sustainable and doesn't harm the environment.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
PJ: Walking with my dogs in the woods.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
PJ: Simplicity rules.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
PJ: In the end it's a feeling of relief seeing that all elements have come together. The initial design idea comes mostly pretty quick, but the entire finishing process can be quite complex and challenging.
FS: What makes a design successful?
PJ: Staying true to the original idea and not compromising in all the details.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
PJ: Will it make our customers happy.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
PJ: Showing respect the the environment and to everyone involved are key.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
PJ: When we started we were focussing on the interior market, showcasing at international interior fairs in Frankfurt and Paris. We never really saw our brand as a pet brand but recently we went to the biggest pet fair in Nuremberg to showcase our work. Although it went really well for us, we still felt a bit like an outsider, because the culture of most designs in the pet world still seems to be stuck in with the old idea of the pampered pet.
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?
PJ: Cutting out anything that is not applying to its cause.
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?
PJ: We can't ignore being German. Quality, Functionality, Simplicity.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
PJ: I don't really sit down designing. Most designs just come naturally when you are not really pushing for them. They can come anywhere, but it needs the office and the team to make them work out in the end.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
PJ: Just very simple and beautiful things I collected when I have been travelling. A beautiful stone I found at the beach at the baltic sea, a lovely handmade vase from Brasil, a touching drawing from a painter in upstate New York, two wonderful lamps from some local designers from Mallorca, a huge wooden board with stencils from the artists Faile that I found in the streets of Amsterdam and a few products from genius Braun designer Dieter Rams.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
PJ: Taking the dogs out into the woods three times a day, in between team meetings, sitting with the design and production team, chats withs retailers and manufacturers finishing it with a shared bottle of wine.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
PJ: Always trust your instincts and think with your own head.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
PJ: Keep things simple, don't push the design too hard. Leave some space for the product to develop its soul.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
PJ: Don't do it for your own vanity, serve and inspire your customer.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
PJ: pencil and paper and some good books in the shelf.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
PJ: Usually about a year until all parts come together.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
PJ: "What do you mean, you are designing for dogs?"
FS: What was your most important job experience?
PJ: Having worked in the fashion business before for a long time, I have learned a lot about what it needs to keep a brand fresh and alive.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
PJ: Interior and department stores, high end dog accessory stores, concept stores.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
PJ: Mostly the initial design idea is coming from me. We then involve our design and production team to research materials and manufacturers and work on all the details that will make a design unique and special.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
PJ: We are working on about 20 new designs for basically all categories, new dog beds, collars & leads, bowls, dog coats. They are all in the finishing process and we hope to be able to bring them to the market very soon.
FS: How can people contact you?
PJ: just send me a mail to press@cloud7.de
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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