We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Maryam Heydarian ("MH").
She got full scholarship for her Master’s degree. She is talented and creative and A’design past winner year 2017 (wearable technologies design category). She has so many successful projects on her resume; including ranked 6th in industrial design Olympiad nationwide. She involved in the design of 2 successful campaigns on Kickstarter and Indiegogo. She was the graphic designer of Ted talk show for the first time in Iran. (TEDXuniversity of Tehran). She was a member of Iran’s National Elites Foundation.
Maryam Heydarian Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Maryam Heydarian.
Maryam Heydarian Design - Clexi Secure Flash Drive
Designer Interview of Maryam Heydarian:
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?
MH : I have always wondered design is about combining art and technology. I believe usability by it self is not enough and beauty without usability is not nothing. Therefore, I chose Industrial design to work in this field and will continue to design and create things.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
MH : We are a motivated team of engineers and designers aiming to make security and privacy more accessible and meaningful. We believe in the world today, data breach is one of the most common and dangerous threats in both company’s policies and individual’s lives. This is how we came up with the idea of making the first smartphone controlled encrypted flash drive. So you can stay secure without any Internet Requirement, just with a tap on your smart phone. We have great dreams and we do our best to provide a new efficient, affordable and reliable device which protect your privacy and security.
DI: What is "design" for you?
MH : To me design is not just about make appealing things or just about usability, design is the process of imagining and planning the creation of objects, systems $ etc. With using design process like design thinking, double diamond and so on.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
MH : I would like to design in form of problem solving products and services which can help people improving their life quality.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
MH : Philippe Starck. which contains emotional design. Also I can point out Steve Jobs for designing minimal Apple products. And the last one I can mention Nades Faghihzadeh for designing BMW products.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
MH : The first thing I designed was a smart ergonomic backpack. which is more than a backpack, cause it can alert when you are carrying things in it more than 10% of your body weight.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
MH : Recyclable materials and environment friendly ones
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
MH : After listening to a good and happy song or doing Yoga.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
MH : Technical concept, product and process of design.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
MH : Happiness from thinking of designing something new and useful.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
MH : When the design comes to the reality, I feel powerful, happy and proud.
DI: What makes a design successful?
MH : I think the design process is just as important as the final product. I believe there are so many factors that make the design successful. First is concept to me; concept provides the direction for the entire project. Then the research; research is about target group and market & literature review. After is simplicity; which the product should be improved and user friendly and easy to understand.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
MH : Being unique. usability and the aesthetics. Also I believe Gestalt (the overview of the product) is important as well.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
MH : According the sustainable design rule. The design should be environment friendly, consumes low energy for making it, be recyclable, has long life cycle and steady.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
MH : Technology and art will be combined more and will make life more easy.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
MH : IDIran and university of Tehran exhibitions. And would love to enroll in some global exhibitions.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
MH : Usually Romanian and classic designs. I always read and search for their designs.
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?
MH : Being minimal with approachable experience.
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?
MH : I was born in Iran which is popular for it's art and culture. I have always inspired from the mosques designs and the souvenirs.
DI: How do you work with companies?
MH : I would love to work as a freelancer cause that makes me experience so many new things.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
MH : Usually I work with the technology companies. They usually love to pick an experienced, mind free and committed designers.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
MH : Design thinking which is contains 6 parts; 1-empathize, 2-define, 3-Ideate, 4-prototype, 5- test and 6-implement.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
MH : chairs,chandeliers, picture and frames, plants and all the wallpapers.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
MH : I start my day with doing Yoga and listen to music. then usually walk to work and get inspired by the nature. then start a good day with coworkers and create new designs.end it with a good food and familly.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
MH : creativity is the most important factor for being a successful designer.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
MH : positive ones: being creative and inspired and up to date. negative: just copying from old designs
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
MH : I always follow design process rules.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
MH : creativity, sketching skills and computer skills.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
MH : brainstorming and Swot. also software like: 3Dmax Rhino Vray Cinema 4D Photoshop Adobe xd Illustration
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
MH : step by step according to my design process
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
MH : it depends on the product we are designing
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
MH : what is Industrial design to you? what are you experiences?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
MH : Being the chief design officer of Hio Tech INC and Clexi INC
DI: Who are some of your clients?
MH : usually high tech companies and people with sensitive data
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
MH : work on smart products.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
MH : getting better in designing smart products and combining art and technology more often.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
MH : it depends on the project. i do both. team work and as an indivisual.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
MH : smart wearable technology for daily digital life with user experience approach
DI: How can people contact you?
MH : By LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/maryam-heydarian-56745292
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
MH : That's all. Thank you!