We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Janne Halttu ("JH").
LedStore.fi entrepreneur who has built 4 detached houses for his family and renovated several properties. 20 years of construction experience has given me a lot of knowledge about structures, as well as electrical work for several houses. I am an expert in Led lighting, I write articles and I am a lighting designer.I often help clients with electrical and structural issues related to lighting and house building.
Janne Halttu Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Janne Halttu.
Janne Halttu Design - Tunnelma CCT Led Lighting
Designer Interview of Janne Halttu:
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?
JH : Actually I have always been interested in functional design and astetics. I have strong need for no compromises attitude for product development and design. Product design have always started for asking:"What would I want?". This was really need to develop product line that halves our warehouse stock, but same time make it more versitile.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
JH : LedStore.fi is Finnish small company that sells mostly products that our design or approved and tested by us. We have had long relationships with our manufacturers and we keep it important that, customers can come back in ten years and ask for spare parts. Because we will always have spareparts in stock for even olders models. We have 3 person team to do also lighting design, so me keep pushing lighting design ideas for regular households and test ideas. Ww do about 500 lighting design projects every year. We also are one of the last real compnies with showroom (multiple rooms, such as: Sauna,showerroom, toilets, kitchen, livingroom, etc..) and customer service with real knowledge about building houses and lightind design.
DI: What is "design" for you?
JH : Design is beautiful and functional.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
JH : Indirect Lighting.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
JH : It must be this TUNNELMA CCT changeable lighting family. Im Proud of whole project. It has now about 55 lights in ti.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
JH : No. I have designed all downlights for us to sell.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
JH : Zigbee as Smarthome system, but Aluminum as material because its essential for led lights, but easy to mold into any needs.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
JH : When I get need from customer.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
JH : Functionality.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
JH : Nothing really, its really just work.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
JH : Happiness, sure!
DI: What makes a design successful?
JH : It works as intended.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
JH : Functionality, absulutely.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
JH : Use materials with good recycling value.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
JH : In Lighting, its quite stale now.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
JH : We only take part in Local small exhibitions, 2 times every year at Helsinki Expo center.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
JH : I honelty enjoy most doing regular lighting design with people. I can see different buildings and come up with ideas for lighting design. Different house designs give different ideas.
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?
JH : Scandinavian degigns. I like black and white. Modern.
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?
JH : Finland Capital area.
DI: How do you work with companies?
JH : Fine, about 50% of our customers are contractors and electricians.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
JH : Thats hard one. I hava no idea.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
JH : Its very straight forward. I have need. I put down requirements and just oush them somehow into product design. THere is always someone smarter engineer to figure out finer electrical details.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
JH : Finnish classic: few Secto 4201 on top of kitchen table. Our Kitchen/Livingroom area. I really dont collect design elements.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
JH : Usully starts at 6.30 and then I feed our dog and let her out. Then by 07.00 in at Office doing morning workout (I built gym for our personel!) and shower. Black coffee and eggs at 08.00. Emails and talk at kitchen. We open doors at 08.30 for customers. Then its Writing emails, ansvering phone, servicing customers that come to showroom and sometimes building something new to our showroom. I close at 17.00 and head home, usually stop to buy something for dinner and then make it. After dinner i usually sit down at sofa with laptop and start writing content to our blog for few hours. Then its just Netflix and chill for coule hours.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
JH : Im not in position to give that kinf of advice, but just make design functional. Would YOU buy it?
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
JH : Positive is that im in control, negative is tham im responsible.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
JH : Its gotta be functional.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
JH : In my field, is must be electronics basics and building code.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
JH : Pen and paper, Photoshop.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
JH : Daily rutines, and week has 168 hours of working time..
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
JH : 3 to 12 months.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
JH : What? That simple?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
JH : Sales, with 100% provision based salary. It makes you honest, hard working and it prepares for runnig your own business.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
JH : Not naming any individuals, but our house projects are at out gallery. https://ledstore.fi/blog/kuvagalleria/
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
JH : Lighting design, because every one is different.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
JH : Hopefully staying healthy and everybody I work with is happy.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
JH : Mostly me, but difficult tech advice is from factory engineers.
DI: How can people contact you?
JH : Email: info@ledtore.fi or +358 (0)50 598 7101
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
JH : Just keep on trying!