Jacqueline Mengi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Jacqueline Mengi ("JM") 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?

JM : I studied Interior design at Rhodec International.

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

JM : I always wanted to be a designer,after launching my Interior Design company I decided to start designing furniture.My design motivation is the deep desire to create things.

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

JM : I chose to become a designer.

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

JM : I design unique,made to order,luxury furniture.My collection includes living,dining and bedroom pieces.

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

JM : Young designers must start by having the passion for design,be prepared to work hard,dedication and perseverance.

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

JM : A good designer creates what is expected while a great designer does the unexpected,goes above and beyond what everyone else can imagine.

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

JM : A really good design is aesthetically pleasing,it's functional,exciting and thought provoking.Its the kind of design that has everything a good design should have and then some more.

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

JM : A good design's value is timeless,everyone should invest in good design because by possessing it you are not only making a statement but you are investing in something that you know is of value.

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

JM : I would love to design for kids,I think it would be fun to create something that kids can love and enjoy.

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

JM : I would like to learn how to do jewerly design.

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

JM : My secret is a positive attitude and creativity.

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

JM : Some of the legends that inspire me include Jo Baer and Tadao Ando.

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

JM : I love minimalistic designs,I admire how one can create something so simple and yet so profoundly beautiful.One of the designs I like is by Lucas Machnik.

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

JM : I think that I have yet to make my best design,I believe that my best is yet to come.

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

JM : The best way for improvement is to continue learning,keeping up with new trends,materials and technology in the industry.

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

JM : I would have been a painter.

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

JM : My husband has been my biggest supporter,he's my biggest fan and his belief in me has encouraged me quite a lot.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

JM : I believe it's the courage to be different and to try out new ideas.

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

JM : Im obsessed with perfection so often I've had to design something and discard it because I felt that it wasn't exactly the way I wanted it to be.

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

JM : I think it really depends on the design itself,presentation itself is a form of art and it should be complementary to the design.

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

JM : My next project is a luxurious limited edition furniture collection encrusted with precious stones.

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

JM : I want to be amongst the most recognizable icons of designs in my lifetime.

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

JM : They should expect creativity,originality and more exciting new designs.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

JM : Design can help society when a designer creates not only beautiful things but also offers solutions to some challenges in the society.

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

JM : I'm working on a luxurious limited edition furniture collection.

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

JM : I get satisfaction every time my clients receive their furniture and they are happy with it.

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

JM : There's always room for improvement so what I would like to see is more innovations and solutions that will benefit designers internationally.

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

JM : It really depends on the project,it can be anything from a month to a couple of months.

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

JM : I start by looking for inspiration,I take notes and photos of everything that I think I can use for inspiration.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

JM : It can be done,even if it's never been done.

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

JM : I think design sets the trends.

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

JM : I would say technology plays 60% role in my designs.

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

JM : I use cad and basic woodwork machines.

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

JM : I think color,materials and ambience are all very important in design.They can be used to enhance a design if chosen carefully.

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

JM : Whenever I see a new great design I get very excited because as a designer I have great respect for innovation and creativity.

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

JM : My ideal design partner is someone who's very creative,fearless and ambitious.

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

JM : I think books and magazines have had the biggest influence on my designs.

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

JM : There's no particular book that I can pinpoint,I pickup different things from many different resources.

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

JM : I read a lot to keep up with all the trends,materials and technology.

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

JM : I'm very excited and happy about the awards and recognition,I enjoy being famous and the awards are great for my business.

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

JM : My favorite color is white,my favorite place is a village in Kilimanjaro Tanzania called Machame very close to Mount Kilimanjaro,favorite season is spring,I love animals and I've twelve dogs.

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

JM : A great day for me is when I see my new design come to life.Success is my motivation,I want to be successful and inspire the young Tanzanians to believe in their dreams.

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

JM : When I was a little child I loved music and painting,i knew I wanted to do something artistic when I grew up.

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

JM : A thousand years from now I think people will be so advanced that machines will be running their daily lives.

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

JM : I'm passionate about animals and I'm an Ambassador of Wildaid an organization that focuses on campaigns focusing on the conservation and protection of wildlife.