Noushin Jafari

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Noushin Jafari ("NJ") 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?

NJ : I started by studying architecture in Paris /France, and I have to admit my appreciation about french architecture schools accentuation on arts which is unique , and that's when I found my interest in design .After the masters degree in 2011 I went to Iran and got inspired by local artisans over there , then I started Interior Design ( continuing ) education courses in Hunter College in NYC in September 2015 . all along the way I took part of different kinds of internships and experiences , which I believe they had a very strong influence on my professional course.

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

NJ : I enjoy creating and finding solutions , details matter so much in design process and I have this manic to details though (lol)

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

NJ : I don't believe that anyone can "become" a designer by being forced to , it needs so much passion and patience beside the skills that would not happen by getting forced to . about me , I never had thought about my title , I just discovered my passions and took them seriously and they led me here where I am now , and who knows where they bring me tomorrow :)

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

NJ : I mostly enjoy the "design process " , no matter I'm working on an object or an urban site . I wish to design a whole house , from A to Z , architecture to the fork and spoons , everything .

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

NJ : Well , I consider myself at the start point of a long long journey . I can't say anything else than what everyone knows already ; passion , patience , work and experience

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

NJ : Well , I don’t get the meaning of "great" designer actually , all I can mathematically say is ; all great designers are good designers . I don’t think that I got your question properly .

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

NJ : Tricky question ! As tastes are so much involved with the design , judging them would be a hard one .but there are always factors that can not be ignored , such as: Harmony , Style , Function , Sustainability and of course budget (!)

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

NJ : Design is a quality of lifestyle , so then a "good" design as a lifestyle matter makes so much sense , right ? And I have to admit I feel so great to live in an era that Design matters and thrives more and more day by day .

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

NJ : My own house

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

NJ : Well , Generally I think having an open spirit is a gift to anyone , especially to designers because they can take advantage of that sensibility and bring it to their work .And also staying connected to the outside world ,to the music , fashion , visual arts , cinema , nature , variant communities of people , ….

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

NJ : Wow , I can give you an infinite list of them lol . I can say that I love Japanese design attitudes , Scandinavian furnishing styles , American midcentury's …. and a lot more

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

NJ : Being a designer and having your own style is a hard matter , to me it's an everyday workout . I think It's more like being an active person in the most things you can do , getting updates , adjusting yourself with contemporary time you are living in , and having an eye towards the future , and this happens only if you are connected to your contemporary art , music , cinema , …. market , new materials

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

NJ : I even don’t want to think about anything else ! Seriously ! Being a designer is not a title or job , it’s a lifestyle , a filter in front of your eyes that you see the world through it

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

NJ : Art of living Art of solving problems in a sophisticated way

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

NJ : My father ! He supported me in every step I took since I was a child and still goes on

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

NJ : Tripplel P ; Persistence , Patience ,Passion

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

NJ : I mostly had , and still do actually , a huge problem with the pedagogic system of design/architecture academies . Where you are supposed to grow your ideas , considering each student is a potentially great future designer with unique tastes and styles .. , and in academies students are treated the same as Medicine school students . Passing through tests and getting evaluated by the same scale as all others , and of course depending on the teacher's tastes too ! Well , this is a poison to creative careers I believe

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

NJ : They should get published so that more people could reach to them , making connection between designers and make an international , borderless design society .

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

NJ : I'm so focused on Interior designing now , and I can promise you to hear about it in a very close future

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

NJ : To stay close to the society I'm working with and for . And My designs make people more comfortable and happier

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

NJ : Miracle (lol )

DL: How does design help create a better society?

NJ : I think Design gives people a kind of quality , once they taste it , it suddenly becomes a need to them . Design should communicate with people to get them involved more and more , and that's why I profoundly believe in pre-design studies , psychologically , sociologically , politically ...

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

NJ : I'm working on a "music hall "'s interior design and space planning , and I'm super excited about it . This is a personal project ,As a music fanatic I attend music venues so frequently , I've seen some spatial needs in music halls either for the audience and the playing bands , which I work on them as a personal project in my free time . Every single time I work on it I see myself in that music hall and enjoy instantly

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

NJ : The ones built are so satisfying in a different level . When you see the lines you drew came to life , is so miraculous

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

NJ : To absorb variant ranges of tastes more and more And I think it is on a good track already

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

NJ : I think it's only the beginning ! It will go in all directions and goes more specified , more intelligent , with higher technologies involved

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

NJ : It totally depends ! Depending on the project we are talking about . Designing a pencil by myself takes different time than designing the same pencil with co-designers , and so about the scale , location , deadlines … lots of things..

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

NJ : Again , it all depends on the project I'm working on , varying from an object to a building or an urban project

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

NJ : Never give up

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

NJ : They both affect each other , I can not say where this loop has been started but the thing I'm sure about is that they interact with each other constantly and eternally

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

NJ : Well , I'm so into hand sketches and physical models , especially at the beginning , but I can not ignore the technology as a powerful tool that helps me present my ideas

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

NJ : Rhinoceros , 3D Max , Photoshop , Sketchup , autocad … basically everything .

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

NJ : I get inspired by each project's ambient I'm working on , I let the ambient ( sometimes it’s a city , sometimes an apartment , a room ..) guide me through its treasures and beasty parts Let's put it this way ; the ambient is the "input " and the colors and materials can be considered as the "output " of that design process . However , this is not that much definitive to me as I sometimes get inspired by colors and materials too .. well let's say they are all the children of the same family .

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

NJ : Mostly about the obstacles I faced through that design process . I think knowing those obstacles and make them more visible and bolder is the key to find solutions to push them away

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

NJ : The beautiful mind behind it for sure .

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

NJ : Well , I'm not into co-design that much , but I appreciate others opinions and I usually consider them when designing , as I believe sometimes others can see the subject from an angle that I haven't had the chance to !

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

NJ : Some of my school teachers , some co-designers , few friends … mostly my artist friends , can't get enough of chatting with them

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

NJ : Practice only

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

NJ : Stanley Kubrick

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

NJ : It's delicious , isn't it ? Lol

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

NJ : I like most colors , as they all depend on my mood and circumstances , but I definitely don’t like the brown as my first choice though . Lol There are lots of places that are my favorites , like Berlin the whole city , Brooklyn , and there is this city in Iran called Meymand the whole city is carved in the mountain

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

NJ : Well, anything can actually make my day though ! A good song in the morning , an idea , beautiful minds , high-quality materials , seeing a work done ..

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

NJ : I have no idea how I was , maybe my parents would better answer this question . All I remember from my childhood is I never wanted to go to school and used to make these toy tents at home (backyard ) with my sister and crawled in them

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

NJ : Honestly , I'm not sure if we as human beings could endure till a thousand years from now , what we do to nature and this planet has feedbacks as we already can see these days , a bold example could be the climate change issues which is so serious and still being ignored !