We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Jorge Prieto ("JP").
After years of experience working for different prestigious brands in the high-end furniture and lighting industries, the industrial designer Jorge Prieto founded Prieto Studio, an award-winning design studio based in London. Since then, its team has worked on a wide range of projects for renowned companies and professionals, both nationally and internationally, always aiming to excel in its field while breaking moulds with conventional design.
Jorge Prieto Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Jorge Prieto.
Jorge Prieto Design - Lotus Armchair
Designer Interview of Jorge Prieto:
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?
JP : I would say I always had a flair for creativity, from art to music, architecture and other manifestations. I was always intrigued by them and the mental process that would shape each product into what they really are. This pushed me to create an entire line of products on my own.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JP : After years of experience working for different prestigious brands in the high-end furniture and lighting industries, the industrial designer Jorge Prieto founded Prieto Studio, an award-winning design studio based in London. Since then, its team has worked on a wide range of projects for renowned companies and professionals, both nationally and internationally, always aiming to excel in its field while breaking moulds with conventional design.
DI: What is "design" for you?
JP : When we think about design we think of new ways to improve our way of life; breathtaking products that stand out among the rest, perfectly balanced between shape and function.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JP : The most challenging ones which force me to think outside of the box and bring something unique to the table.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JP : Raymond Loewys train designs for their boldness and aerodynamism.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JP : A pendant light for a luxury furniture company based in Valencia, Spain
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JP : Brass is really versatile and can be adapted to fit most designs and gives it a stunning look at the same time.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
JP : In the morning when I am fresher and ready to go!
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JP : Functionality which always shapes the form afterwards. You can't have one without the other.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
JP : Excitement, passion and thrill would be the main ones when engaging in a new project, all the way to the very end. Each stage is equally interesting, from the very first sketches until complete manufacture, as each phase entails a different type of skills that always keep you motivated.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JP : Satisfaction upon a job well done and eagerness to embark on a new one.
DI: What makes a design successful?
JP : A design that satisfies to perfection a human need in an elegant and functional way.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JP : I believe function and looks must be balanced perfectly. Any part of the design that has no purpose should be discarded immediately.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JP : When designing, always try to improve our way of life while being as environmentally friendly as possible.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JP : With AI knocking on the door, the design industry will be highly influenced by it and we will face new and astonishing ways to improve our designs.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JP : Valencia Design Week exhibition, Spain. (2009) Although we would like to exhibit in Milan in a few years from now.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JP : Inspiration can sprout from anything, from movies to music, art galleries or even video games.
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?
JP : Minimalistic and modern although I like to experiment with different styles and bring something new.
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?
JP : Spain has been home to some of the most successful designers and artists. With their Mediterranean culture, freshness and simplicity have been at the core of every creative approach, and it has been the relaxed way of life of their society which has inspired some of the greatest trends in design.
DI: How do you work with companies?
JP : Always with an open mind to whichever ideas they want to introduce and find a way on how can I help them best.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
JP : Always choose someone that values quality over quantity. We have already plenty of badly designed pieces, but good ones take time to produce.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JP : We always aim to work with vanguard techniques and materials, working side by side with some of the most skilful professionals in the industry just to create exclusive and unique experiences for each one of our customers, bringing a touch of innovative uniqueness into their houses.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
JP : Armchairs, sofas, chaise lounges, dining tables, and dining chairs.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
JP : Usually, I wake up early and start getting immersed in any design project I either have pending or starting from scratch. As the day develops, I usually move to more routine tasks until I finish at approximately six in the evening, when I close everything and spend time with my family.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JP : Do not despair. It is very easy to get frustrated or lose motivation in the design career if you do not have a clear goal in mind that will keep you motivated. Focus on that goal, even if it's a blurry one, as you will adapt along the way to reach it.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JP : Both the best and the worst are probably the chance to work in different fields. It might be frightening at first but it can be really enjoyable afterwards.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JP : If you doubt, the design is not finished yet.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
JP : Patience and dedication to always keep going and improving.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
JP : I use a wide variety of software such as Solidworks, 3D Studio, Autocad, Photoshop and Illustrator as they are some of the most versatile to work with.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JP : Diving big projects equally throughout the week so I do not feel overwhelmed by them at any time.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JP : Probably a couple of weeks from the first concept sketches until the final technical drawings.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JP : How much do you usually price your clients? Although there is no standard answer to that. Depends on the market sector you are aiming for, the type of work and the amount of time involved. It is better to do some market research and check how much others are charging in similar conditions to yours.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
JP : I have been personally involved in the design of pieces for some restaurants and hotels in France that were challenging as well as engaging. But I was very happy with the results once completed.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
JP : Justin Van Breda, Martin Bruzinski, Bella Figura, Soane Britain, and Ateliers London to name just a few.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
JP : Probably the concept stage as it is when you have the opportunity to truly be creative.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JP : I am planning to launch my own line of high-end designs and deliver them all over the world from our design studio.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
JP : I design them myself although I do work from time to time with external designers in collaborative projects.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
JP : Every year we design a full new collection for our own studio so a work-in-progress project is always present!
DI: How can people contact you?
JP : We have all our information on our contact page, on our website.
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
JP : I believe this interview has covered pretty much everything!