We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi ("MHN").

M. Namayandegi has worked as a researcher and freelance designer since 2005 and developed various types of products including home appliances, lighting, and also solutions for disabled people. As a design researcher, he has published papers about creative design tools, user-centered design processes, and Ergonomics. He believes that good design creates a new experience for the users and improves human life while reducing environmental effects and increasing equality.

Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi Designs

We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi.

Designer Interview of Mohammad Hossein Namayandegi:

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?

MHN : I have a Master degree in Product Design from Tehran University of art. After my graduation, I have worked as a freelance designer and experienced developing various types of products. From my childhood, I was interested in drawing and I wanted to be a painter or graphic designer but during high school, I saw a documentary about workflow in a product design studio and how they developed a product, then thought this feels really enjoyable job to do.

DI: What is "design" for you?

MHN : Design for me is improving human life and creating a new experience.

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

MHN : I like to experience different kinds of projects. This can be more interesting and challenging. However, I really like to develop solutions for disabled people and make life easier for them.

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

MHN : That was about designing a series of pallets for automotive parts which used to feed the assembly line.

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

MHN : Product efficiency, functionality, producibility, and appearance, are important and making a balance between these factors always leads me to revise the solution several times.

DI: What makes a design successful?

MHN : I think good design requires an innovative combination of forms, materials, and technology. It should be efficient, satisfying and easy to use.

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

MHN : Firstly, I look at the product from the potential user's standpoint and think about how much it can be effective in improving my life. Then I look at the product as the producer and consider how easily I can produce the item and what benefits it has in the market.

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

MHN : Most of the time, I get inspired by people's experiences when I talk to them or just watching them doing daily routines, and sometimes, I get ideas from nature and think this form or function can be converted to an ideal product. So people and nature are my main sources for inspiration.

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

MHN : The process and applied tools in each step depend on the project, but in general, I follow these main phases: 1- Understand (Analyzing users, task, environment, trends, available technologies, etc.), 2- Define (Problems and their origin, Design Criteria, the ideal solution, limitations, etc.), 3- Make (Concept generation, development, and evaluation) and finally 4- Release (3D modeling, Rendering, providing, and technical data)

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

MHN : The sense of being creative and solving a problem is something that designers enjoy. However, in some points of the design process, you might feel really frustrated, and also you have to consider so many aspects and fulfill various demands.

DI: What skills are most important for a designer?

MHN : Creativity, good spatial perception, and presentation skills are crucial. A good designer has to be informed about the materials and production process, colors, and ergonomics too.

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

MHN : I utilize a wide range of software including Rhinoceros, Keyshot, AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, and Photoshop.

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

MHN : At the start of the project, I define the design process and steps which I should follow, then I assign exact time to each phase and consider a gap time between each phase as extra time, so I can be sure the project will be finished at the appointed deadline.

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

MHN : It depends on the complexity of the project but usually between three to eight months

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

MHN : I really like to pursue my work in a big design studio or international company, where I can work in a group with great designers, challenge myself and improve.

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

MHN : It depends on project timing and complexity

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

MHN : Currently, I am working on different projects including a modular sofa and a bathing system for disabled people.

DI: How can people contact you?

MHN : I can be reached by my email address: MHN.designplus@gmail.com