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Interview with Dorian Asscherick |
Home > Designer Interviews > Dorian Asscherick |
Editor Frank Scott (FS) from DesignPRWire has interviewed designer Dorian Asscherick (DA) for A’ Design Award and Competition. You can access the full profile of Dorian Asscherick 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?
DA: I have always been passionate about art and creativity. From kindergarten, I had already been nicknamed Guy Degrenne, after the tableware industrialist and creator of the house that bears his name. At 5 years old, I started taking classes at the Academy of Fine Arts in Tournai, of which I am still a student. this training allowed me to develop my creativity and pushed me towards a job in this sector. I always knew I wanted to pursue a creative career but it was thanks to a product designer who works in the packaging industry who has now become my friend that I discovered this fabulous job
FS: What is "design" for you?
DA: In my opinion, design must have a meaning. A certain feeling and a connection must be created with the user by the product. It could be curiosity, joy, imagination, desire, passion, it doesn't matter as long as it creates a human emotion, because in my opinion that’s what’s at the heart of design.
FS: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
DA: it might seem like a silly answer but the project that I like the most to design is always the next one. What's great about design in my opinion is that there are so many possibilities and products to imagine that it's impossible to be short of inspiration. but if I had to specify what kind of work makes me vibrate the most, I can say that it's the ones where I can put a little of myself, whether it's my philosophy or my style and where imagination and creativity are not limited, whether it is a chair, a baby shoe or a bicycle lamp.
FS: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
DA: My favorite piece of design is the up5&6 armchair also called the mamma by Italian designer gaetano pesce. It is for me the quintessence of what design should be. A mix of aesthetics and technique while having a message. Its aesthetic, reminiscent of the curves of a woman, is not simply pretty but the round pouf, the second element of the armchair, recalls a ball at the foot of this female figure, which also represents the traditional image of the prisoner. Pesce wanted to denounce thus, by a "metaphor of the female condition", the alienation of women. On the technical side, its volume is reduced by compressing it under vacuum in an airtight packaging. Once placed in the desired location, the buyer removes the packaging from the seat, so it inflates gently and resumes its initial shape and size, thanks to the air that enters the cells of the polyurethane foam.
FS: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
DA: During my 1-year internship at highend outdoor furniture brand Manutti, I designed the nubo rug collection. This one includes 3 organic rugs of different shapes and sizes designed to nest into each other in a multitude of ways. Whether an elegant complement or a playful contrast, these outdoor rugs are a sure match to any setting.
FS: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
DA: At the moment I would say that the technology that excites me the most is 3D printing. Currently working for VVC3D, I specialize in 3D printing directly applied to textiles. This is a technology that I believe will revolutionize this sector. It does not replace any other technique such as embroidery or digital printing, it really is a new option on the market. It can be used for sewing height as well as for automotive or furniture. It's really its variety of applications that fascinates me.
FS: When do you feel the most creative?
DA: I feel most creative late at night, after everyone is in bed. I think back to everything I experienced during the day and this allows me to draw inspiration from my daily life. Moreover, I can create without ever being disturbed!
FS: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
DA: I would say that I work the most on the philosophy of the object, on its place in today's world. What statement does this project say about me.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
DA: When I design there is a certain euphoria in me that pushes me in all directions and sometimes I have to channel myself. This is also the source of my creativity. It feels good to develop new products. During the creation process my curiosity helps me to remain on the lookout for any unexplored idea.
FS: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
DA: When the design is realized I feel a certain satisfaction and a sens of pride because deep down I know that what I'm doing is good and I'm proud to be able to say it.
FS: What makes a design successful?
DA: for a product to be successful the designer must keep in mind who he is designing for and what his needs are. The product must be able to solve the right problems at the right time while standing out. This is why it is very important to look beyond our area of knowledge and to take an interest in fields that are totally unknown to us.
FS: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
DA: To me bad design implies that often when designers try to make the product simple, they unintentionally end up making the task a lot more complex. A design must be able to stand on it’s on without having to have much explanations.
FS: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
DA: we are the reason behind the urge to buy a product. Our goal is to make it attractive. But it is our duty to think about the end of life of our product since we are the first link in the chain of consumption.
FS: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
DA: Since its inception, design has aimed to simplify people's lives. For a long period of time, humans have been the sole focus of design. It may seem paradoxical as we are witnessing a dehumanization of products due to the automation of manufacturing processes which also leads to an impoverishment of craftsmanship skills. the future of design is to combine this desire to simplify everyday life with a more local production chain that fits into the context of safeguarding the environement
FS: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
DA: Usually inspiration comes when you don't expect it. I am naturally inspired by what surounds me. Back when I was in college I learned about serendipity which I find a very cool concept. It is an unplanned fortunate discovery. To me this what inspiration is but you have to stimulate it. It is important to immerse yourself in new places, situations so that every everyday situations can become inspirations.
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?
DA: I'm belgian. Naturally, I'm influenced by my country's cultural heritage. Located in the heart of Europe and between big design nations such as Germany, France and the Netherlands, Belgium quickly learned to borrow, adapt and pioneer new forms of expressions. I'm even more influenced by our culture since I studied in Kortrijk wich in know as a UNESCO Design Region.
FS: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
DA: The first one I'd say is the eames bird. This was the first design piece I ever got and reminds me of my love for design. Then maybe the Nesso lamp. This lamp is an icon in design as well as a very good mood creator. An other one that's very similar to it and that I recently got is the Varmblixt lamp by Sabine Marcelis for Ikea. This object shows you that design doesn't have to be expensive to look good. The fourth one is a cream fuzzy ottoman that I got from my grand-parents. It is a very sentimental as well as practical piece of furniture since it has a storage in it . The final one would be a book: the measurement of man and woman by Henry Dreyfuss which I think every designer should have in his library.
FS: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
DA: Try to make noise around you, participate in contests, exhibitions. This way you'll be able able to share your work with the world. You'll be able to get feedback, develop a more critical sense towards your work. It will not only help your career but also yourself as a person, giving you a better self-esteem and god it does a lot of good! Try as many skills as you can, any technique that you can develop is a tool for yourself as well for your future. Never forget to be creative outside of your job. Far too often your creativity will be muzzled because of production costs, time, technical difficulties. And most important of all, have fun!
FS: What skills are most important for a designer?
DA: Often Juniors forget that in our industry time is actually money. Sometimes, I'd like to refine a photoshop file for a client or to let my creativity go crazy spending hours on a design. But you have to remember that every minute that you spend on a design has to be paid, either by the client or by the employer and none of them wants to pay extra fees. So time management is a very important skill to me.
FS: How can people contact you?
DA: People can either contact me on my instagram page called dorian.asscherick_design or on my linkdin account where I'm active and share my latest news!
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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