We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Mohammadsina Gavili ("MG").
I've been working as a product designer since 2008 and my team (Ekas Design studio) includes designers and engineers which was established in 2008 with the purpose of conducting design and product engineering services for domestic and foreign producers. We always try to find creative, user centered and economic solutions in order to make differences between manufactured products of companies and other samples in the market. This issue is founded on artistic experiences, technical knowledge, human science and innovative methods. As a result, our team implements innovative marketing approaches, quality management and considers demands and needs of target groups to present more competitive products to employers .
Mohammadsina Gavili Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Mohammadsina Gavili.
Mohammadsina Gavili Design - Luna Ultrasound Device
Mohammadsina Gavili Design - Zino Ultrasound Device
Designer Interview of Mohammadsina Gavili:
DI: 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?
MG : I went to drawing class when I was 16 and from then, I gradually became interested in industrial design. As my interest in this subject was becoming more pronounced, I decided to enrol for a bachelor of industrial design at the Art University of Tehran. Afterwards, I pursued my studies for a master of industrial design at the Art University of Tabriz. One of the reasons that I gradually became more interested in the design universe has been my desire to design new, creative products. To this end, it has been my dream to manage my own design studio as I deeply enjoy leading a design team from the height of ideas to the firm ground of the practical useful final product. During my BA studies, I acquainted myself with general product design by reading and watching relevant sources. Then during my MA studies, I focused my attention on the principles and theories regarding the design of medical devices. However, I have to say that during my studies, the main focus was the practical side of industrial design, and thus, as a student I spent most of my time sketching and 3d-modelling.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MG : Our studio was established back in 2008 and from the beginning, our team was composed of designers and engineers. We’ve always tried to find creative, user-centred and economic solutions to distinguish the products of our clients from the host of the available products on the market. Our approach is directed by aesthetic intuition, technical knowledge, human science and innovative methods.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MG : I think design is a tactical game that step by step brings down an abstract idea into a tangible and practical final product. That is, design is a process that connects the ideal world to the real world. And in this process, it’s very important for me to arrange a balance between the unbounded abstract ideal and the concrete reality.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MG : I design practical products (mostly medical devices) that are meant to be reliable and I enjoy balancing all the aspects of the design so that it’s perfectly suited for the manufacturing process. I love tarrying with the design parameters until the desired balance is achieved for the final product. A product that is meant to be easily manufactured.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MG : Zino ultrasound machine is my favorite design for the simple reason that we tried to do our best in the design process.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MG : I redesigned particular parts of an electrical faucet when I was 22. I reduce the cost of production by changing the material and adjusting the production method.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MG : My favorite technology is 3d Modeling Software’s platforms Like Solid works. I also enjoy 3d printing, I mean the process in which the computer graphics are transformed into some real physical objects in a short span of time.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MG : I find myself inspired when I’m well-rested. Usually, in the early morning and sometimes when I stop trying to be innovative.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MG : There are lots of parameters that a designer must take into account, but I think the aesthetics of the design can be the most challenging issue for a designer.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MG : The beginning of any project is exciting because we are creating new concepts and artefacts. After prototyping, we reach a new level of understanding and physical experience of the result of our creative process.
DI: What makes a design successful?
MG : I believe that a comprehensive definition of a design problem, using topic-related methods, and using an evaluation method and a feedback loop can lead to a successful product.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MG : The proper function, the ease of use and the aesthetics.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MG : Designing is creating and with creation comes responsibility. I believe that a designer should consider designing a solution that is based on real-world data and ideas must be mulled by taking into account different points of view. It is helpful to hear the voices of people expressing their concerns and to learn to see the troubles they experience, even if they do not articulate them explicitly. As a designer, we should take our responsibilities seriously. If we offer ideas, we are still responsible for the roles they play in people's lives and experiences.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MG : I think design will be accompanied by the AR and VR technologies more and more as time goes by and the designer can evaluate her designs by these technologies to create an effective feedback loop that can make the final product more successful.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MG : It was in Tehran, Iran. The 9th laboratory equipment & chemicals exhibition (Iran Lab 2021) from 14 to 17 December 2021. We participated as a product design studio.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MG : We usually use different design methods in our team. I try to lead my team so that the members can effectively work together.
DI: How do you work with companies?
MG : We prepare a proposal based on a basic design brief, then we sign a contract that instigates our design process.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MG : I think the most important factors which can be noticeable for companies are preparing a Comprehensive design brief and evaluation of their products in a real situation.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MG : Companies usually write a design brief based on our platforms and after the contract, we develop our research. We analyze the products and services and present new and unique strategies for designing products and services by surveying and concentrating on target users. Customers’ needs and behaviours are essential factors to create successful solutions in design. Design processes are begun in an open and creative method. Ideation groups and selected final designs are reachable based on design strategies and goals in continuing the aforementioned method. After determining the final properties of the design, we develop the design in terms of engineering and detail design. This step includes selecting materials, determining manufacturing methods, assembling features, cost estimation and production duration. Ekas design studio’s designers are able to present products and components to customers by utilizing 3d modelling programs such as Rhinoceros and Solidworks. Presenting and perceiving 3d visualization of products is one of the most important parts of design processes. Making models and prototypes of products provides the possibility of real and detailed surveying of factors such as mechanism, form, ergonomic parameters and so on. Prototyping helps decrease cost, and time and eliminates the defects of the design processes in every step to reach the final product.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MG : In order to be a good designer, you need to be passionate about all the steps of the design process. Also, it’s very fruitful to get out of your comfort zone. For the beginner designer is very useful to work on products where many case studies are available.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MG : A selection of design processes and common ways of design processes in my design studio are: Initial concepts and sketching for ideation and presenting design solutions, Combining technical and practical rules of designs with aesthetic fundamentals, designing the family of products with the consideration of hidden identities and properties, ideation in groups based on brainstorming methods, body storming and so on, considering rules and ergonomic and anthropometric standards related to the product and work station, Consulting and accurate studying of materials and production methods to make ideas producible, using real users in finalizing the process of the product (collaborative design), sketching, 3d modelling and professional rendering. We mostly use Solidworks, Keyshot, Rhinoceros 3D and AutoCAD and Adobe series.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MG : It depends on the complexity of the product and the function. The design process can take any time between 45 days and 1 year.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MG : People often ask me, "Where do you get your ideas from?"
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MG : Generally, the best experience was related to my medical products because these products must pass different levels of tests and we have feedback circles. We redesign the product continuously until we come up with the best outcome based on the design brief.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
MG : Medical product companies.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MG : I usually find niche projects most exciting because I have more freedom to come up with novel design solutions. For example, designing a motorcycle food delivery box was one of the most interesting projects for me.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MG : I work as a team.
DI: How can people contact you?
MG : People usually get to know us through the website and sometimes through Instagram.