We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Lia Versteege ("LV").
As a human being each of us has the ability to be a social person. A person who can contribute to happiness and a deeper understanding in live. Especially art and design can have a huge part in it. During my time as an artist in my own residence at sculpturegarden 't Ulenest I had a great time when working with artists who had to leave their native country. After choosing a theme we made sculptures from materials we got from companies nearby. There was music from Moldavië, Iraq, Congo, Armenië etc. After about 14 days of hard work, we made an exhibition in the garden and after a great vernisage our refugee artists felt like human beings again.
Lia Versteege Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Lia Versteege.
Designer Interview of Lia Versteege:
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?
LV : As a child, drawing and painting was my favorite. In addition, I wanted to work with clay. All the time I went to the potter's workshop a lot. Creating was always important in my life
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
LV : After my training, I worked autonomously. Also transferring, so teaching in spatial design I found enjoyable. It keeps you alert and curious
DI: What is "design" for you?
LV : Design is research, development, expression, communication.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
LV : Spatial works in various materials. The material is adapted to the feeling and idea of that moment and of that phase in the development process.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
LV : If I'm happy about a job created, it seems that a favorite comes to a next favorite. The image Cohesion is special to me. 4 Curved steel strips stand like a dome. In that I hung 150 steel wires. size 200 by 250 by 200 centimetre. I made it during a Artist in Residence with fugitive artists. The amount of loose-moving steel wires make the image a complete picture. One thread or one person is not enough, 150 threads or 150 people reinforce each other into a bulwark.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
LV : In 1982, I made a great bronze woman for the City of Bloemendaal, she was sitting alone with big empty hands at the end of her life
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
LV : Favorites materials are clay. Stone came later and wood, iron and glass were added.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
LV : During a good conversation with a colleague-friend, an interesting exhibition, during the work process.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
LV : During the design there is only work focus on creating
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
LV : During work there is no time or other thought to do it alone
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
LV : I can feel a cautious feeling of joy but also a sense of pitty. Sometimes the feeling I managed it!
DI: What makes a design successful?
LV : If the work stays interesting over several days, weeks and I am going to see more and more than it's good
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
LV : Good design I must feel deep in myself, it must be astonishing.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
LV : An artwork must make man and his / her environment richer. It must call questions, call for feelings, add something, and hopefully give a sense of joy through the beauty whatever it may be.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
LV : Art and Design capture the signals from society. They give these signals a tangible form, which brings a lot of people vision and clarity or a sense of development. As time and development progresses, it brings about a change of tangible shape, a form that I can not see yet.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
LV : In 2016 I participated in an exhibition of Fidem Medals in Belgium and an exhibition of The Dutch Society of Sculptors in The Netherlands. June 17, 2017. An exhibition of work will be opened in Leiderdorp in The Netherlands. In 2018, I hope to join an exhibition of medals in Canada.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
LV : My inspiration comes from life itself, life as it began. From minerals to cell and cell division. All living beings originate from the cell. Unfortunately, humans have developed the pride that makes him, her think above all other lives with all the negative consequences. Good shows, good books, interesting exhibitions give me hope for the beautiful side of man
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?
LV : It is not clear to me what style I belong to. I work very intuitively and try to create that which brings me further into my development as a human being and that which I want to convey to the outside world. An important theme is Cells. The cell from which all life comes comes from its existence. The cell as a memory at the beginning of all life So far from human pride
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?
LV : I live and work in the Netherlands but do not feel very connected with this country. So I do not think that the culture of the Netherlands has a great impact on my work
DI: How do you work with companies?
LV : I commissioned images but watch out for the freedom of my design. I listen to their wishes and see if that fits my mindset. Doing a good job and doing a lot of concessions is not possible
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
LV : Only by giving the designer a lot of freedom can there be a good design. Consultation and respect for each other's idea. If that does not happen, then another designer must be chosen
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
LV : Search, search, search, search and then if you enter it and no longer know something comes out of your hands. As soon as the will is done, intuition gets the space and can start the work process
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
LV : Jos Schimmer painting, table with grint and glass cells, oval dining table, Aboriginal paintings, a book with red / black cover by Anish Kapoor of Phaidon publishing house
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
LV : No day is the same so the question is hard to answer. I find it hard to divide my time between my creative work, the important family and administration for me. My ideal day would be; Shower, breakfast and directly to the studio. Later in the afternoon take a walk in nature and read
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
LV : Very important; Watching, listening and reading. Very difficult; Watching and listening to what matters to you in order to do what you want to do. Never please or be more important than you are
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
LV : It's the best subject you can think of. But if you want to earn a lot of money then choose if you can have another form of existence
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
LV : Doing hard and hard work and not making any concessions
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
LV : Looking, seeing, sensation, empathy must be well developed
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
LV : Everything I can use as a tool. Payment cards, plates, forks, spoons, knives, hammers, bills, chisels, pencil and paper, glue, crochet grinders, philosophy and art books,
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
LV : Yes, that's always a problem, dividing time for practical execution. The thinking process never stops that always goes on. Making choices. Now I choose to answer this interview but unfortunately this is at the expense of my studio time
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
LV : Sometimes you can do something very good in half an hour. Suddenly you see it. More often, the work process takes weeks or months. Sometimes you leave something off and make it years later. I often work on multiple objects at once
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
LV : The comment on non-colleagues, oh, how secial, how are you?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
LV : Materials can be very quirky but sometimes give you more than what you hoped for. For example, a small temple of granite that gave me her soul.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
LV : Municipalities, companies, private buyers, some collectors.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
LV : The work that is monumental in shape speaks to me the most.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
LV : In addition to other work, I am also preparing a coffin. A person has to look ahead. In addition, I hope to continue with the rich life that I have. Create and exhibit.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
LV : I do not have a team and make all the designs myself
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
LV : At the moment, I work on a design of 100 by100 centimetre. A steel grid with 350 molds of clay named African rock therein comes bolsters of the Mary Gold Tree from Australia. It is about laying connections and new life
DI: How can people contact you?
LV : By mail beelden@liaversteege.nl or Phone 0031 623806862