We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Tinne Debruijne ("TD").
The birth of an idea. Tinne Debruijne has been working on the concept of ‘unspoken words’ since 2001. It grew from a personal experience, in which a young woman's sorrow and the words ‘there is so much I still want to tell you’ had such a deep impact on her and moved her to her very core. She started designing a range of personalized urns to yet capture these words soon after. The LifeLoveLoss collection now takes this concept to a new level, both honoring the dead and celebrating life's major events such as birth and marriage. Tinne and 3Dmatic join forces. Handmade objects make way for 3D technology, opening up a new level of personalization which, in turn, makes for surprising and original pieces.
Tinne Debruijne Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Tinne Debruijne.
Designer Interview of Tinne Debruijne:
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?
TD : Mind, body, soul and simplicity. These words reflect my work as a contemporary ceramicist. From idea to design, from clay to art, never losing sight of simplicity. The passion for the matter is the driving force behind my choice to work professionally with ceramics. Designing has always been a major part of my life, as illustrated by my background as an independent interior architect, senior web designer at Boondoggle and a designer for Belgian decoration brand D&M Depot. It therefore comes as no surprise that the originality and character of my creations have succeeded in moving people for the past 15 years. The collaboration with 3Dmatic opens a whole new world and 3D-printing is a fantastic platform for my designs without creative restraints.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TD : I work by myself
DI: What is "design" for you?
TD : My life. My passion. My talent. And above all freedom.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TD : Anything, especially in porcelain, from art to design.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TD : The creation of the ash urn ''Unspoken words'' because it grew out of a personal experience. 13 years ago a young man in the family died suddenly. When his wife said in church ''I still have SO much to tell you'' I was blown away. These simple words made such an impact on me that I started to create a personalized urn for those last words. Unsaid. Unexpressed. Words, feelings, promises. I wanted to bring these to life in the intimacy of this piece of art.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TD : My first design I made for a company were vases and collections for a Belgian interior company: D&M Depot (https://dmdepot.be/)
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TD : Porcelain
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
TD : I feel creative every moment of the day. My brain is always thinking in shapes, textures and colors. But sometimes, just waiting in the doctors waiting room or waiting at the airport I create my best designs. I call it my ''no-moments''. While for others it's 'lost time' for me it's 'created time'.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TD : Function, shape and texture have to be in complete balance. But I'm very sensitive for texture.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TD : An overwhelming happiness!
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TD : An overwhelming satisfaction!
DI: What makes a design successful?
TD : When their is a balance in all details of the object.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TD : A good design doesn't need much explanation, it speaks for itself, just like a good piece of art.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TD : New materials will open up a whole new ''playground'' for designers. Materials we didn't know they COULD exist. Already 3D printing is a huge step for design. No limits anymore ... what will make it much more difficult AND interesting!
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TD : 16/17th of February 2014 - The launch of the ash urn:'unspoken words'' at 'Funeral @ work' in Leuven, Belgium The next exhibition will be the launch of 'Life' and 'love': - http://www.lifeloveloss.eu/en/products/life - http://www.lifeloveloss.eu/en/products/love
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TD : Everyday life objects can be inspirations. A curve of a shoe, a texture of an insect or the colors in a movie can bring an new idea. I'm very sensitive for texture. So when I think of a new design I immediately think in combination of texture and shape.
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?
TD : Simple, thin, fragile, transcending, sensual, curved, textured.
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?
TD : I'm Belgian but living in South-West of France. I lived for 5 years in the USA. Where I live does not affect me in my designs. I design from within myself.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TD : ALWAYS stay true to yourself. NEVER give up. Work hard. ''Dreams don't work unless you do''! And above all: ''BELIEVE in yourself''. Others can not believe in you if you don't believe in yourself!!!!
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TD : I cannot say anything negative: I love to be a designer!
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TD : Work from within yourself.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
TD : Stay open for your environment, feel what is needed but work from within yourself.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TD : paper & pencil
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TD : I keep a strict monthly/weekly/daily schedule.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TD : It depends on the object you have to design. It can take years before a design is perfect.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TD : How do you create? How do you stay creative?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
TD : Discovering my work was been copied (they tried)! It made me realize how vulnerable we are as designers and how fast we have to protect our designs.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
TD : Restaurants, wholesale companies and individuals.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TD : My sculptural work because I work completely intuitive on these pieces.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TD : We are opening a Bed & Breakfast in the South West of France - www.lesmirandes.com - where I will also continue working on my projects and artwork. It will be an interesting mix of supporting my husband with the B&B and working on my pieces. I will also sell my work in my small gallery on the property.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TD : I develop my designs myself. Only now for the memory boxes and ash urns I work together with my producer of 3dmatic: Guy Hoegaerts
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TD : The memoryboxes 'Life' and 'love' it will by launched soon. LIFE: A child, born out of love. New life and new, unknown feelings. The most precious thing that we ever will cherish. The strength of the bond between parents and their newborn child. A silent pact between hearts and souls. The Life collection comprises 3D printed porcelain shapes, the content and finish of which are fully personalized. This creates a medium for parents to express their feelings and celebrate the birth of their child. A beautiful poem praising this new life. A charming picture. A safe place for all of those treasures and trinkets that will become the keepsakes of early childhood. LOVE: 2 people. A gesture. A seal of the ultimate friendship and passion uniting two individuals who have become one. The promise to be for ever faithful. Unconditional love that makes them partners for life. The Love collection gives couples the opportunity of affording an additional (3D) dimension to their marriage bond. A beautiful text significant to both. A portrait. A receptacle that may contain the many good wishes sent by guests or a honeymoon souvenir.
DI: How can people contact you?
TD : By phone: 003370883606 or email: tinnedebruijne@gmail.com