We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Rodrigo Berlim ("RB").
Rodrigo Berlim is an award-winning designer that helps make the World a better place with their original and innovative creations and advanced design works.
Rodrigo Berlim Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Rodrigo Berlim.
Rodrigo Berlim Design - Velga Folding Chair
Designer Interview of Rodrigo Berlim:
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?
RB : I always liked drawing, my father had many tools and helped me familiarize myself with manual work, so years later I discovered industrial design and pursued a degree
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RB : I have my own carpentry office where I produce my pieces manually
DI: What is "design" for you?
RB : design is a solution above all, then simplicity
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RB : Chairs, are the most difficult pieces of furniture to manufacture
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RB : the velga chair, is a unique piece of furniture
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RB : a small boat with 15m
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RB : My favorite material is wood because of its versatility, as well as being the only raw material that can be replaced in nature
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
RB : I feel more creative when I'm asked to design or build something I haven't done before
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RB : First I focus on function and ergonomics, this step will determine the entire dimension of the product, then I look for aesthetics and materials to make it strong
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RB : satisfaction, excitement, I like a challenging project, especially when I haven't completed something similar yet
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
RB : relief and satisfaction mixed with happiness
DI: What makes a design successful?
RB : when it goes beyond the briefing requirements, bringing a simple and unique solution
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RB : function and comfort, it is not enough to have a beautiful product without these two items
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RB : create sustainable things that can be easily recyclable and avoid obsolescence
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RB : the products with IA integrated, or multifunctions integrated in a net
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RB : My last exhibition was about art paint, 6 years ago
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RB : There are many hours of research to be able to create a new concept, in large part the ergonomics itself contributes to the format
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?
RB : I don't believe I have a specific style, but I like functional and simple things.
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?
RB : the cultural environment always influences us in some way, the woods I use are an example of this,
DI: How do you work with companies?
RB : work on projects for other companies,
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RB : analyzing the designer's portfolio, if it matches the company's portfolio, with the objectives it intends to achieve
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RB : I always start with ergonomics, the user-product relationship is the foundation of the project, then I adapt the functionalities, I try to align a clean and simple aesthetic, and finally I develop the details of the components
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RB : I don't have anything specific favorite
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
RB : I just go to my workshop, where everything starts and ends
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RB : always be an empty glass, ready to be filled with new content
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RB : Designers are always running after updates, everything changes daily, if you stay out of date for too long, it becomes difficult to keep up with trends
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RB : develop a product that the customer comes back to talk to you about hiring again
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
RB : creativity, the level at which you can imagine something, rotate it, color it, change it, move it, all in your mind
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RB : It all starts with pencil and paper in most cases, then software, then handwork
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
RB : I don't have a specific management, but in general when the mind is tired, it needs to rest, work on other things, take turns to continue developing
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RB : It depends on the project, the complexity, whether you will need prototypes or additional technical staff, it is difficult to say about deadlines
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RB : What do you draw?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
RB : It was the renovation of the wooden sailboat while I was a shipbuilding teacher, which transformed me into what I am today in terms of knowledge and skills.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
RB : I have everything from shipyards for boat projects, students and clients for residential furniture
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RB : coffee machines, many options to prepare just by pressing a button, magical
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RB : develop more furniture
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RB : I work alone, but I have had a team in the past
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RB : nothing relevant at the moment
DI: How can people contact you?
RB : nothing relevant at the moment
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RB : at the moment no