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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
MHDH : I’m working hard to realize Mahally as an international brand.
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.
MHDH : Philip Starck, Paula Lenti, Kelly Wearstler and Zaha Hadid.
MHDH : Product Design by Patricia Urquiola
MHDH : The Cove hotel in UAE, I custom designed and produced every single piece in the hotel.
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.
MHDH : I would have been a Developer or a Chef.
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.
MHDH : My Team and we earned the clients trust.
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.
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.
MHDH : They should present their work by making use of all the latest technology available at hand.
MHDH : Fouka Bay Beach Landscape Design as well as the Architecture, Interior design and Landscape for Hyde Park Club House in Cairo.
MHDH : I dream one day for Egypt to become strong in product design.
MHDH : Quality, efficiency and excellence, and it’s always good to surprise people with innovated designs.
MHDH : Triggering the emotions of designers. Pleasing the user. Supporting the manufacture. Setting the standards.
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.
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.
MHDH : Increase and cultivate artisanal crafts and Take the sources into consideration.
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.
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.
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.
MHDH : I feel the most creative when I find a challenging task to work on.
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.
MHDH : It helps improve the quality of our work and support our ideas.
MHDH : AutoCAD, 3D Max, Corona, Sketch-up, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Lumion.
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.
MHDH : Our inspiration, and how it developed throughout the whole design process.
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.
MHDH : My Team and of course I believe in co-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.
MHDH : Motifs and Pattern Styles Books.
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.
MHDH : I would love to meet, talk and discuss with Philippe Starck.
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.
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.
MHDH : Well, calling my team with wrong names and discussing the wrong project names.
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.
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”.
MHDH : Technology will lead.
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.
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