Mona Hussein Design House

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Mona Hussein Design House ("MHDH") for their original perspective and innovative approach to design as well as their creative lifestyle, we are very pleased to share our interview with our distinguished readers.

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

MHDH : I Received a Bachelors of Arts and Business Administration from the American University in Cairo. After graduation, I was offered a full time job as an account executive in the number one advertising agency, American. I eventually became the client relations manager for 3 years until it was time for me to begin my own lighting designs, as I always had a passion for art and design.

DL: What motivates you to design in general, why did you become a designer?

MHDH : I had this idea that I want to do something on my own, something I always have a passion for, and that was product design, specifically lighting units, and that’s how I started.

DL: Did you choose to become a designer, or you were forced to become one?

MHDH : Yes, I choose to become a designer, although my mind is business oriented, but I think I have the balance between both art and business.

DL: What do you design, what type of designs do you wish to design more of?

MHDH : I began with designing lighting units, then interior design, product design, landscape and architecture. I love product design and I still want to bring out more of it.

DL: What should young designers do to become a design legend like you?

MHDH : The first and most important thing is to love and feel passion about what they do, be honest and dedicated to work, always work hard and try to make things happen.

DL: What distinguishes between a good designer and a great designer?

MHDH : A good designer, is someone that keep things safe, but great designers would push the boundaries of design, they are not afraid to try something new and they will keep at it till it happens. They always think out of the box.

DL: What makes a good design a really good design, how do you evaluate good design?

MHDH : Generally, a good design should be aesthetically pleasing, innovative, and Avant-garde, for product design, it should be useful, derived from a need, accessible and timeless.

DL: What is the value of good design? Why should everyone invest in good design?

MHDH : Good design takes people to a higher level, it takes the product from being a product to a fine designed product, good design elevate you’re mood. Whether you are using it or not, it feeds your soul and imagination and makes you think.

DL: What would you design and who would you design for if you had the time?

MHDH : I would love to design a compound for the Elderly alongside one for the youth. Its purpose is to benefit both from each other.

DL: What is the dream project you haven’t yet had time to realize?

MHDH : I’m working hard to realize Mahally as an international brand.

DL: What is your secret recipe of success in design, what is your secret ingredient?

MHDH : You need to be a task oriented, set your priorities and organize everything so you can move forward and achieve what you really want. Talent alone is not enough, you just have to feed it by constantly seeing historical sites, traveling, attending exhibits and surfing the net for inspiration from nature and others.

DL: Who are some other design masters and legends you get inspired from?

MHDH : Philip Starck, Paula Lenti, Kelly Wearstler and Zaha Hadid.

DL: What are your favorite designs by other designers, why do you like them?

MHDH : Product Design by Patricia Urquiola

DL: What is your greatest design, which aspects of that design makes you think it is great?

MHDH : The Cove hotel in UAE, I custom designed and produced every single piece in the hotel.

DL: How could people improve themselves to be better designers, what did you do?

MHDH : Find their inspirations, be courageous and try something new, read and research, work hard and concentrate, organize their priorities and give each task a specific time to achieve.

DL: If you hadn’t become a designer, what would you have done?

MHDH : I would have been a Developer or a Chef.

DL: How do you define design, what is design for you?

MHDH : Design is the culture. Design just like poetry, music and art, they is part of the culture, when you see it, you are taken to a higher emotional level that makes your soul and mind pleased.

DL: Who helped you to reach these heights, who was your biggest supporter?

MHDH : My Team and we earned the clients trust.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MHDH : I have a clear vision, I see things clearly most of the time, when I have something in my head that I want to do, I go for it and make it happen. This comes along with persistence and hard work.

DL: What were the obstacles you faced before becoming a design master?

MHDH : I don’t see obstacles, I would rather say I had challenges that I faced to become a designer. All those challenges were my learning curve. Every obstacle made me better.

DL: How do you think designers should present their work?

MHDH : They should present their work by making use of all the latest technology available at hand.

DL: What’s your next design project, what should we expect from you in future?

MHDH : Fouka Bay Beach Landscape Design as well as the Architecture, Interior design and Landscape for Hyde Park Club House in Cairo.

DL: What’s your ultimate goal as a designer?

MHDH : I dream one day for Egypt to become strong in product design.

DL: What people expect from an esteemed designer such as yourself?

MHDH : Quality, efficiency and excellence, and it’s always good to surprise people with innovated designs.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MHDH : Triggering the emotions of designers. Pleasing the user. Supporting the manufacture. Setting the standards.

DL: What are you currently working on that you are especially excited about?

MHDH : I’m preparing for the Landscape Academy as well as Product Design Academy, also, I’m currently working on the Westown Mock up, a big event to celebrate 25 years of Mona Hussein Design House in collaboration with Egypt’s finest suppliers who have been teaming up with us throughout our journey. I also have Mahally outdoor collection in progress, and I’m excited about them all. In another direction, I started my own blog which I call “ Follow Me with Mona Hussein “ it’s about telling the stories of interesting places I visit in Egypt, where I get my inspirations.

DL: Which design projects gave you the most satisfaction, why?

MHDH : Many projects, basically the one’s that has no interference from the client, few of them were Na3na3, Cilantro, Tatweer Misr mockups, Alessi, Sultan Bey Hotel and Rihana Hotel.

DL: What would you like to see changed in design industry in the coming years?

MHDH : Increase and cultivate artisanal crafts and Take the sources into consideration.

DL: Where do you think the design field is headed next?

MHDH : Design will be crucial and will be very important part of everyone’s life, I think we will live in a very competitive scene, were innovative ideas are spreading everywhere and technology will lead.

DL: How long does it take you to finalize a design project?

MHDH : The length of time to design a project from beginning to end depends on the project itself, and the size or space that you're having to work with.

DL: When you have a new design project, where do you start?

MHDH : I start with the typical design process, first, I meet the client and understand their needs, and then we go back and forth in the design stages that includes pre-concept, concept design, schematic design and design development. Once we have the approval on everything, we move to the next stages, which is tendering, preparing construction drawings and be ready for several site visits and furnishing stages.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MHDH : I feel the most creative when I find a challenging task to work on.

DL: Do you think design sets the trends or trends set the designs?

MHDH : Designers set the trends, they have the imagination and creativity to start an idea out of nowhere, they have the ability to share innovative ideas and when it succeeds it becomes a trend and later everyone would follow.

DL: What is the role of technology when you design?

MHDH : It helps improve the quality of our work and support our ideas.

DL: What kind of design software and equipment do you use in your work?

MHDH : AutoCAD, 3D Max, Corona, Sketch-up, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lumion.

DL: What is the role of the color, materials and ambient in design?

MHDH : They are the whole design package, each one of them adds to the total design, if one of them fails, or comes short, the design becomes not balanced, I believe they are equally important, they are a team, each one is equally important.

DL: What do you wish people to ask about your design?

MHDH : Our inspiration, and how it developed throughout the whole design process.

DL: When you see a new great design or product what comes into your mind?

MHDH : Overwhelmed, and impressed, and curious how the designer reached that design, I would love to know the story behind, what makes him specifically do that design and sometimes I wish I was the one who designed it.

DL: Who is your ideal design partner? Do you believe in co-design?

MHDH : My Team and of course I believe in co-design.

DL: Which people you interacted had the most influence on your design?

MHDH : I’ve met so many people in my life, from simple handicraft to a billionaire, I believe they’ve all enriched the way I think, manage and design.

DL: Which books you read had the most effect on your design?

MHDH : Motifs and Pattern Styles Books.

DL: How did you develop your skills as a master designer?

MHDH : I always think of new ideas to present. I also feed my mind and stay updated with the latest trends and designs and what’s new, I read, research and the most importantly I get involved in all aspects of the whole design process in the office.

DL: Irrelative of time and space, who you would want to meet, talk and discuss with?

MHDH : I would love to meet, talk and discuss with Philippe Starck.

DL: How do you feel about all the awards and recognition you had, is it hard to be famous?

MHDH : Definitely, it is very pleasing for me and the whole team, it just shows the level of our creativity, which we think is above average, it motivates us to design the next project even better. Being famous humbles us more.

DL: What is your favorite color, place, food, season, thing and brand?

MHDH : Blue and Orange. El Gouna is my favorite place and I love salad and spring, and I would say MOOOI is my favorite brand.

DL: Please tell us a little memoir, a funny thing you had experienced as a designer?

MHDH : Well, calling my team with wrong names and discussing the wrong project names.

DL: What makes your day great as a designer, how do you motivate yourself?

MHDH : I find balance in my life, where I enjoy my work, my passion and I’m good at it. I enjoy my team and at the same time, I enjoy my family and my friends.

DL: When you were a little child, was it obvious that you would become a great designer?

MHDH : Since I was very small at nursery my drawings were very impressive for my teachers and throughout the years my art grades were always “A”.

DL: What do you think about future; what do you see will happen in thousand years from now?

MHDH : Technology will lead.

DL: Please tell us anything you wish your fans to know about you, your design and anything else?

MHDH : I’ll keep saying that talent alone doesn’t bring you anywhere, you have to work hard, feed your knowledge and experiences. It is an ongoing process of hard work and achievements.