We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Henrich Zrubec ("HZ").
Henrich Zrubec aims for function in design, he believes that form should follow the function, especially in design. Inspired by work of Bauhaus and with the beauty of natural wood, he created several furniture objects. He is known for using the traditional folklore elements and crafts, transforming it into functional details. After 7 years working in London for several interior design companies, he moved back to Slovakia, where he started to build his own furniture workshop. He specials on CNC produced objects.
Henrich Zrubec Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Henrich Zrubec.
Henrich Zrubec Design - Drago Desk office table solution
Designer Interview of Henrich Zrubec:
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?
HZ : During my primary school days I always loved to draw machines and nature, so it was obvious that I wanted to continue.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
HZ : As a furniture and product designer I started to work on a small private interior projects during my study at Uni. And as a spare time job I have created a series of furniture sketches just for fun. I realised that there is more joy in creating furniture not whole interiors
DI: What is "design" for you?
HZ : Design is aesthetically and functionally balanced product, which helps man in everyday life.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HZ : Free standing furniture units.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
HZ : A bedside table for a bespoke bedroom.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
HZ : I am a night owl type, the ideas for the most of my projects were invented during our dog walking afternoons and sketching sometimes till early morning hours.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
HZ : Good design has to follow function, everything starts with the purpose of the product.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
HZ : I usually listen to the music during my work, so it varies from project to project. But of course it is always a joyful feeling of creating new things.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
HZ : Satisfaction, if design meets expectations.
DI: What makes a design successful?
HZ : When it is the right product for the right client.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
HZ : Functionality.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
HZ : Design is not just an object, it can be a solution to a worldwide problem. These days we have to aim for environmentally perfect design, which will be beneficial not just for humankind but whole Earth.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
HZ : The future of design has to be connected with nature, design has to we have to thing ecologically.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
HZ : I love to do dog walking with our Brita. I live on country side near woods, there is nothing better to take Brita out for an hour and think about next steps.
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?
HZ : I always work with the attention to detail. I like to understand and sketch the most of problems at the beginning, so I roughly know what has to be pushed to define the final shape/product.
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?
HZ : I live in the heart of Slovakia in a small village near old mining town, so the past breaths from everywhere. The environment always affects you, even if you don't want to. Living in countryside gives me an opportunity to be myself, not being affected by trends.
DI: How do you work with companies?
HZ : I usually contact them directly. All depends on project but the standard procedure is to sketch out all possible issues and problems and after confirmation with client I do the final output.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
HZ : Just be yourself with everything you do. World doesn't need more copies.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
HZ : The most positive thing being a designer is that you are always creating. The biggest negative is that you are not always valued by the time and effort you have invested in.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
HZ : To understand the client. The more you understand him, the more happy will be client and you.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
HZ : I am lost without a piece of paper with time schedule, what and when to do. It is very satisfying feeling when at the end of day you can thick all your notes as "done".
DI: What was your most important job experience?
HZ : That you need to understand that you will never be happy with your design. You just need to say to yourself, that it is done at some point.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
HZ : The next is a furniture for pets, specially for dogs. But I can't say more for now.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
HZ : Mostly I work alone, but I would be happy to cooperate, it could help me with my occasional procrastination.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
HZ : I am actually working on a furniture project for an Austrian hi-fi company, it will be announced till end of this year.
DI: How can people contact you?
HZ : Through my social accounts on Facebook or Instagram, or my website.