Interview - Sungmy Kim

This week we present you Sungmy Kim, industrial, product and furniture designer from South Korea, currently living in Stony Brook, NY, Usa. Take a look what she had to say about her work, experiences and some small bits from her personal life. Here it goes:

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Have you always wanted to become a designer?

I was good at drawing since I was young, but I didn't know well about a designer as a job at that time. When I was a freshman in high school, I had thought that I wanted to be an astronomer because I was so interested in astronomy. Soon, I realized that becoming a designer is what I can be happy in my life.

Which project has given you the most satisfaction?

Ringo is the most. I was fully absorbed in user's needs and environments at first. Also, other teams in my company worked so hard for this because they were convinced of my concept and design. I think it is the reason that customers' satisfaction and sales performance of the Ringo are so high.

What types of books are on your bedside table?

These days, I’m reading “Design Activism” by Alastiar Fuad-Luke. I’m interested in appropriate technology and social change, and thinking about the role of designers for sustainable world.

What is the best moment of the day?

Well, when I’m in a hot bath tub.

What would be your dream project?

I can’t imagine the specific form of my project yet, but it can be so worthwhile that if my design is helpful to underprivileged people’s lives.

What type of music do you play while creating?

I don’t listen to music while creating. If I'm listening, I will be so into the music and can't work because I love listening and singing!

How important is craftsmanship in your design process?

I think craftsmanship is the most important factor to design even though a project is trifling.

Who is your hero at the moment?

My parents and parents-in-law.

Cat or dog?

Neither. I’ve never had a pet.

If you were a character from a cartoon, which one would you be? :)

Iron man! Smart, handsome, humorous, and has many clever iron bodies!

If you could do any other job what would you choose and why?

As I mentioned, I would be an astronomer. Or, I would be a travel guide or a guest house owner because I like traveling and meeting with various people from other town or countries!

Where could we find you on friday night?

Unfortunately, I would be at home because I recently moved to this town, Long Island, NY. I hope to be in Manhattan on Friday night soon!

What is the most inspiring pieces of furniture for you to design and why?

I admire Charles and Ray Eames and Finn Juhl as perfectly aesthetic furniture designers. Moreover, I like the bright ideas of Campeggi’s furniture.

Favorite blogs / sites etc.?

Facebook…?!! And I like my blog. http://meui-in-ny.tistory.com I’m sorry about that it is all written in Korean, but this blog is about my personal daily lives. After I made this blog, my family and friends don’t need to worry about me anymore.

 How would you define your personal work-life balance in terms of ratio (50/50 70/30 etc)

I recently turned into a freelance designer, so I’m trying to settle this issue.

What brings you joy?

Having good relationships with new people!

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Thank you Sungmy for your time and interview, we wish you a lot of new nice projects in the future. You can find her work on Behance

Wednesday interview - Katerina Kopytina

Katerina Kopytina is a product, industrial and furniture designer from Moscow. She was kind to answer our questions and show some of her great work. Enjoy:
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Have you always wanted to become a designer?

Yes, I always loved to make things, but being born in USSR I didn't know what design is. So when I grown up I was very surprised and excited looking at objects of Stark and Maurer. They were the first designers I remember. Now I changed my priorities but still keep warm memories about them.

Which project has given you the most satisfaction?

At the moment my favourite project is LightBean. Beside all the design aspects such as usability, sustainability, production process etc it's just very appealing. It's nice to have, to touch and to look at. 

What types of books are on your bedside table?

At the moment: James Burke 'Pinball effect', 'Endy Warhol Giant size' by Phaidon.

What is the best moment of the day?

20-minutes walk to the studio in Moscow downtown.

What would be your dream project?

I dream to redesign a city. I thought of it travelling in Russia's small cities. I can see how beautiful and happy they can be, but total disorder and apathy of government and people make it very sad. This project would be more about organisation and scenarios of activities which would force people to organise a local culture by local citizens. May sound weird from product designer but I think that the base of every successful project is a common sense. 

What type of music do you play while creating?

I think this playlist will clear this up:  http://radio.2dubs.com

How important is craftsmanship in your design process? 

While working on clients' projects I'm making simple paper models or 3d printing. There's no need to go too far with materials because you can't really imitate silicone or metal. Now I'm starting to work on simple natural materials such as wood, clay, ceramics. So I plan to dig into workshop and see what happens.

Who is your hero at the moment?

Steve Jobs, Wes Anderson and my grandfather, he is Great Chemist and Great Man.

Cat or dog?

Dog.

If you were a character from a cartoon, which one would you be? :)
Finn from Adventure Time!

If you could do any other job what would you choose and why?

I would be a scientist. Probably in the field of astronomy, chemistry or microbiology. 

Where could we find you on friday night?

If there is a cool exhibition opening or gig on in the town - you can find me there!

What is the most inspiring pieces for you to design and why? 

I like simple stuff made of simple materials. But this simplicity should be comprehensive. La Fionda as an example. It is a wooden car with iroquois that shoots with rubbers. So it's cool as for kids as for adults. 

Favorite blogs/sites etc.?

Oculto, Dezeen, ThisIsPaper

How would you define your personal work-life balance in terms of ratio (50/50 70/30 etc)

Work and life is the same process for me. Lets say working/not working is 70/30.

What brings you joy?

Adventures, trips, concerts, work, friends, yoga and many others.. )

For more work and info of Katerina, please visit her site or behance profile. We thank Katerina for time and wish her all the best in her future projects. 

Wednesday interview: Jorge Arbelo Cabrera

Today we present you Jorge Arbelo Cabrera, technical engineer in industrial design and post graduate in product conceptualization. He is mostly focused on industrial design, product design and furniture. Here is his answers for our blog, enjoy :)

Have you always wanted to become a designer?

Not always, when I was a child I wanted to be a forest ranger but since I remember, all my childhood I was always with a screwdriver, disarming all the stuffs of my house. I enjoyed a lot, the process of discovering the details of the objects like its engines, mechanisms, etc. But I started studying industrial design because it was the only engineering that didn't have chemistry. I'm lucky to work in my vocation by accident.

Which project has given you the most satisfaction?

The most important project for me is the "tubh chair" because it was the begining of my new carrer as industrial designer. Currently I am focused on industrial design, furniture and product design, but I started as a graphic designer. The tubh chair gave me the confidence to development my skills as an industrial designer.

What types of books are on your bedside table?

I enjoy reading books that can teach me something new. Now I am reading "A New Earth" by Eckhart tolle and a "Arduino programming" book.

What is the best moment of the day?

All the moments are the best. 

What would be your dream project?

Work in a huge workshop with all the machines, tools and materials that I could imagine and just fly with my creativity, without the pressure of time and money.

What type of music do you play while creating?

When I'm brain-storming, doing a research or I´m thinking in general, I prefer work without music so I can concentrate beter, but when I´m working with tools or drawing I listen to Jazz, rock or electronic music.

How important is craftsmanship in your design process? 

For me is the most important. The part that I enjoy the most in my job is when I work with my hands. There is a great phrase from Metropolis that says "The mediator between head and hands must be the heart!" and not the machine. I want to come back to the artesian way because nowdays it looks like if you want to produce a product you have to make more than 200.000 pieces in china, I believe that this idea is in crisis and we are coming back to the origins with the phenomenon "maker" doing you your own objects fitted better to your needs, for example with the 3d printers. I love the concept technology artisan.

Who is your hero at the moment?

My Hero is my Grandfather, who taught me to love handcrafts.

Cat or dog?

I love the dogs, all my live I have been living with dogs, currently with Lope

If you could do any other job what would you choose and why?

A survivor on a desert island, I think is a very poetic life, living easy in calm, fishing, building my stuffs with nature materials, sending messages in bottles and maybe some fights with unkonwn creatures.

Where could we find you on friday night?

Having dinner with friends or reading a book in my house. 

What is the most inspiring pieces of furniture for you to design and why? 

I don´t have one favourite piece of furniture, I like changes and I always do different things. I think that I can´t focus my inspiration in one piece, the inspiration has its own life and it's always changing. In my case the inspiration comes when I´m thinking of something new and different. Currently I´m studying arduino programing because I want to mix the electronic whith my ideas, I don´t know the solution but the way is very inspiring.

Favorite blogs/sites etc.?

Mocoloco, Designboom, The Creators project, Makezine...

How would you define your personal work-life balance in terms of ratio?

33/77 I spend more time in my personal life because is the place where I recharge the bateries and learn how to work with creativity and love.

What brings you joy? 

:) the joy comes easy, sharing with friends, living with love and didn´t putting off.

Thank you Jorge for this lovely interview, we wish you all the best in future projects. For more info about Jorge's work, please visit his web

Wednesday interview: Mats Seitz

Mats Seitz is a Swedish furniture designer, who was nice enough to answer a few questions for us:
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Have you always wanted to become a designer?
Not really, but I realized I would go for something creative since the last day in 6:th grade when my schoolteacher told me to use my drawing skills (I think he meant: thats your only hope)

Which project has given you the most satisfaction?

My door "Utkik", and the "Silent chair" in collaboration with designer Linus Berglund.

What types of books are on your bedside table?

Childrens books and a pile of unread design/ interior mags.

What is the best moment of the day?
20:00.

What would be your dream project?

My own home is my dream project, but to design a car would be nice.

Cat or dog?

Dog.

Who is your hero at the moment?

My kids.

If you were a character from Star Wars, which one would you be?

R2D2.

If you could do any other job what would you choose and why?
Maybe an actor, I think I have some hidden talents.

Where could we find you on friday night?
At home doing "fredagsmys".

Pepsi or Coke?
Both.

How would you define your personal work-life balance in terms of ratio (50/50 70/30 etc)?
90/10.

What brings you joy? 
My family and friends, music, beer, travel, design, money, work and when all those things are in harmony.

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Thanks Mats! 
To check out more from Mats take a look at his website.