We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Timo Brunkhorst ("TB").
Timo Brunkhorst is a multidisciplinary designer focusing on conceptual objects and graphic design. After studying at the Design Factory International, he worked in various design agencies around Hamburg Germany. With the beginning of his independence, conceptual objects become more and more his favorite kind of work. Through the newly gained freedom, he has been able to devote himself to larger projects such as the L16 series of luminaires and to pursue more and more the pursuit of perfectionism. His works are designed and constructed down to the smallest detail and always devote themselves to a superordinate theme. Timo drives the interplay and the accompanying tension between material, form and design, with his works he creates allegories from multi-layered meanings.
Timo Brunkhorst Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Timo Brunkhorst.
Designer Interview of Timo Brunkhorst:
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?
TB : At the beginning there was graffiti. I was up all night long, worked my way through commisioned works for the city and became a part of the city. And as a child, every time I entered the tool shop of my grandfather, I felt the urge to create and built something.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TB : I am a multidisciplinary designer focusing on product design, conceptual objects and graphic design. It is important for me to constantly evolve my working skills and therefore I confront myself with new challenges every time.
DI: What is "design" for you?
TB : Function / usability, Aesthetics and sustainability
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TB : Products that have a practical use and objects that tell a story.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TB : there is too much beautiful stuff out there…...one thing I really like is the variety of nature, for example the structure of wood, symmetrical snowflakes and the mysteries about quantum entanglement.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TB : A chocolate bar
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TB : Wood, Metal, Pinterest and Blockchain technology is by far the most interesting one at the moment.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
TB : When i am traveling or when I am doing adventures, sports resp. when i am relaxed.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TB : Function, usability and aesthetics.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TB : The urge of creating, the wish of perfection, sometime getting lost in the paradox relation of form and functionality.And a lot more...
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TB : Pure Satisfaction
DI: What makes a design successful?
TB : If it fulfills the given conditions with a aesthetically fitting to his purpose + an extra touch of Function, usability and or sustainability
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TB : Aesthetics and function in combination with its purpose.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TB : Design has to be forward-looking sustainable and easy to understand.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TB : Design is here since day one and will stay forever. Everything needs to be „designed“ or is already designed from the nature.Some design fields will some day in some kind be more automated then today. for example Artificial intelligence…
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TB : I was part of the Game Masters exhibition at the Museum für Kunst und Gewerbe in Hamburg Germany from the 28. Oktober 2016 till 23. April 2017
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TB : Different cultures, the world wide web, exchange with friends, adventures sports and with a relaxing cigarette and a drink on the couch with good music and my Moleskin.
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?
TB : I pursue a kind of pragmatism and perfectionism in form of simple and reduced design in a contemporary context.
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?
TB : I am living in Hamburg Germany. The harbor of Hamburg and its maritim flair which comes with it.For me it feels like my design has always a kind of chilly distance to the observer, like the cold and stormy sea.
DI: How do you work with companies?
TB : I normally get booked locally from design agencies for a special project.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TB : Every designer has his own specialties.Searching creative portals for example behance, for a style which one is liked
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TB : To be completely into it i need a problem to be solved.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TB : My L16 Series Copper lighting, my self built drawer, bed, my old Cor Conseta sofa and the Kaiser Idell lamp. Pretty much more isnt there, i like to stick with the essentials.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
TB : Waking up, taking a shower, having porridge for breakfast, going by bike to an agency i work at the moment, having a good lunch, working round about till 19:00 o clock. Afterwards often meeting up with friends, having dinner and a chat. Coming home do some research on a project i am interested at the moment. Trying to fall asleep.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TB : Focusing on what you love, be patient, always believe in yourself, travel as much as you can and dont give up to learn something new.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TB : positives: i think as a designer you mostly want to be part of or create something new.negative: you analyze and categorize your surrounding by its look and feel, for example i am very influenced by the visual impression.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TB : Simplicity
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
TB : To be open for something new and to learn how to express what you want to say.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TB : My tool box, from a caliper rule to a band saw, the World wide Web, the Adobe Creative Suite and Cinema 4D, my feedly feeds and pinterest.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TB : If it is a free and self organized project i go with the flow. If it's not, I split the relevant parts of the project, for example research, first drafts etc. then I divide it through the whole amount of time in reasonable parts.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TB : From one day to a couple of years.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TB : What are you exactly designing?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
TB : To present my own product for the first time.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
TB : Geometry Global, Redeleit und Junker and Just Blue
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TB : Creating something totally new, because you have the most influence in every kind of aspect.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TB : I am up for new things and open to what comes next, whatever it may be.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TB : By myself, most of the time. Exchange in some way with other people is always good and should not be forgotten.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TB : There is a upcoming series i am working currently on. Rearranged pieces of some special processed objects I produced in the past 6 years. The Series is in its final stage, the main missing parts are some frames, which I want to build out of oak.
DI: How can people contact you?
TB : info@timobrunkhorst.de