We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Aliki Rovithi ("AR").

In 2007, Aliki Rovithi and Foant Asour founded their creative studio DEDE DextrousDesign which still to this day hosts their never ending love for debate and experimentation. Although they carry an artistic background as well, as industrial designers they have to operate within the strictly commercial and profit- driven requirements of mass production. Their personal goal for the future and their biggest anxiety so far, is not to stop loving what they do, because of this constrained environment. They would like to keep on giving an open and enthusiastic welcome to new things and remain able to create design projects that deliver messages in effective and memorable ways.

Aliki Rovithi Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Aliki Rovithi.

Designer Interview of Aliki Rovithi:

DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?

AR : My partner Foant Asour and I formed an Athens based industrial design team called DEDE DextrousDesign. We have been working together since 2007 and we have participated in the “DESIGN 2009” and the “DESIGN LAB 2010” design exhibitions in Athens as well as in the “GREEN DESIGN FESTIVAL 2010”, an open-air event, that explores sustainable design in all forms and applications, and suggests a friendlier, towards the environment, way of life. From the 14th to the 19th of April 2010, we participated in the international fair for young designers SALONESATELLITE 2010, in Milan. Later on, we received the RED DOT award:design concept 2010 for the “THIS SIDE UP” table and our design item "GET THE HANG OF IT" bag recently won the Platinum A' Design award 2010. I was born in Athens, Greece. I received a university degree in mathematics from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and a BA (Hons) in industrial and product design from the Middlesex University(Athens branch). Foant Asour was born in Athens, Greece. He attended the arabic high school in Athens and received a higher diploma in industrial and product design from the Middlesex University(Athens branch).

DI: What is "design" for you?

AR : We believe that "design" derives from the fundamental understanding of why something exists.

DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?

AR : Our most favorite design is our "This side up table" that looks like a carton box and in some ways it is as useful as a carton box! It’s lightweight and easy to move, you can stash all the junk under it when your mother-in-law shows up unexpectedly, and you can place your magazines and remote controls that occupy the top of the table, on the four side panels. The “this side up” table won the RED DOT award:design concept 2010 and was presented at SALONESATELLITE 2010 in Milan.

DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?

AR : Exploring unconventional alternatives and avoiding familiar solutions leads to novel ideas. When we design, we try to look at things critically and profoundly, in order to perceive situations from innovative perspectives.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?

AR : Creative thinking is a captivating human aspect. We feel content and blessed because through designing we can understand the world around us and communicate our thoughts and beliefs.

DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?

AR : Although as designers, we have an artistic background as well , we work in a commercial environment that bears a great deal of considerations on the design process. When our designs are realized, these considerations meet our expectations and for that we feel excited and satisfied.

DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?

AR : Ecologically friendly practices should be incorporated in every aspect of design. There mustn't be a segregation between "design" and "sustainable design", as it is self- evident that any design process should comply with the principles of economic, social, and ecological sustainability.

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?

AR : We oftenly approach design through humor. Although humor is culturally-specific, the essence of humor addresses to the conceptual framework of many diverse user communities. Using intuitively understood humor as a starting point for the designing of our products, we build strong bonds between the product and its context of use. Humor is deeply planted into our language and thought thus we use it in order to conceive abstract concepts. In this way humor consists a powerful designing tool for the creation of products.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

AR : A designer should keep his eyes wide open, love and listen to people and cultivate his creative thought on a daily basis by examining things in-depth.

DI: How can people contact you?

AR : You can check out our work at www.dede.gr and contact us at info@dede.gr