Vlad Mititelu

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Vlad Mititelu ("VM") 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?

VM : I am an artist and designer who wants to blur the line between art and design by challenging our perception of how we understand a particular object. I find inspiration in everything that surrounds me and translate that into usable artworks. My ultimate goal is to create a certain kind of objects, that are out of standard, for users who need to use them as a reflection of their personalities. Studying and practicing art I come across with design, to which I was familiar before, but not in the same way as with art. I tended to look and explore only those areas with whom I visually engaged straightforwardly. After that, I realize how close I was to design during my whole artistic process. Since then, I wanted to try to blur the line between art and design in order to help other people see how subtly, but profoundly they connect to each other. I want to offer people the possibility to see how transcendence can be reached through their direct interaction with materiality.

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

VM : I grew up in a home decorated with art and craftsmanship and I was fascinated at a young age by the beauty of art and design. I remember admiring and analysing for hours curves and patterns in the carved wood of our furniture. I guess when I grew up this passion took over me and now I love to design.

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

VM : I chose to be a designer with all of my heart.

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

VM : Over the years I developed a passion for water and I started designing showers and water related prouducts. Currently I am working on a brand new collection, "Art Lights", which is a limited collection of designs which focuses on home lightning systems. In the near future I would like to design also furniture.

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

VM : I guess dedication.

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

VM : Sometimes good designs become really good designs through publicity and sometimes great designs just stand out from other designs.

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

VM : I see good design as the future. Why not invest in the future?

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

VM : I would love to design a throne for the Queen of England and a limited edition Lamborghini car.

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

VM : I want to desing my own home as a total work of art (Gesamtkunstwerk).

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

VM : I think key feature of my works lies in the copper wire texture which I create and use as a personal signature.

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

VM : One of my favorite designs of all time is "The lobster phone" by Salvador Dali. I consider this design a great design because it triggered something in my mind and inspired me further to do my own ideas. And of course I couldn't forget "Species" series by Patrik Fredrikson & Ian Stallard and "River table" series by Greg Klassen.

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

VM : I see all of my designs great and I think the public will have the last word on this issue.

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

VM : I dedicated myself an I've worked harder on every project.

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

VM : Definitely an artist.

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

VM : On a personal level, I believe design orbits around four main key features like: function, innovation, aesthetics and the user’s experience.

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

VM : My family and my closest friends.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

VM : Support and dedication.

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

VM : The most important obstacles that I wish to overcome were probably the lack of capital and personal studio space.

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

VM : Exactly how they want to present it.

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

VM : Currently I am working on a brand new shower project, "Taste it", which will be included in Art Showers collection and I also work on a brand new collection "Art Lights" which is a limited collection of designs which focuses on home lightning systems.

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

VM : To become one of the greatest designers of all time.

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

VM : Constant innovation, quality and great designs.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

VM : I noticed design is constantly changing the facade of society. As long as designers are thinking "better design" we will always improve our society.

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

VM : Currently I am finishing the greatest project of Art Showers collection, wich took me over two years to develop: "The Elephant Shower". The Elephant Shower is a life size work of functional art suitable for large contemporary bathrooms.

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

VM : I think the largest design projects that I have done gave me the most satisfaction because at their beginings they seemed almost impossible to be done.

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

VM : I would like to see my personal input changing something for the better in design industry all over the world.

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

VM : I think design has entered, some time ago, the era of automatisation and mass production.

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

VM : That depends, I have designs that took me over two years to be made. In general I work over six months to develop a good design.

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

VM : From the beginning with a paper and a pencil.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

VM : "Stick to my vision, to the top is the mission."

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

VM : I believe great ideas sets trends and people follow.

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

VM : Technology helps me at different stages of my design process, but it does not do all the work.

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

VM : Until now I didn't use any software to help me in my design process. I like to keep it 100% organic.

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

VM : Conor, material and ambien are three main key features of design. Without them design will be something else.

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

VM : "Can I own one?"

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

VM : Wow, this is colossal! I want this!

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

VM : I believe in co-design, but until now I didn't had the opportunity to collaborate with any of the designers that I admire, like: Hedi Slimane, Alessandro Michele, Patrik Fredrikson & Ian Stallard, Porsche, Greg Klaassen and many others.

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

VM : I think one of the most influential person is Tibi Pop.

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

VM : There are a lot, I guess. Few that I remember now are: " Complete writings 1959-1975" - Donald Judd, "DesignArt" - Alex Coles, "What is Art?" -Lev Tolstoy.

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

VM : In time, always working on new projects.

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

VM : Michelangelo di Lodovico Buonarroti Simoni, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali, Constantin Brancusi.

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

VM : I simply love is and it is like a dream come true. I will have more of it.

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

VM : blue, beach salad, summer, love and Lamborghini.

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

VM : A funny thing... apart from a couple of close people who supported me everyday, nobody believed I would become a great designer.

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

VM : I always think about the ends of my projects.

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

VM : Probably not, it was obvious I want to become an artist.

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

VM : We would be more enlightened.

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

VM : If you want to see more of my works, visit https://www.vladmititelu.com , and stay tuned in !