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Interview with Matthew Dorabiala |
Home > Designer Interviews > Matthew Dorabiala |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Matthew Dorabiala (MD) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Matthew Dorabiala 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?
MD: No, as a kid I always wanted to be a palaeontologist! however I had few artistic encounters here and there which made me think about art from time to time but generally I was more interested in watching National Geographic all day long. Early in my teens however, I realised I could draw when I tried succeeded on drawing a picture from a book cover which I remember to this day. Then as I was terrible in other ordinary school subjects I naturally gravitated towards art which was besides physical education my only strength. After high-school I thought product design could be an amazing way of merging my recently developed interest in art with something else I was good at since I remembered. This thing was taking thing apart. My toys usually were broken down into the smallest pieces possible as soon as I got over the initial excitement a remote steered car or an action figure could have induced in me. For this reason I remember my mom was most often getting me a clay instead of ordinary toys as it was quite indestructible. However, even this as I remember could not have withstand my curiosity risen by a discovery channel science show or some other interesting things I was watching at that time. I remember not infrequently proceeding to stuff the clay/plasticine into vacuums, radiators, lamps etc. to see what would happen. As I now think about it it might have been exactly what made me interested in design in general.
FS: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MD: I am looking for a job.
FS: What is "design" for you?
MD: Inventing stuff. waiting for the idea to find your head and to make that idea happen. Also the design for me personally is something that gives me chills and excitement as as soon as I have the idea my brain created the exact instruction on how to create the piece. So its like following an instruction given by an unknown entity, you may call it the God of design. It is very exciting as although I exactly know what to do I am also nervous whether the ideas I have in my head will turn out to be doable or not, (they always do). But still its exciting!
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MD: The ones I have not seen anywhere else in any shape or forms original ones. I like to design things that no one else thought of and ones which are risky to make.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MD: I can't think of anything in particular. I could lie and say oh, eames chair or some fancy other design. But all the designs are just snapshots of a greater transcendent form not actually depicted by any design but being everywhere and in many design at the same time to a some degree. I sometimes walk through a grocery shop and see this beautiful simple package of a tea or some plastic utensil that is unusually deformed and this is what I love about design its everywhere and nowhere at the same time. I love the primal form of a bow, the timeless form of a Lamborghini the brushstrokes on 500 years old painting. My favourite design is all design.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MD: Never designed anything for a company.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MD: Whatever my idea dictates me to work with. But I mainly work with metal.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
MD: I don't know when I will feel creative. I often feel creative when I try to fall asleep. However now as think of it I do have one particular more which I recollect to be very effective in my case in terms of helping with coming up with ideas. Very often when I conversate with someone it might not even be related to design what so ever I get those bursts of ideas which seem to trigger some sort of process in my brain responsible for creative thinking.
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MD: It's quite mixed as some design's role is to be purely utilitarian, however I often strive to make things beautiful.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MD: Passion I would say when I start designing or working on a project in a work shop I sometimes my skip my breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper. When I work I need to finish as much as possible as whenever I design I can't wait to see how the product will look like at the end.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MD: I feel proud and full of admiration as when I create something I make it so it will meet my aesthetic standards which although very wide are very strict. I often admire my work for hours, days and think on possible improvements or just for the sake of feeding my subconscious with new aesthetical values I believe to be what allows our brains to come up with new ideas.
FS: What makes a design successful?
MD: It depends. Some would say the amount of money it will bring. Some the change it will make. Some would say it's both. To others it might be how much pleasure the design will give to the creator and if anyone else will be satisfied in the process as well that's even better. I'm not sure on this one yet. I think I will have an opinion on this issue later in my life.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MD: My first impression. My brain mostly wages all of the cons and pros instantly giving me a clear feeling whether I like it or not. There might be factors such as whether it's useful, or whether it's beautiful. Also one of the factors might be whether its original.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MD: Definitely not to be completely silly with the usage of ridiculous unsustainable materials where it is not needed. However, design is what pushes our civilisation and thinking forward therefore we should think of design and resources used for it as our future investment in understanding the world around us. We designers should think a lot on how to improve our lives and create designs that help to deal with problems we have on environmental level but also we should think how to use design to help us understand our self even sometimes for a cost of something what might not be entirely sustainable.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MD: As I said in the previous question design evolves more towards understanding that we need to start prioritising our design goals. Also, design nowadays definitely is becoming more accessible and more importantly interwoven into different study fields.
FS: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MD: New Designers London 2019
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MD: The inspirations in my opinion are sort of amalgamations of everything you know you have seen and experienced over your life time. It all comes together when an appropriate trigger as previously stated comes in and triggers all the necessary bits of information you already posses to give you a ready idea.
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?
MD: Its most often clean, luxurious looking and sophisticated. It might be due to my love for classics and necessity for order in my life.
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?
MD: I feel like the planet earth is my home. I don't believe very much in borders and heritages. I believe the idea of art is much deeper than the idea of culture. Art is our primordial language as humanity. I love all cultures and point of views in my opinion they can and most often work as the aforementioned amalgamation. which allow the most interesting mixes to shine.
FS: How do you work with companies?
MD: I don't for now, but if I ever do, I would take on brief come up with an idea share it with my teammates to see theirs and develop a project from it. The process of coming up with the initial idea can of course be a mix of collaboration because it is always to a certain degree a collaboration whether you do something on your own or in a huge team.
FS: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MD: It's definitely very personal question, however if I were to select a designer I would think in terms of potential and feeling.
FS: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MD: 1 The birth of the idea. 2 execution. During my university it was something I was often heavily marked down for. All of my tutors never agreed with me that I can just come up with an idea without researching the problem or thinking on something for at least a week. I remember the invention actually of the design which won this award the Silver A'Design Award which I have come up with while drifting into sleep while listening to my introductory lecture which was really boring. But as I said I often come up with ideas when I listen to someone talking, this idea was no different. In a split of a second the whole idea was born and I exactly knew what to do. Although as I later discovered my passion for classical sculpture and other mentioned things in the description of this project were responsible for this invention I did not anticipated it happening. So to summarise I would describe my process as spontaneous.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MD: 1. My Ipad as nowadays I use it for most of my design stuff. 2. My cutlery which I have designed and made myself, I love their shapes and perfect geometrical beauty. 3. My gold-plated casio watch, I love it's timeless design and simplicity. 4. My Zoom audio recorder, I live its sturdyness and tactile form. 5. My italian Moka pot which is almost everythink I love about design. It's tactile, sturdy, beautifully shaped, gives me joy both phisical and mental and it's fun to use.
FS: Can you describe a day in your life?
MD: 5AM wake up. 5:20 excercise. 5:30-8:30 Catching up. 8:30-9:00 breakfast. 9- around 22:00 depending on a day work or some inspirational occupation. 23:00... reading -> Sleep, ,repeat.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MD: I'm a young designer myself I don't think I can be teaching others how to go about their passions. Everyone is different and everyone's career/ life will be different so whatever you feel like is going to allow you making what you love is what you should do. Just do it, don't hesitate.
FS: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MD: Depends what you desire in your life, if you desire to be a designer there are no negatives if you desire to be a layer and you are a designer the negative in being a designer is to be a designer. Do not overthink.
FS: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MD: Don't have one really, But if I had to coin one. I would say make sure your design can make happy at least 3 people.
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
MD: Drawing, being able to be inspired, open mindedness, making.
FS: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MD: In the design process I mainly use my Ipad whether its 2D or 3D design and when I work on an actual real piece it depend on the material. I often use 3D printers, wood/metal oriented tools etc.
FS: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MD: I put everything aside and work on my project. Ordinary life stuff in general is easy to manage just get yourself a calendar and write it down and do it whenever you have time.
FS: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MD: sometimes a day sometime 3 weeks.
FS: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MD: What is it made of?
FS: What was your most important job experience?
MD: My freelance graphic design work. Its because I learned how to manage projects where I work with other people.
FS: Who are some of your clients?
MD: Mostly random individuals/contractors also sometimes friends.
FS: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MD: The type of design that will be used by many people because I love the feeling of making others happy.
FS: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MD: I now am looking for a designer job where I could work on many projects and have the ability to impact as many people as possible.
FS: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MD: It varies whether I would work in a company where you need to collaborate or on your own assignment, but I am really flexible and I enjoy both processes.
FS: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MD: I have few product designs in mind which I will definitely one day make but I can't share them for now.
FS: How can people contact you?
MD: matthewdorabiala@gmail.com www.dorabiala.com +44 07587398313
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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