Felipe Ferrer

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Felipe Ferrer ("FF") 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?

FF : Undergrad in architecture in Mexico and Peru and a Masters degree in Advanced Architecture Science in Columbia University in NYC

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

FF : Possibility of making things better

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

FF : It was never a choice, it was a very natural process

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

FF : Buildings. I'm pursuing to design more interactive designs.

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

FF : Keep on designing but don't leave the entrepreneur side of the business

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

FF : Capacity of synthesis

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

FF : It works, looks and feel better

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

FF : Good design should work better and last longer, it should make life easier, better and more beautiful.

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

FF : Elon Musk mars housing.

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

FF : My own house.

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

FF : Something you don't expect

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

FF : Artist like Olafur Eliasson, Banksy, Sci Fi writers and film directors, atmospheric musicians, etc

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

FF : Luis Barragan because of the atmosphere in the house, magic like.

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

FF : Our presentation card. Its completely unexpected, its perverse and does what its suppose to do perfectly whitch is to cause a great first impression.

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

FF : Whatever increase the capacity of perception, analysis and synthesis.

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

FF : Advertising

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

FF : Anything well though and beautifully executed.

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

FF : First my parents and then my wife

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

FF : Curiosity

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

FF : Getting a real client

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

FF : It always depends to who. But as a rule of thumb the most simple way as possible.

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

FF : An application that mixes urbanism, design, media. Virtual presence.

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

FF : To make people's life better and therefore the planet.

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

FF : Hopefully one would expect to make something better and more beautiful.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

FF : It start with making a persons life better, then design can help how we interact with each other.

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

FF : An app that connects people and places using their mobile devices.

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

FF : AGP factory and offices because the client was the most satisfied.

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

FF : Engaged more with our biology and more seamless

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

FF : User experience based design, and tailored made for mass consumption.

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

FF : It always depend on the complexity of the project, although sometimes very simple projects can take a lot of time and some very complex ones thru a rational approach can be relatively fast.

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

FF : Researching the problem, sometimes starting from the details, others from form and others from program.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

FF : Less is more

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

FF : Good design don't follow trends.

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

FF : One of the best tools

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

FF : PCs. 3Dmax and CAD

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

FF : They are tools to get the right atmosphere in the space.

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

FF : Why did you locate the boardroom hovering over the lobby?

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

FF : It just feel good, like seeing someone beautiful that also having a great personality.

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

FF : Anyone that is proactive in the design process is good. Discussion of ideas is always better.

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

FF : Luckily for us, this time, the client

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

FF : Ornament and Crime by Adolf Loos

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

FF : Learning from the masters, working for them and then finding your own voice.

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

FF : Leonardo da Vinci always puzzled me how would he be just as a regular person, have some beers with him, talk about happiness

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

FF : I'm not famous.

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

FF : White, NY, meat, summer, iPhone and Pixar

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

FF : Pulling an super stressful all-nighter because we confuse the date of the deadline, we finish one day before.

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

FF : Designing is fun for me, if I didn't need to make a living I would do it for free.

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

FF : I always wanted to work as a designer and having great clients.

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

FF : We'll be able to leave our body consciously, from there anything goes.

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

FF : One of the reasons we are happy with our design is that it changed for good the way of working in the Factory.