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

I am the Antipop, I'll run against the grain until the day that I die. I am the Antipop, the man you cannot stop. Antipop designs simple things, both in beauty and in function. Antipop is not consistent in the way it designs. Antipop can be very pop.

César Bejarano Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by César Bejarano.

Designer Interview of César Bejarano:

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?

CB : I studied architecture but I love all types of design, especially object and furniture design. My first product design was for a green wall system. I patented it and called it Cara de Planta, and I started a business. But after a while I got bored with the business part. I wanted to go back to the creating part. So I decided to start over and I moved to Madrid in 2016. I have been designing objects and furniture ever since.

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

CB : Antipop is formed by two words: Anti, which means against, and pop, which stands for popular. It doesn't mean that we are against popular things. We aren't. It just means that we won't follow trends. We will do what's right for the project. In Antipop we design things that we like, and hope that everyone likes them too.

DI: What is "design" for you?

CB : Design is the process of creation of anything, from idea to embodiment. Everything that is man made has gone through the process of design.

DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?

CB : I like to design things that are not too complex in their function. I also like a small scale. Small objects or pieces of furniture.

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

CB : I don't have a favorite anything, but plenty of favorites of everything.

DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?

CB : An office. I started out as an architect.

DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?

CB : I love the possibilities 3D printing offers. Especially when you can do it for so many materials.

DI: When do you feel the most creative?

CB : Always, especially when I'm awake.

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

CB : I focus on not focusing on one aspect. I take care to consider everything which I find important in a design, from function to aesthetic, and even production processes and the way it is likely to be sold and transported.

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

CB : I feel good. It's fun for me.

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

CB : It's the best thing. I feel like I have been validated by myself, which is the hardest and most important to me.

DI: What makes a design successful?

CB : When you as the designer love it, and so does everyone else.

DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?

CB : I like things that are intelligent and original. They also have to be memorable and not generic.

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

CB : I feel our responsibilities as designers are to produce design while trying not to produce waste, in any way it comes. If we are responsible for making things, then we are also responsible for what happens to those things once their life cycle is over. Cradle to cradle.

DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?

CB : Right now I don't think it's evolving. Sometimes I feel it's the opposite. I notice a trend in which designers are giving a lot of importance to vain objects, which translate to vain design. We are designing things whose main purpose is to decorate, with no function whatsoever. Anyone can make something pretty, the real value is making something pretty while adding value to our lives, or at the very least, not subtracting value from the world.

DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?

CB : Last exhibition was at Milan. Next one will be Maison et Objet or Salone del Mobile Milan.

DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?

CB : I take inspiration from wherever it comes from, and I really never know.

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?

CB : I would describe my style as non-existent. I design for each project, and the project is what sets the style. Sometimes fancy is required, sometimes playful. Maybe I would describe my style then as versatile, very flexible. Really non-existent.

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?

CB : I am from México but I recently moved to Madrid, Spain. I don't feel that the cultural heritage of my country affects my designs, however, I know it must, even if I am unable to be aware of it. And I'm glad it does.

DI: How do you work with companies?

CB : Perfectly.

DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?

CB : I won't be so bold as to suggest anything, but I think companies put too much weight on the name of the designer, while there are a lot of amazing unknown designers. The design should be the one to speak, never the designer.

DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?

CB : It's fast. Very fast.

DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?

CB : I just own my clothes and my dog. I try not to buy things on purpose, even though I would love to buy everything. As a designer, it's hard, but I prefer to keep my life uncluttered, so I can move easily from place to place. I decided to exchange enjoying objects for experiences exclusively.

DI: Can you describe a day in your life?

CB : It's never stressful. That's the constant. I wake up when I want to, and go to bed when I want to. In between I create.

DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?

CB : I have no wisdom to impart. I'm not wise. But maybe I would just say: Don't be pretentious.

DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?

CB : I can't think of anything in particular. It has ups and downs like everything.

DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?

CB : Don't obey rules (if they don't make sense).

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

CB : All of them.

DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?

CB : Every project is different, so the tools needed are different.

DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?

CB : I don't.

DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?

CB : It depends on each person and the scale and complexity of the object. For me, since I don't design things that surpass my knowledge, I take very little time.

DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?

CB : How do you pay your bills?

DI: What was your most important job experience?

CB : I have hated every job I have ever had. All two of them.

DI: Who are some of your clients?

CB : Name dropping? No. Also, I don't have any, I'm just getting started.

DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?

CB : If it involves being creative, and all design work does, I enjoy it.

DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?

CB : I want to design for starting brands rather than famous ones.

DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?

CB : No teams for me. Design is easier as one person. Others might disagree. I disagree with others.

DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?

CB : A lot of them, but why talk about them? They will be worth talking about when and if they are produced. And then, I hope talking won't be needed. Good design speaks for itself.

DI: How can people contact you?

CB : Through email: cesar@againstdesign.com, or through my website: http://beantipop.com/