Johann Sigmarsson

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Johann Sigmarsson ("JS") 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?

JS : When I were four years old, nearly five I got meningitis. When discovered the doctors told my mother I would die that night. It was 1974 at the Christmas time. I got disabled from right side of my body and lost speech. Next years went into building my self up from the sickness, so I was much from school in my childhood. I had to exercise from being right handed to my left and to learn to walk again. I grew up with parents who were running a big discotheque in Reykjavík. They builded the house for the club. My father sometimes brought my empty wine bottles and house painting from their work. I colored the bottles. It was always lot of different people around in my childhood, always lot of things happening both in our house, discotheque or in the neighborhood were I grew up. I was animal fan. I raised pigeons, fishes, birds, mouses and rabbits. I was building the animals sheds myself. When I was nineteen my father committed a suicide. He had tried it for thirteen times before it happened. He had gone bankrupt and my mother left him for another man 3 years before. My family was splitting up. Nearly no one would hire me for a paid position because of my disability. That’s why I had to learn to work my own different jobs. Creation was always on my mind. That was making me independent because no one wanted to hire me. Independency is very important for creativity. Education: 1985 – 1986 – The Reykjavík Technical College – Metalwork and mechanical engineering. 1986 – 1987 – The Reykjavík Technical College – Technical Drawing. 1988 – 1990 – The Reykjavik School of Visual Art – Paintings.

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

JS : I always been productive in everything, so for instinct I nearly worked all positions in filmmaking for less, or no money at all. To create art, set dressing, art directing, house paintings, to fix old different designs together and so on and let it work. It’s maybe a new prototype? It’s all training you to see new designs. It’s kind of experimental to put things together for finding out new good design. It will also practice your eyes for it. I once had girlfriend from Sweden, but she lived in the Icelandic countryside. She was going to move to me in Berlin, but she had two dogs and one of them was heart sick and could’t fly, so I had to move back to Iceland, to stay closer to her. Everything in her shed was in boxes and we didn’t have a bed. I went to the store and bought some material for building shelfs, but what we actually needed was a bed, so I builded a bed. When our friend came to visit I showed him the bed. He ordered one for his wife. That was the idea.

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

JS : I didn't choose to become a designer. Design picked me up and I was, one can say forced to create a bed on my own for a girlfriend. I had unconsciously created some design before by taking some old stuff and putting it together so it was functioning alright. I never thought of it to be a designer.

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

JS : I wish to create and design what pop up to my thoughts. If I need it, someone else can need it as well. Is it beautiful? Is it comfortable? Is it practical? What is it, what’s the use for it? What's the story about it?

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

JS : To speak about the truth, I'm no legend, but you have to have interest to create a design and go for it. It doesn't matter if you do lot of mistakes. Don't take it seriously, just learn from it. Everybody makes mistakes. Be with open mind and be easy on it. If it doesn't work out what you're doing, just put it to a shelf and stop thinking about it for a wile until it comes bursting out. If you want it don’t let anybody tell you to forget it. It doesn’t matter if get denies from professionals, companies, institutions, financers or funds. It’s alright don’t take it seriously. You just need one yes. In my life time I have got thousands of refusals. Don’t take it personally and don’t let it put you down. It’s just how some people act. Let it build you up. If you get one yes out of lot of denies. Stick to it. That can be your go for it.

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

JS : Great designer just have to give all their efforts and creativity to the project they’re doing. The projects don't have to be complicated and often the best solutions come in simplicity. For example we can talk about the "I Love NY" advertising campaign. The logo was designed by graphic designerMilton Glaserin 1976 in the back of a taxi and was drawn with red crayon on scrap paper. It is everywhere today in different cities at variance objects. It was fast, easy, simple and had amazing impact around the globe for decades.

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

JS : Creative thinking is the main driver of innovation, with the design profession playing a major role in shaping ideas towards value-added solutions. Good design is primarily about better functionality for the user, which can include the development of new products, services, processes or communication channels. The idea that design plays an important role in the process of innovation has been recognized among well-known technical and economic experts for some time. Great design is when the object function well, shape of it is magnified, enjoyable and easy. The projects must reflect quality and be effective, include creative thinking, clever solutions, high-quality implementation, an emphasis on aesthetics and professionalism in working methods. The projects are also considered to be user-friendly, innovative and have a positive impact on quality of life, value creation and sustainability. Great design will always stay classic.

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

JS : Investing in professional design shows that your business values professionalism and sends a powerful message to potential clients or customers. You only have one chance to make a first impression, and using a professional designer helps you make it as effective as possible.Good design makes a strong first impression. Good design is aboutusing colors, shapes, textures, space, forms, images, and content in a harmonious, balanced way. Good design starts with a strong brand. Decoration is a big part of people, thou it’s your company, your house, your car, in fashion, in music, in films, in art or your style. Design is everywhere.

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

JS : I’m with nearly open minded for everything, but though I would never do anything concerning war business or that industry. I would never work for the army.

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

JS : I really don’t know? The project comes if it will pick me up.

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

JS : I just go after the heart if I need something and nothing is around. I try to create a design. I am not working as a designer for others, but of course I would consider that with open mind if somebody would like to hire me for designing.

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

JS : It’s so many good and broad aspects of designers for everything in this material world. Some of the designs are classic, some of it turns up new methods in way of living which is very good. I like good designers.

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

JS : Oh it’s huge of favorites and good designs around. It can be lot of different things why I like them. What I like the most today are designers methods about the green environment, as well as them who are recycling and using old materials and turning it into new designs. It can be thousand designers, but only one is excellent.

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

JS : I like the chair I was finishing in February ’25 The Old Man and the Sea. I like the shape of it, it look good and its comfortable. I like the story behind why I were creating it. Its design with storytelling, the recycled wood, the sailors, fishes, ships and the life at the harbor for over 100 years. It also reminded me on the book by Hemingway.

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

JS : I did nothing. I just had rough path completely without anything, but I had idea, wanted to create and that was what I did. It is old saying in Icelandic; Necessity teaches a naked woman to spin.

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

JS : For me? I am Artist, Designer, Filmmaker, Carpenter and many other things, good and bad. I am always learning some new way of living.

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

JS : Design is one of those things people are having a discussion, arguing or debating about. It’s important.

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

JS : I got the idea myself because Reykjavik city was taken the old harbor and wanted to throw it away, saying that in the news. That harbor have served our income. The planks from the harbor was looking horrible. I took plank from it and dried it. I planed one third of and there was this beautiful wood. I soon discovered that much of the material was perfect for what I had in mind, i.e. stylish handmade furniture, sculptures and artwork. Aside from being environmentally friendly, this recycling was also a kind of resurrection.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JS : The abovementioned wood from the harbor took me on a journey for making designer out of me.

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

JS : I did lot of mistakes and got over it, or I was finding a solution to make it better.

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

JS : They should send it at professional events and get distribution for it.

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

JS : Only the fish knows. Marked as fish in the sand.

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

JS : I just design for me, but if somebody else can use it it’s good. If it’s a chair that’s something somebody else can use.

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

JS : I really don’t know. I haven’t research or analyze it.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JS : In many ways design can help to create better societies and cities from kindergarten, schools, Restaurants, Hotels, roads, to city lines, public parks and squares...

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

JS : I am working on a project called THE EXHIBITION CLUB- Organization. The dream is to be with Exhibition Galleries in few capitals in Europe, titled under the branch of THE EXHIBITION CLUB, presenting the same artists. It is planned to seek collaboration with a software company to build an art sales app that introduces the artists, the artworks, their size and price. It will be possible to pay for the artworks through payment gateways. There will also be more artworks on display in the app from the artists in question and their larger CVs and other information that is worth knowing.

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

JS : The bed I designed and builded for my x girlfriend, don’t ask me why?

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

JS : I would like to see more of designers methods about the green environment, as well as them who are recycling and using old materials and turning it into new designs.

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

JS : Hopefully at the abovementioned field.

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

JS : It depends on what time I have to do it, otherwise you can be with the same project for a long time.

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

JS : It depends on the project.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JS : Take it easy at the beginning and think it up from different sides. Its few ways to do it.

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

JS : Design sets the trends, but it also depends on the story behind it.

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

JS : I first make drawings or photo, then I build a prototype and if its good I measure it out.

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

JS : Old computer software. Then I use wood at the beginning and simple working tools.

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

JS : It depends on what you’re designing. In almost everything I’m used to break the rules.

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

JS : They can ask for anything which pop-up in their mind. I’ll try to answer if I can.

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

JS : Wow, that’s brilliant.

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

JS : I don’t know? I haven’t had a design partner yet. I believe in co-design, though it has to be on diplomatic scope.

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

JS : I think I was learning it slowly from myself because of my different experiences in my rough private, social and independent working life such as; renovating and painting houses, filmmaker, artist and taking different jobs in my past.

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

JS : I used to have DVD’s with collections of design and I was reading some books about this main designers which did a lot for this field.

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

JS : I always start at zero.

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

JS : Arne Jacobsen, Le Corbusier, Walter Gropius… aka…Bauhaus, Jesus Christ, God and many others?

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

JS : I always start at zero.

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

JS : It depends on the mood.

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

JS : Few days before I got to Como Lake at last time. I got totally drunk in Berlin with my friends. I felt down and had a big wound on my forehead. Before I got to the ceremony at A. Design Awards. I walked into some make-up Artist shop at the main street and asked the woman working there to give-me a make-up face lift to my wound like in a Rock Star style, so I could go to the Awards. It seemingly worked out. Nobody noticed.

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

JS : When I finish a prototype and is pretty gratified with it.

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

JS : I always start at zero.

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

JS : Were should I start?