We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Gueston Smith ("GS").
Gueston Smith, founder and CEO of Guesscreative LLC and Head of Design at Kubed Living, stands out in the design world for his innovative approach to prefab structures and custom-modified shipping container spaces. A USC School of Architecture graduate, Gueston's journey was inspired by a promise to his late special needs sister, Talyia, fueling his passion for empathetic and accessible design. His work at Guesscreative transforms brand identities into entrepreneurial tools, while his designs at Kubed Living push the boundaries of eco-friendly and healthy prefab homes. Beyond architecture, Gueston is a full instructor of Jeet Kune Do, embodying the connection between mind and body in his personal and professional life. With a drive to create spaces that foster a sense of self and community, Gueston's designs are a testament to the power of creativity and imagination in overcoming humanity’s challenges.
Gueston Smith Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Gueston Smith.
Gueston Smith Design - Magic School Box Mobile Smart Classroom
Designer Interview of Gueston Smith:
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?
GS : I've been creative for as long as I can remember. I used to doodle on my homework & draw. I used to create forts in the woods. I customized everything I owned. I painted my bikes, chose to get my own name on custom jerseys, played create-a-player / customization playstation video games. As a teenager, I made a promise to my mother that I would design a home for her and my special needs sister. I wasn't able to do that, unfortunately. That was the beginning of my journey of becoming an impactful designer who has the audacity to try what brings me curiosity & puts in the work to grow and develop as a design thinker.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
GS : Guesscreative is a forward-thinking design company. We specialize in crafting impactful first impressions through innovative products such as mobile business trailers, branded shipping container structures, Electric Sports ATVs, signature apparel, designer sneakers, and positive mindset blog posts. Our mission is to empower entrepreneurs, businesses, institutions, and change-makers by providing them with assets to present themselves confidently and authentically.
DI: What is "design" for you?
GS : Good Design is the prism through which problems are strategically, creatively & empathetically solved.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
GS : I enjoy designing space. Our environment has such a powerful affect on our being. Our environment makes us feel things both consciously and subconsciously.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
GS : Such a broad question. I have several favorites. It depends on the design type. My favorite Car designs are the Aston Martin Vantage, the Ferrari 512 TR & the Rezvani Tank. My favorite shoe designs are my green & gold pair of T-Mac 2.0s and the Jordan XI's. My favorite historical building design is the Barcelona Pavilion by Mies Van Der Rohe. My favorite book design is the 50th Law by 50 Cent & Robert Greene. My favorite spiritual design is the design of self. I am fascinated with the concept that with awareness, intent patience and humility, one can truly sculpt the best version of him / herself.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
GS : I designed a corporate office cubicle floor plan layout for a defense company.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
GS : Suede / Youtube / Artificial Intelligence
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
GS : Wherever I am able to sit with my thoughts. Driving, Showers, Baths, Walks in Nature or after an enjoyable dance sessions.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
GS : The problem that needs to be solved. I then make sure it looks good.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
GS : Excitement. Curiosity. Empathy. Elation. Pleasure. Fixation / Focus / Flow. Other times, it feels like second nature and I feel nothing. I just allow my mind and hands to connect.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
GS : Excitement. Pride. Empathy. Elation. Pleasure. Admiration.
DI: What makes a design successful?
GS : A design needs to be easily understood, simple, intentional, empathetic, useful, aesthetically pleasing, detailed, honest, durable & functional.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
GS : I look at form. I decide if I am drawn to the design & then I try to understand what is its function. It it useful?
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
GS : We have as much responsibility as we can. If every designer strives to make empathetic design decisions
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
GS : Design will continue to evolve to be valuable to all industries and markets. Strategic design thinking as a collective can change the world. The more we are able to connect consciousness to design, the further we can evolve as humans. Real design = Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics, Consciousness or STEAM-C.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
GS : I’ve never created an exhibition for myself. I’ve actually never thought about it until now. I’d like to invest in creating one this year now, Thank You.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
GS : My design inspiration comes from my inner child. I was a kid who loved Create-A-Player / Car Customization Playstation Video Games, Explored the woods & forests, Developed within Hip Hop / R&B Culture, grew up in a Creative Loving Family. My source of inspiration is the belief in myself that my family encouraged me to explore. I used to sit on my video game to create the things I’d like to see in the world. With my architectural design experience, education and skillset, I am able to bring my ideas to reality. I am no longer playing the video game. I am bringing what I enjoyed creating on my playstation in real life. The idea is to provide value to the world so that I can in return create what the environment I want for me and my family.
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?
GS : Cool, Sleek, Thoughtful, Useful, Empathetic, Balanced, Fly, Innovative & Creative.
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?
GS : Los Angeles, CA but my roots are in Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas. I honestly feel more of a worldly influence. The essence of my design is rooted in my Blackness which isn’t a vision that is able to be expressed at a global scale often. I am grateful for the opportunity and growth of design as a respected skillset.
DI: How do you work with companies?
GS : Currently, we design and management the fabrication of modular and mobile structures. As we continue to grow, I’d like to create design partnerships with businesses to help them improve their products or offer Guesscreative edition of their product.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
GS : Have a conversation. Make sure they understand business and see their work. Assess their consistency. Be aware of ego and make sure they will not design what they want, as opposed to what you need. Assess their interest in the project.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
GS : I ask as many questions that I can think of to understand the client, their needs, their budget, their intent and their vision. From there, I can create something that makes sense, looks good and meets their requirements.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
GS : My creative bedroom, my gold tower item holder, my bowflex dumbbells, and my laptop / iPad / phone.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
GS : Everyday incorporates creative design work, reading, strategizing, business calls, eating something delicious, doing something active (boxing, martial arts hiking, basketball, sprinting), talking to family & friends, staying up with current events and listening to music (Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz, Rap).
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
GS : If you enjoy designing, do it more. Act on what brings you excitement as much as you possibly can, to the best of your ability, with no expectation of what will happen. Your thoughts create your reality so think the thoughts you want to have. Allow negative ones to pass. Comparison is the thief of joy. Be patient. Don’t give up. Create more than you do now. Live more. Love more. Enjoy who you are as a person. Design your Life the way you want it to go. Be the change you want to see in the world. Use your skills to make something happen. https://www.guesscreative.com/post/lessons-from-gaming-for-a-successful-life https://www.guesscreative.com/post/never-stop-improving-the-mindset-of-a-great-designer https://www.guesscreative.com/post/designing-for-a-better-future
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
GS : Oftentimes, you see things others do not which means you may feel isolated at times. & Oftentimes, the profession isn’t as celebrated unless you’re at the top of the field. But the validation of others doesn’t outweigh the feeling of being able to see and intentionally create the world you live in. A true designer can create his own blissful life and professional experience. It’s difficult. It takes a long time and it takes continuous effort, unwavering confidence and the work needs to be put in.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
GS : Have a concept. What are you designing for?
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
GS : It depends on the direction that the designer wants to take. A designer can design their own world or they can design the world of someone else. I believe that have the willingness to take calculated risks is invaluable. The designer needs to have the eye. A designer needs to be able to see a way to make the world a better place for all of us.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
GS : AutoCAD & Google Sketch are my tools. I’d like to learn archicad but I haven’t taken the time to sit down and learn since I’m not sure if we can modify shipping containers on there. I definitely have to include the help of artificial intelligence. It helps me save so much time. I just came across a brilliant book by Walter Herbst, called Mastering Product Innovation.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
GS : Sometimes it is difficult. If I’m in flow, a whole day can pass me by. I make sure that I get some sun, some good food and a workout in.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
GS : It depends on the type of project.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
GS : “Do You Like What You Do?”
DI: What was your most important job experience?
GS : Working with Kubed Living, designing custom shipping container homes for single family residential property owners allowed me to be able to control my time and take time to explore my own passions, curiosities and understandings of who I am / what I can contribute to this world while getting better at my craft.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
GS : I’ve designed for NFL Players, Corporate Companies, Start-Ups, Black Innovative Companies, College Universities, and Business owners.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
GS : I enjoy designing creative shipping container homes, custom modular structures, mobile business trailers & affirmation clothing. I enjoy the feeling of creating something that makes my clients feel inspired, happy, pleased or grateful.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
GS : I look to create to the scalable, replicable mobile business experiential Trailers for companies globally. These will allow companies to have a deployable physical environmental asset at their disposable.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
GS : I develop the designs myself and then work with my visual artist to make things look polished.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
GS : I have three homes under construction with Kubed Living that will be exceptionally pleasing to complete. One home is a 3500 SF modern fireproofed steel modular home with a 1950’s cantilevered triangulated roof overhang. It is intriguing and the client loves it but it is a heavy challenge. We are working with a good team.
DI: How can people contact you?
GS : Visit www.guesscreative.com or email gueston@guesscreative.com
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
GS : Design the world you want to see & then bring it to life. Lead by example. Let the next person see that they can do more for themselves too. I am grateful for the platform. I hope you enjoy the Magic School Box Design. It brought me joy to design.