Attila Stromajer

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Attila Stromajer ("AS") 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?

AS : I started designing a couple of years ago. Mostly I educated myself. Then I took some professional courses where I learnt product design, drawing and 3D designing.

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

AS : I have not really thought about it yet. It is new for me to be looked at as a designer. I am attracted to beautiful, special and unique things. I am inspired by the task of giving an already existing object further functions or designing something that has multiple functions and also catches the eye.

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

AS : It was completely my decision. I take it seriously and I enjoy it. My aim is to become a full time designer.

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

AS : Recently I have been focusing on designing furniture and lamps. I mostly use minimalist or modular design but I am open to other styles and pieces, too.

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

AS : I am certainly not a design legend but I would advise them to stick to their own ideas when it becomes to the realization of a design. They should not make too big compromises. They should work out of pleasure and joy and not out of duty. I would advise them to try and create something as unique and progressive as possible.

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

AS : I do not know but I would like to be one of the latter.

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

AS : I think a good design should display innovation and novelty in functionality, usefulness or esthetics or in all three. It should be innovative, useful and inspiring. It should also trigger some feelings in people.

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

AS : I think a design primarily has aesthetic and functional value which is always worth investing in. Its financial value may depend on many factors.

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

AS : I would design anything for anybody if I am able to execute it. Industrial design or technology is a bit far from my profile but I am open to any challenges, maybe as part of a team. At the moment I am involved in designing outdoor and indoor furniture, installations, building parts and lamps. These also include kitchenware, home decor and handicraft.

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

AS : I have many plans waiting to be realized. If only I had two lives… Architecture is my passion, I would love to work as a designer on such project. Basically, I am open to anything in designing.

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

AS : During planning I realized that for me proportions are the most important. I would also stress the general effect we create by the use of certain shapes, colors, material and functions. The adjustment of the minor details is especially important. In my view, the key to success often lies in these minor details. Some designs do not look special or exceptional at first sight. However, if we look closely into the details, the original use of material, technology or joining method and the recommendations to the golden number, we can discover why a design is more exquisite than we previously judged.

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

AS : I am a great fan of many masters. I could go on listing and praising them for hours. Let me just highlight some of my favorites: Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry, Philippe Starck, Imre Makovecz, Ross Lovegrove, Pininfarina, Santiago Calatrava, Hakan Gürsü, Arne Jacobsen, Ora Ito, Scaglione Franco, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Eero Saarinen, Milo Baughmann, Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Alvar Aalto, Greta Grossman, Daniel Libeskind, Sir Norman Foster, Oscar Niemeyer, Kris Lin, etc.

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

AS : I have a lot of favorite desings, for example Deglon’s Meeting Knife Set is one of my favourite. Beautiful, pure functionality. Innovative and manly, which is also a factor for me.

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

AS : Well, I am not sure I am the best person to judge this but to tell the truth, my table named "Wave" is my favourite. As I see it, it displays duality and combines opposites. It is standardized in its elements but unique as a whole. It seems technically easy but it is rather complex. It seems heavy and robust but at the same time light and transparent. It is traditional in material but modern in shape.

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

AS : I find it very important to study other designers’ works. We should investigate why we like what we like, what is the secret behind it. Also, we should learn and use 3D softwares in modelling but drawing, mock-ups, paper-up technique, or claywork is also important. They help us feel the shapes, the proportions and the possible functions. If we can, we should also regularly visit exhibitions to get inspired.

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

AS : For me designing is not the past but the future, but if I had to be something else, I would be an architect.

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

AS : Considering my life, design for me is passion, a process of creation and a chance of revival. As a phenomenon, I see it as the merging of innovation, art and every day life.

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

AS : My greatest help was certainly my wife, who has supported and still supports me on different levels. If I get tense, she tries to calm me down, if I am happy about something, she can be happy for me. She supplies the bits I am lacking. She is my private psychoanalyst.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

AS : I am still just dreaming about being a "great" designer, but now that I have received this award, I know it is worth being a dreamer.

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

AS : I do not consider myself a master, but I faced many obstacles, especially at the stage of realization.

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

AS : Ideally we should present our works live. Showing only a graphic design without making the prototype can raise different problems. But with the prototype at hand, who needs a graphic design?  Seriously, graphic design is a great tool to show the function, complexity of a piece, or visualizing its possible colors and surroundings. It can enhance the value of a product if you can attach a hand drawing to it, but it can be really time consuming. Therefore, I would recommend to use artistic photos to highlight the beauty and function of the piece as long as they do not distort its real qualities.

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

AS : I am planning to create a lamp and a dresser. I cannot tell you more at the moment. You will see.

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

AS : My ultimate goal is self-realization. This way I could serve my community the best. Who needs more?

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

AS : I guess they expect more and more designs which make them happy. It is not directly about me but about my products, but this is the way it has to be.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

AS : Creating user-focused technological solutions and environmental friendly innovations is the most important. Our task is redeeming the damage mankind has caused to nature and creating a more environmental friendly, more human and peaceful way of living. I do believe that we can develop and create pieces without any destruction. However, „money” is not always interested in art and the establishment of values.

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

AS : It is a secret.

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

AS : Do you mean my project? It has not been created yet.

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

AS : It might be a commonplace and naivety to say but I would like to see more handicraft and less technology used in the future. Especially if we consider that it can reduce lavishing our resources, the lack of workplaces, and producing waste. But it is more the job of the polititians and the tycoons to raise awareness about this not that of the designers. The latter know their jobs, I think.

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

AS : I cannot tell. Maybe rise of the robots. :)

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

AS : A project is never finished. You just stop working on it. :)

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

AS : I start working on it in my head. I give it a lot of thought, then I make even more sketches.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

AS : If you cannot be free in other ways, at least be free in your thoughts.

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

AS : I think it works both ways. A really strong and paradygm-shifting desing is capable of changing the trend, but I think in most cases, trends set the designs. Designing involves research of the current trends, partly copying them and being inspired by them, and it is also a business. If you want to be successful, and profitable you had better do something that is already accepted and favoured. Who would order furniture today that no one would buy? Even if it is really revolutionary.

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

AS : It depends greatly on what I am working on.

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

AS : I really like the 3D, vector and raster graphics editors too, but I'm just learning the most of them. For example Rhinoceros 5, Grasshoper, Vray, 3Ds max, Illustrator, Photoshop, Inventor, Fusion 360. They are great softwares! I am always amazed at what they can do.

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

AS : They are very important for me. At least as important as the shape or functionality.

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

AS : I would prefer them not to ask questions about it, just keep gazing at it.

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

AS : Why did not I come up with this idea? 

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

AS : The ideal partner for me is active, motivated, inspiring, witty, reliable and enjoys work. Later I would like to work in a team, too.

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

AS : So far unfortunately nobody, personally. But I always try to get inspiration from great designers.

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

AS : One of my favourites is: The Whole Story Paperback by Elizabeth Wilhide, Jonathan Glancey

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

AS : I am not a master designer but when I look at the world I try to gain inspiration from what I see: nature, animals, any object around me. When I look at some object, I often examine what else it can be used for. I also study other designers’ works. Apart from that, I read books on the subject and perfect my knowledge about 3D softwares. I spend a lot of time modelling and going to exhibitions.

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

AS : Anybody who is open and interested in the matters of the world and is not too preoccupied with himself.If he happens to be interested in design, it is the icing on the cake.

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

AS : I am not yet famous, but at A' Design Award I have received two prestigeous awards as a beginner designer, which is really upliftingand reassuring. This feedback shows me I could have a future in designing. Since I got this award, I have received more positive feedback than in all my life. It is a bit strange, but I think I will be able to live with it. :)

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

AS : I do not have one favorite color but I like blue, black and orange. My favorite place is the Alps, and other mountains. As for food, I like Hungarian cabbage stew „Székely” style, macaroni milanese, and knödel. My favourite seasons are spring and fall. My favorite object is the guitar. I have't got a favorite brands, but there are a lot of brands, which items I like, for example: Ibanez guitar, Alfa Romeo, Mazda, Tag Hauer, Fossil, Italian furniture brands in general.

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

AS : One of my designs has been built by at least 4 constructors and it is about to arrive at a new one. Just like a traveling trophy...Nobody has been able to figure out what it is but everybody has liked it so far. They have called it mirror, statue, stand, rack, lamp and sliced whatsitsname. I have been working on it for two years and for a while I myself was not sure what it is going to turn out. I know by now. It is entertaining to obsesrve what people can see in the same thing, just like in a Rorschach test. Sometimes I find the form first and later the function. Another story: someone said the other day that our daughter is our best design everI think he was right. Our daughter was planned although not on paper or by softwares, and we can hardly create anything nicer or better.

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

AS : Unfortunately I can only work as a designer part time, because I have a full time job, so I have to divide my time. I hope to be a full time designer soon. If I look at my work and I feel that I have really achieved something, then I feel motivated. Maybe the next day I will not like it as much, but it gave me satisfaction for the day of creation.

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

AS : No, not at all. I think you can be contented if you can live up to your potentials. And what else can be more important than to be contented in life?

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

AS : I really don't know, but I hope the world will be more peaceful and livable place than now and the design can efficiently contribute to this.

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

AS : Never give up your plans and dreams! Work on realizing your ideas.