Lollypop Design Studio

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Lollypop Design Studio ("LDS") 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?

LDS : I have always been an artist by heart and designer by choice. In my early childhood days, the only thing I was ever good at was drawing and I chose to pursue it as my career. I tried many fields of design but got glued to digital design when I was first introduced to it in early 2000. Post my Masters in visual communication & arts, I began my professional journey of digital design. And in the year 2013, I returned to silicon valley of India with a vision to put India as a design destination on the world map and founded Lollypop - a dedicated UX UI Design studio.

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

LDS : Design is the only field that gives you true freedom; it is the nexus where creativity fuses with empathy and technology, the rarest combination ever and that is what motivates me to design. Why did I become a designer, because, this is the only thing I love and am good at.

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

LDS : Since, my early childhood, I found art to be my muse and continuing the same path, I discovered design.

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

LDS : I suppose all the digital designers are consultants and designs ‘Solutions’. I look forward to designing new domains that provide different challenges. The beauty of re-imagining the industry through power of design is what really ticks happy and creative side of me.

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

LDS : I don’t consider myself as a design legend and there is no one way of doing things. But, communication and persistence has definitely led me towards realizing my dreams.

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

LDS : The zeal to learn and unlearn is something that helps you always step up and move forward.

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

LDS : A good design is usable, functional and aesthetically pleasing. When design intelligence & technology embodies each other, great designs are produced.

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

LDS : Good design is the most strategic investment. It helps in attaining the vision of a company keeping users at the centre along with providing the shape to a concept. If you do it right the first time, it saves lot of time, money and energy of everyone.

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

LDS : I would design a Lollypop product in the field of health-tech

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

LDS : To start a design school

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

LDS : There is no recipe or secrets; it’s just iterations and many more of them, till you are happy with the design.

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

LDS : Mills form Ustwo

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

LDS : Respecting other designers and your own work.

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

LDS : Nothing. There was no other option, but design.

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

LDS : Design is always purposeful. It’s always seeking to provide solution and eliminating problems.

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

LDS : My wife, who supported all my abrupt decisions and dreams. I left my career as a creative director when I was at peak of my career and came back to India to start my own design studio

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

LDS : I don’t really know why you keep on saying that word. I am just a designer and I truly love what I do.

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

LDS : In India art was not very respected profession back then and I had to take up lot of small odd jobs to fund my career. None I know, supported my decision to be a designer, but, irrespective of all the adversities I continued to pursue my dream and passion.

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

LDS : Designers work should speak for itself. It should be like a story which unfolds at each step and sets a rhythm and tone in the hearts and minds of viewers.

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

LDS : Me and my team are working on many exciting projects from robotics to VR, let’s wait and unfold the new possibilities.

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

LDS : I envision to put India on a world map as a design destination.

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

LDS : Expectation is a funny word, people expect a lot but it is important to converse and set the expectations at the very beginning. Being honest with what problems can be solved through design helps everyone.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

LDS : Design is like breathing but with awareness. With better designs, we have a better future that is systematic, planned and touching lives every day.

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

LDS : Can’t disclose the names but it’s to do with VR and robotics.

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

LDS : All the projects where we had freedom to research and design; naming just one would be difficult.

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

LDS : Working together with each other and strengthening design eco-system.

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

LDS : Design field is going to be working at the grassroot level and would be embedded in business strategies from the conceptualisation phase itself.

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

LDS : This is very subjective, it differs for each project and clients.

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

LDS : We begin with the founders as it is very important to understand the vision and business before kicking off with anything.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

LDS : I want to travel to villages and teach children design.

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

LDS : This is the question like what comes before egg or the chicken! There are times when we follow trends and then there at times we go against the current to set a new trend.

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

LDS : Design & technology is like soul and body, none can thrive without another. Technology enables the realisation of design and design makes technology more meaningful.

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

LDS : We use Sketch for wireframes and adobe suite tools for UI design.

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

LDS : They set the language and personality of any brand. You need to be extremely aware of the vision of the founder and purpose of the product so that you can slowly translate them into design language through use of color, materials and ambient.

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

LDS : I hope, instead of a question, it is more of a reinforcement; when people come across a truly awesome interface they say that it must be by ‘Lollypop’

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

LDS : I would love to meet the designer and design team behind this product.

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

LDS : My entire team is my ideal design partner. Everyone comes with a unique set of skills and you should just learn to see that and instil people’s skill in yourself.

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

LDS : I am truly inspired by USTWO designs and its monument valley; they inspired me in setting up my own design studio.

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

LDS : There are many. But, I love to read about human psychology and smashing magazine articles.

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

LDS : I believe in learning the trade and not the secrets of trade; that’s why I have climbed up the ladder one step at a time, starting from being a graphic designer to creative director and now a design entrepreneur.

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

LDS : Good work speaks for itself and when you have a design team like mine, it is not that hard.

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

LDS : I guess the funniest one would be my in-flight conversation where my co-passenger who almost bullied me in designing the entire website during the journey itself; I felt like jumping off the plane!

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

LDS : Walking into the design studio and seeing the faces of my entire team energizes every atom of my body.

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

LDS : Yeah, I guess. Early signs from god, I would flunk in my subjects but always sketch beautiful.

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

LDS : I am scared; with the speed we are moving, I am not sure if we will be left with the planet earth.

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

LDS : These designs are contribution of every designer of team Lollypop and I would not like to take the recognition.