We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Arvin Maleki ("AM").
Arvin Maleki, a distinguished figure in industrial design, merges his family's Persian carpet heritage with innovative design. His shift from technology to user-centric, sustainable design demonstrates a commitment to blending tradition and creativity. Celebrated for his excellence, he's earned the Gold at the A'Design Award and Competition, along with five additional international gold medals. Globally recognized, Arvin is ranked 12th in Canada, 7th in Iran, and 731st worldwide. As a senior partner at the World Design Consortium and a juror for prestigious awards like The Stevie® and A'Design Awards, he significantly influences the design industry. His authoritative book on industrial design marks a substantial academic and practical contribution to the field. Arvin's expertise in drawing, prototyping, and commitment to continual learning shape his contributions to design education. Through global workshops and mentorship, he inspires the next generation, extending his impact beyond personal achievements to significantly influence the industrial design landscape.
Arvin Maleki Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Arvin Maleki.
Arvin Maleki Design - Nova Pilot Automotive HMI Design
Arvin Maleki Design - Auramithra Power Drink Packaging
Arvin Maleki Design - Greenify Sustainability App
Arvin Maleki Design - Organic Green Market
Arvin Maleki Design - Black Hole Speaker
Arvin Maleki Design - Glorium Saffron Packaging
Arvin Maleki Design - Seda Portable Speaker
Arvin Maleki Design - iPlant Flower Pot
Designer Interview of Arvin Maleki:
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?
AM : Since my childhood, my family has had an Iranian hand-woven carpet factory for many years. At the time, I was very interested in the drawings they drew for the carpets. With all my being, I loved colors and patterns, and I learned about them. In later years, in high school, my professors strongly encouraged me to go to an art university. I was very interested in studying computer science at university. After graduating from college, I worked as a designer next to my job. Finally, I decided to use artificial intelligence, which was my specialty in industrial design—a combination of art and technology. I can say that this decision has been a turning point in my life.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AM : My design studio is a wonderful world where I work. I have very creative, enthusiastic, and capable teammates, and we have done a lot of successful projects together. The most important thing is that we enjoy working and creating together.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AM : Design is a dynamic phenomenon. It is converting the mental concept of aesthetics into a visible phenomenon with measurable attributes. Then it can be said that sciences such as mathematics and geometry also have the concept of aesthetics. Design is the creative imagination of science.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AM : Futuristic and parametric design is my favorites.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AM : I like to design digital and intelligent instruments. In fact, I think artificial intelligence and technology bring tools to life and make them more practical.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AM : For the first time, I designed packaging and organizational identity.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AM : Carbon fiber, wood, and aluminum are my favorites.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AM : I always think about design, but green places make my mind excited.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AM : Aesthetic and technical aspects are so crucial to me.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AM : Enthusiasm and inner excitement.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AM : Enjoy creating a new phenomenon.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AM : In my opinion, every design is beautiful and successful, but the important thing is that it meets the latent needs of society to be considered.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AM : It`s functionality and aesthetics aspects.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AM : Increasing the life`s quality of the people, in other words, making life easier.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AM : I think we need a futuristic view of design. Artificial intelligence technology and applications are rapidly evolving and expanding. Their use in life is not only inevitable, but one day life would be unimaginable without their use.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AM : The last one was: Design that Educates Awards, Germany and the next one would be Exhibition of the A’design award competition.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AM : Life and nature. I always think about design and imagination.
DI: 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?
AM : Designing for the future is my favorite style. I believe that design should be simple and technological. The use of new technologies is my favorite routine.
DI: 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?
AM : Iran, Tehran. Restrictions on access to educational and technical resources are my biggest problem.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AM : I always try to do my best, so companies have always trusted me. This has led to a lasting agreement.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AM : The portfolio is the best source and reference of a designer's background, but it is crucial how the designer interacts with the employer. I prefer to work with a designer that considers order not only as a simple task but also as an essential issue.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AM : Making ideas, cultivate ideas and Consult with the team, Implementation process design, and finally Performance.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AM : My Pc, Laptop, Wireless Speaker, Mobile Phone, SmartWatch.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AM : Going to my companies, study, writing, design, watching the film, and music are the regular activities I do.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AM : Design requires creativity, deep inner belief, and study. In art, which is a straightforward yet complex phenomenon, we need to know what art is and what we are looking for in art. Melt and create your mind over and over again. So much, so that artistic creation takes over part of our subconscious mind. But the most important thing is to learn the basics of art. A good designer can think well when he can draw a line professionally. It takes thousands and thousands of times to practice drawing lines and geometry. Whenever you can draw a circle with your mind instead of your hand, you can imagine creative phenomena. The design has a ladder. You have to go up all the stairs one by one. Design, color, volume, and geometry and implement them with all the details.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AM : Being a designer is a gift in life. As a designer, you can take a new look at the world. Art is inherently dynamic, and it is challenging to bring that dynamism into practice.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AM : From my point of view, the design could change the human`s view of life and makes dreams true, if it is creative, simple, peaceful, and intelligent.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AM : The ability to turn the ideas we have in mind into a feasible plan.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AM : Hand sketching, making 3D models, rendering, and finalizing the model.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AM : I have a detailed plan for dealing with ongoing projects. Because we work as a team, we try to have precise tasks. Because design is a complex process, we try to analyze in advance what is going to be done and how.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AM : A certain amount of time cannot be raised. It depends on the design and its complexity. Of course, sometimes it is possible to come up with more ideas so that more time will be needed.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
AM : How can we be better than other competitors?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AM : Working as a designer for three of the largest factories in Iran.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AM : I did a lot of projects for international companies.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AM : I enjoy it more when I can be more creative in it.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AM : Designing new projects. Let's take a new look at the design and make life easier for people—an extensive development.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AM : Yes, I sincerely believe in teamwork. Consult and challenge each other to create a new design for me is very exciting and efficient.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AM : I have some to help disables.
DI: How can people contact you?
AM : All my information is accessible at www.arvinmaleki.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
AM : Thanks for this opportunity.