We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Rick Yestadt ("RY").
Award winning Principal, Rick Yestadt, founded Yestadt Architecture and Design on the premise that good design creates value and that value spans time. Mr. Yestadt is a member of the American Institute of Architects, American Planning Association and is a licensed Architect in the state of New York and Connecticut. Rick received his bachelor of Architecture degree from Auburn University and attended Harvard University Graduate School of Design - Executive Education Program. Prior to founding Yestadt Architecture and Design, Rick Yestadt trained and worked with the renowned Architect Marcel Breuer, of the Bauhaus School of Design. This unique pivotal experience served as one of the building blocks for Rick’s career and design perspective. Further solidifying his interest in the impact of Design and its value to culture and society, Rick also worked with several highly respected Design Firms including Perkins Eastman, Davis Brody & Associates and Gruzen/Sampton as Senior Designer and Senior Associate. Mr. Yestadt brings considerable experience in Programming and Development of conceptual and schematic designs for a wide variety of project types. This includes residential and multi-family housing, retail, senior housing, health care facilities, research laboratories, office buildings and public structures and country clubs. In addition, we are a member of 1-1-1, donating a percentage of our profits and time annually to support our community.
Rick Yestadt Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Rick Yestadt.
Designer Interview of Rick Yestadt:
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?
RY : I wouldn't say a designer as such. I have always had a curiosity about how things work. I grow up near the airport outside of New Orleans and dreamed of flying. My answer up until high school as to what I wanted to "be" was always an aeronautical engineer. My parents were classical musicians with music and art always part of our lives. My father became a successful Maestro conductor and also loved cars. An XKE Jaguar appeared in our driveway and was a turning point for me. My brother and I would sit in our lawn chairs in the afternoon light and marvel at the beauty of this man made object, analyzing, discussing every line and curve. I became aware of the physical environment in which I lived and that humans were making decisions that effected the beauty in the world around me. Of course this activity took second place to convincing my father that it was absolutely necessary for me to drive that car for whatever excuse I could come up with.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RY : Yestadt Architecture + Design was founded 4 years ago with the idea of bringing the highest quality design services to our clients in architecture and product design using technology to make the biggest impact on quality and innovation.
DI: What is "design" for you?
RY : OK, at least you didn't ask what is Good Design! For me, design is creating something improved.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RY : The early stages of creating a design solution that gives me goose bumps.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RY : That is an almost impossible question for me to answer because there are so many....but a common denominator would be those that have an elegance creating something unexpectedly logical and graceful. Arne Jacobsen's Tulip chair, many of Deiter Rams' Braun products, the cubical chapel at the monastery outside of Orvieta, Italy, Diller Scofidio + Renfro's The Brasserie in NYC, The High Line come to mind.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RY : A police station in Maryland.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RY : AutoCAD and Sketchup are amazing tools that can be as complex or simple in execution.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
RY : After midnight generally.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RY : Inspiration in the realm of the possible I would say.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RY : If it's for a client, fear and adrenalin. If for my self, utter bliss. Client bliss can come at the end of a project, if all goes according the Grand Plan.