Thomas Rauscher

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Thomas Rauscher ("TR") 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?

TR : After school I became a cabinetmaker to learn the basics of furniture. After having worked as a cabinetmaker for some years I studied Interior dDsign to get a greater picture of designing itself.

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

TR : To have a job based on freedom and questioning the world, as well as satisfying clients.

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

TR : I chose to become designer.

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

TR : I started with furniture. But when dealing with the creative process itself I realized, that it does not depend so much on the type but more on the idea itself. Hence creativity is the essence to follow.

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

TR : Be and stay original!

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

TR : A good designer is successful and earns much money - a great designer does not have to, he / she follows his / her own aims.

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

TR : Definitely not the numbers of sold products, it is the quality and conversion of the idea behind the design.

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

TR : The value of good design is to increase the amount of options and solutions for problems.

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

TR : With my latest project www.bysomeone.com I try to come a step closer to the what and who - designing whatever comes to my mind and handing these ideas to anyone who likes to use them.

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

TR : Two publications on the theory of creativity - how to find more needles in haystacks than you expect.

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

TR : "There must be another solution to the problem than I know right now - find it!"

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

TR : This is quite difficult to answer, I have a strong connection to minimalism, design reduced to a bare essence. This does not mean having a person as an archetype but more of a direction.

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

TR : Basically I like all designs that reduce its idea to a bare minimum.

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

TR : Right now it is my latest project bysomeone.com as it changes the way of dealing with ideas and connecting creatives with local manufacturers and potential users worldwide.

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

TR : Following your ideas, not listening to people telling you the world works in this or that way.

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

TR : Becoming a surgeon.

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

TR : One of some ways to define and have an impact on the future.

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

TR : People supporting me to develop a free mind and will

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

TR : The belief that things might also work in different ways.

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

TR : People telling me this and that does not work.

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

TR : Upright and standing to it - it is the idea that counts. But also knowing that it can be improved, the idea is never the final solution.

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

TR : The next project is bysomeone.com, a creative source for designer, manufacturer and user. Its aim is to give an alternative to established ways of dealing with ideas, production and reaching clients.

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

TR : Being able to earn enough money to make creating ideas my only task.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

TR : by giving more choices and opportunities

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

TR : www.bysomeone.com

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

TR : right now it is three that come to my mind - a shelving system, the folding chair and bysomeone.com - all three are united in the way of creating them, or better how the initial idea came up in an instant moment...

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

TR : more courage

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

TR : to the user

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

TR : Depending on the size of the project - from a few hours to days or month.

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

TR : Focussing on the project for some time and then forgetting about it - freeing my mind and getting inspirations.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

TR : Astonish me!

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

TR : This depends on the orientation of the designer - if you want to have success and earn money - your have to follow trends. If you are independent and follow your own rules you increase your chances to set new trends, but it is less likely to become famous or earn much money.

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

TR : A minor one - technology comes into play when the idea is born. It helps converting it to a product.

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

TR : pen and paper for the start, later tools, materials and a workshop or computer and software like Cinema4D in the following phase.

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

TR : These given aspects color and ambient play a minor role, as they are independent from the idea itself. The material is more important, as the idea depends on it converted to a product.

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

TR : Curiosity...

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

TR : Wow - great idea...

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

TR : Someone who has a strong belief in ideas and also is looking for innovation.

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

TR : All those who gave constructive critics.

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

TR : Might sound superficial - Paul Arden "It´s not how good you are..." and Austin Kleon "Show your work!"

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

TR : Mark Zuckerberg

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

TR : no, because I am not...

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

TR : black, San Francisco, n/a, late spring, n/a, n/a

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

TR : The astonishing moment when I had the idea of the folding chair, made a simple prototype of two panels, a piece of used carpet and a stapler within a few moments and sat on it for the first time - this conversion from "uhh - this will not work" to "WOW! - It works!"

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

TR : When having the feeling you came up with an astonishing idea or at least you made a step forward creating one.

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

TR : No, I wanted to become a surgeon.

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

TR : Hopefully mankind still exists. If so - it will be much unimaginable different from now (ask a person born in 1000 ad how mankind would look like today - that would be fun!)

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

TR : Visit www.bysomeone.com and join!