Sofía Enríquez

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Sofía Enríquez ("SE") 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?

SE : I studied industrial design engineering in Mexico and made one semester of my studies in France (there I was enrolled in mechanical engineering). I have taken painting and sewing classes. I worked in a graphic design studio, made an internship in and architecture studio and participated in the development of a thermoformed packaging as part of the university's center of investigation, I have also worked as a freelancer for some time years now. All of these experiences have helped me improve my design skills and increase my knowledge in these fields.

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

SE : I am in love of the idea of envisioning something and actually being able to create it.

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

SE : I chose to become one.

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

SE : During my studies I have designed a little bit of everything: furniture, packaging, objects, lamps, graphics, among some others, but I would like to specialize whether in packaging or product design.

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

SE : Work hard, try your best and search for opportunities.

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

SE : The way they solve problems, if they pay attention to small details, if they think further ahead, if their designs give a "plus" to the users...

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

SE : The small details and the additional attributes incorporated into the design are what, in my opinion, make the difference between something good and something great.

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

SE : Good design makes the difference, whether it: solves problems, saves money, attracts clients, makes work easier, adds beauty. Any investment in design now is an investment made thinking on the future.

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

SE : Ludic design for Flying Tiger Copenhagen.

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

SE : To be part of a design studio.

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

SE : No secret ingredient, just being myself and letting my instincts guide me.

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

SE : Karim Rashid, Zaha Hadid, Bjarke Ingels, Ilse Crawford, Philippe Starck and Emiliano Godoy

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

SE : Bobble by Karim Rashid, because of its ergonomic figure and cheerful colors but mostly because of its mission to eliminate the outrageous waste of single-serve, disposable beverages Getsuen chair by Masanori Umeda, because of its beauty and uniqueness and the way he achieved to copy nature into something of everyday use.

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

SE : Notch, the tea packaging is my favorite design until now because of the high impact it has reached, being published in Packaging of the World website and Favourite Design annuary in 2015 and now having won in A' Design Award. I think it is an innovative packaging for tea and an attractive way to display a product.

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

SE : By always continue learning and working on developing new skills or perfecting the ones they already have. Plus keeping positive, since attitude makes the difference.

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

SE : I would have probably studied languages.

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

SE : The art of creating, improving or transforming with the intention of finding solutions to problems.

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

SE : A professor who believed deeply in this specific design (Notch) when I first showed it to him as a school project.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

SE : I believe it was resilience - trying again and again even if I had failed before - and determination - keeping focused on achieving goals - that helped me arrive where I am now.

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

SE : Mostly learning to take criticism as a fundamental part of improvement rather than being demotivating.

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

SE : The most understandable way possible and keeping it simple, less is more.

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

SE : I haven't think of it yet! But people should definitely expect to keep seeing more of my designs in the future, whether it is under a brand's name or my own name.

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

SE : To make a positive impact in people that have a direct interaction with my designs.

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

SE : To keep giving the best of me as a designer, because it is while giving the 100% of one's self that results will arrive.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SE : By finding or creating solutions for society's problems.

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

SE : I am doing a Mondrian-inspired 3D puzzle that is composed of eight equally shaped elements made of wood and hand-painted, that can be assembled into a cube by following the form of the elements and their patterns.

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

SE : A plaza I designed during my internship with architects, because it was the first time I designed something that big A table which I named "Anexo", because it won an innovation contest in my university A representation of the skin of a shark for biomimetic textiles, because it was the most challenging assignment I had during my exchange semester in France.

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

SE : The disposable culture being over! We need to be conscious about all the waste we are generating with short-living items.

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

SE : Design field, in my opinion, will keep moving forward into the technology of things, artificial intelligence, alternative energies, eco-friendly solutions and virtual experiences.

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

SE : Depends on the project. Sometimes a few weeks, sometimes a few months.

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

SE : By deciding a concept and gathering ideas.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

SE : Recognise the value in something and apply it to your designs.

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

SE : I think both. Since design can be developed from social, technological, environmental, economical, political, demographic or ethic tendencies. But also if a design is great, it can create a trend.

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

SE : It takes a very important role, since some way or another I use it as part of my designs.

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

SE : For software I mainly use Autodesk and Adobe programs, and for equipment I use my laptop and wacom.

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

SE : I think they have an important role since they are directly related with senses, which at the same time are related with the psychological aspects of a person.

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

SE : I would like people to ask the background story of it.

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

SE : How did they come up with that? - haha! I believe it is great how people can conceive something you have never even thought it could exist.

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

SE : A friend I made in high school, she studied graphic design. I have had the opportunity to work with her in school projects and in actual work and I believe our personalities, knowledges and skills help complement the work of the other.

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

SE : The architects at Equidna, where I made an internship. Because they thought a lot about everything - design, culture, work.

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

SE : Design as Art by Bruno Munari and No Logo by Naomi Klein.

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

SE : During my university studies, in extra curricular courses - such as painting and sewing classes, and in the different jobs and internships I have had.

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

SE : I would love to meet, talk and discuss with Coco Chanel.

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

SE : To be honest, it is sometimes difficult to believe that I am not even 25 years old and I have reached this far. I feel so grateful with God for giving me the skills, the health and the opportunity to have reached this point, but I am aware that there is still so much to learn and so much improvement to make, I just want to keep working towards it to become better.

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

SE : color - burgundy place - anywhere with a nice view food - definitely tacos season - winter thing - my pillow maybe - haha! brand - Amora, I just love their containers

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

SE : When I was in my exchange semester in France, I had an assignment that consisted on recreating the scales of a shark's skin - yes apparently mako sharks do have scales! There were four of us and nobody was being able to do it because of the complexity of the design. As for myself it was even harder for me because the only CAD program available in the university's computers was Solidworks and I didn't know how to use it back then. Eventually I got an alternative solution and came the next day with a 3D model I had made in my laptop using 3Ds Max. They were pretty surprised!

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

SE : What makes a day great as a designer is when that one idea finally pops in your mind, with that idea in mind the rest of the days just flow smoothly and great by themselves, until the design is complete.

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

SE : I don't know about the great part, but as for becoming a designer I think it was obvious, as a child I spent a lot of time drawing, painting and hand-crafting.

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

SE : Maybe humans will have figured out a way of living outside of Earth.

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

SE : I am a young designer and I believe I still have so much to learn, but being able to share these thoughts with the readers makes me feel full of gratitude and inspires me to keep working hard. Thank you for reading.