Interview about Steel U Bar Table, winner of the A' Fine Arts and Art Installation Design Award 2022
Steel U, a design that was based on the past, created in the present and is made with the intension to inspire the future. This resulted in a combination of an reused steel tabletop that is supported by concrete legs which were destroyed by physical emotions. This way the design becomes literally a part of the person who the destroys concrete. The combination gave physical and mental challenges during the process, but eventually resulted in a design that gave fulfillment.
View detailed images, specifications, and award details on A' Design Award & Competition website.
View Design DetailsBy start thinking with the end in mind during the process, the direction was clear. By making the journey towards the end goal personal, every step was enjoyed. The concept of creating by destruction could be felt in the process, which made it a joy to execute.
I personally experience a growing lack of personality in the things around me. This can be from how people perform but also that the content is no longer relevant, as long as it shiny and gives people the impression that it is impressive at first glance it is okay. I don’t like that at all. I want meaning full connections with people and my designs.
The materials I selected will not lose structural strength during their process of gaining natural colors. Also the dimensions a so large that they can withstand the test of time.
Because of the big weight you must make a steel foundation within the concrete otherwise it will break out eventually. I therefore have hidden in the concrete a steel skeleton that provides the strength, and the concrete is there to create the emotional experience. To created the skeleton I combines old forging with 3D-engineering and plasma cutting.
Steel and concrete have a high density what creates high weight design by default. When this is not possible you need to turn towards other materials like aluminum or hollow designs.
Doing something with someone you care about makes the development of a design more fun to do. Also, you respect each other and therefore can go deeper into questions and explanations.
When you take time to make a design you will get a better end result because all pros and cons can be checked, and no decision has to be rushed. Sometimes you just have to wait to pick the fruit at the right moment, and when you do, it tastes exactly as you hoped.
I hope that we will keep on challenging the way we design. And that it is not just about what, but also about why and how. Sometimes we should stop talking about if it would work and instead, just start doing it and let the end result speak.
That when emotion is combined with knowledge, a material such as steel can be described as warm and welcoming. And the insight I have had, was that for me it is also about the journey and not just about the end result.
I have several design ideas that are fully based on personal stories but also about making people stop, think and reflect. The industrial materials I will always like because they can give beautiful colors without using paint. But I will always choice the right material for representing the emotion.
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