We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Takis Samartzis ("TS").
Takis Samartzis is a pioneer . His ideas are revolutionary and far beyond the ordinary . He is ahead of his time . He designs from bicycles , sports cars , sportboats, and anything can move to very hi speeds.He is a real "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" .He makes the trials himself of the products he designs and constructs.
Takis Samartzis Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Takis Samartzis.
Designer Interview of Takis Samartzis:
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?
TS : I studied mechanical engineering and the design was very interesting. Since childhood, I have been a step in the design of cars and boats, and that has led me to deal with the design of fast and luxurious pleasure boats with a special aesthetic
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
TS : Our company TROPIDA designs and manufactures its products. Its goal is products of high performance and functionality combined with luxurious comfort and excellent quality of construction. Its vision is to contribute to the protection of the environment through the research and application of electrification as a main propellant but also as a hybrid application
DI: What is "design" for you?
TS : Design means a harmonious aesthetic that embraces functionality
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
TS : Sports car, hi performance boats, and bikes
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
TS : The most recent and favorite design is COSMIC39 the 12m rib.COSMIC 39 is an evolution among the R.I.B shipyarding.Not only the hull design and costruction , but also the design and the implementation of the deck. I wanted to combine speed with comfort , appealling both the speeders as well as the luxury lovers .
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
TS : The first thing i designed was a 10m rib (20 years ago) , which it turn to be one of the best globaly
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
TS : My favorite material is carbon fiber.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
TS : When i isolate in my countryhouse for a few days.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
TS : the coexistence of beauty and practicality
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
TS : Ekstasis of creativity
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
TS : Joy and agony for the perfect result
DI: What makes a design successful?
TS : A successful project must combine functionality, harmonious aesthetics by eyecaching attention and being able to get into the practical living
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
TS : My aesthetic and if the design find the practical goal which was design for
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
TS : Create beautiful and functional products that will not turn into garbage
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
TS : Ι think the design future is minimalism and soft shapes
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
TS : My last exhibition was in 18 EAST MED YACHT SHOW in ATHENS. The next it will be at DUSSELDORF BOOT at 2020
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
TS : From the nature's movement observation . The wisdom of mother nature is the only think that inspires me
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?
TS : My design is agressive, bold,renovative, non convetional, radical.
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?
TS : Greece has deep cultural roots and this inheritance has influenced me deeply.Living in Greece is a previlege.
DI: How do you work with companies?
TS : By mutual trust and confidence
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
TS : A good designer must have pioneering ideas and been able to harmonize these proposals with the purposes for which he has to work for
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
TS : I use a platform that puts the data and I try to harmonize the aesthetics without omitting these data
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
TS : A painting from a Greek famous painter,( MYTARAS) A vintage Jukebox (from 1940), Some plates with Dali paintings, a miniature wooden sculpture of a sailing boat from my grandfather
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
TS : My day life is dedicated to my work, my family, and my sports
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
TS : Never give up your dreams.Have free spirit. Dare to do unconvetional things
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
TS : Negative is that you are volnarable of coping your work Positive is that you are connected to the inner child thus you are creative
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
TS : Be innovative and radical
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
TS : fantasy, and creativity
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
TS : Simple pencils, rubbers,rullers,sheets of paper. At the next stage i use rhino software,and my desktop
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
TS : My family and my work team helps me to cope with this
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
TS : Approximately two years
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
TS : How do you come up with this idea?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
TS : Designing for a famous car industry a new sport car project
DI: Who are some of your clients?
TS : Bussinesmen
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
TS : Fast cars, fast boats, and airplanes
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
TS : My new project is a new 10 m r.i.b with new innovative characteristics
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
TS : I prefer to work by myself
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
TS : I am working the construction of COSMIC 39
DI: How can people contact you?
TS : By e-mail and by phone
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
TS : No , thank you