1. What made you want to become a designer in the first place?
I didn’t even know what a designer was until I was in my twenties. Luckily I was taking an Engineering degree at Imperial College in London which was right next door to the Royal College of Art – we used to go there for lunch and that’s how I found out about the world of design and decided I wanted to be a designer.
2. Where did you study design?
Royal College of Art and everywhere I’ve ever travelled.
3. What was the first thing you designed?
Probably a sand-castle back home on the beach in Scarborough.
4. How do you define good design?
For me, good design has to solve a problem or need.
5. What would you be if not a designer?
Well, I was training to be an Engineer, I used to work in a steelworks in Sheffield, but I think I’d have ended up being a gardener. Still might.
6. Which design of yours are you most proud of and why?
I did a couple of lights for IKEA a few years ago – Hago, a table lamp & Bogsprot,a wall lamp. I’ve had one of the Bogsprots next to my bed ever since and I have to say it’s a damn fine reading lamp. Also, I still get emails from distraught people who’ve smashed the glass shade on their Hago lamps somehow and are desperate for a replacement but now it’s out of production. That means a lot to
me, I only wish I could help them out.
7. Anything in your career you wish you’d done differently?
Absolutely, but to use one of my favourite quotes “I never look back, darling! It distracts from the now.” (Edna Mode, The Incredibles).
8. Which designers do you most admire?
Loads of them – all for different reasons… so in alphabetical order here’s a few
that come to mind….
Achille Castiglioni
Harry Bertoia
Michael Beirut
Konstantin Gric
GTF
Industrial Facility
William Morris
Gwenael Nicolas
George Nelson
Dieter Rams
Davin Stowell
9. Which product do you wish you’d designed/do you think is an example of good design?.
I just bought a Air-O-Swiss evaporative humidifier (AOS E2441) for my daughter’s bedroom – I liked it so much I bought one for myself.
10. Tell me about your design style at home?
Affordable !
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