Ioannis Solomozis

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ioannis Solomozis ("IS") 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?

IS : Besides a few workshops and seminars as well as private lessons on specific fields, I became a designer smoothly I might say, only because I started to design and produce useful products for myself and my friends and family. Once I launched my very first collection of products in European market the feedback was more than enough to give me the credits of a designer. Since then, I cannot but to accept the title, even if my education had to do with Marketing, actually.

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

IS : I design for the same reason why I became a designer: because I’m looking for stuff that aren’t around in the form that I wish.

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

IS : I chose to become a designer, forced by my wish to create what I need to use or see around.

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

IS : I design products that have stories to tell at first sight.

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

IS : Even if I’m not a design legend, I could certainly say that design is all about work; work hard actually.

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

IS : Obviously the impact of their designs to the world.

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

IS : According to my point of view, it is from the first place the philosophy behind its creation as well as its utility.

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

IS : Really good design is timeless. Good designed products besides their appearance contain a soul that, first of all, is endlessly fed by the story that lives behind them. A design that has a story to tell is valuable and worths as an investment, according to my opinion.

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

IS : I would love to design a baby stroller for my future kids

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

IS : a hospitality project featuring all my designs

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

IS : No days off.

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

IS : Paola Navone, Christian Lacroix, Eames and almost all asians

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

IS : I’m not going to name a few because are many. Just to give a clue, I like black not shiny things that most of the time are really expensive.

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

IS : My back pack, it is huge extremely light and features my first pattern.

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

IS : By working and share the knowledge with others desighners

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

IS : a musician or a chef.

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

IS : things that work in a set

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

IS : my family

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

IS : I don’t consider myself as a great designer yet, however I could say that in order to achieve to be included in the design world as a designer, besides my designing and creative skills, my patience and my need to express myself through product and graphic design have played a major role to where I’m standing at this moment.

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

IS : Since now the only thing that I consider as an obstacle which I’m facing every now and then is my own self criticism which, thankfully, I manage to overcome as time passes, by trusting my intuition and my team mates perception.

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

IS : In any possible bold way, on and off line! Nowadays designers all over the world have the opportunity to build and manage their own brands, so they can present their own work in any way they decide. This is a huge advantage, especially for young designers that are now at the beginning of their journey in design world.

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

IS : To create a complete hotel concept.

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

IS : To leave a reference by inspiring young and talented people to keep on dreaming and never let go of their goal to be creative and be able to earn their living by design.

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

IS : continuity

DL: How does design help create a better society?

IS : i dont know if it makes a better society but it sure makes it cooler

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

IS : I'm currently working on new patterns

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

IS : Collaborating with Paola Navone on two projects. The trust and recognition given by a great designer, that I admire, was the most satisfying part of my carrier yet.

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

IS : the way the materials integrate and brand a project

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

IS : I think that design field is headed to an era where limited edition and custom made design will be the answer to todays overproduction of several similar products.

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

IS : Starting by the concept and ending to a complete and accomplished design project, it might take less than a full day or more than a month. That depends on the size and the level of difficulty of every project.

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

IS : The concept

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

IS : utility in design

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

IS : It seems that it works vice-versa; nowadays especially. According to my personal perception Design is the origin of any trend ever existed.

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

IS : Technology is a great tool which serves to reduce the whole time of a project. However, every designer needs a vision in order to proceed in the creative process or else, their boundaries are limited.

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

IS : Photoshop and Illustrator.

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

IS : Color, materials and ambient are means to accomplish a design project. Once there is a solid concept to be served, these three ingredients are actually designer’s main tools in order to transform the concept into reality.

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

IS : There is always a story behind all of my designs. I wish people to be curious for these stories. I wish people to ask more about our concepts and undertand that our stories are made to be told.

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

IS : to buy it

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

IS : Someone with whom I can be easily coordinate and cooperate. Someone who has the ability to stay focused while has an opened mind. Someone that maybe can understand the way I am thinking while is thinking of his/her own. Last but not least, someone with whom I share the same professional values.

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

IS : Greater and more experienced designers than myself with whose I have the chance to meet or/and to collaborate with.

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

IS : I’m not a book lover; not even close! I barely finished a book. However I like to have books that refer to design around me, so I can take a look and read about specific topics of my interest.

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

IS : I’m still developing my design skills and I think that I will never stop to.

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

IS : If I had this chance, the first person that I would love to meet and talk with would be my future self!

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

IS : Awards, fame and ephemeral recognition never were my goals. Certainly I enjoy every aspect of it and I feel honored while I’m placed in a distinguished rank amongst so many talented people from all over the globe, but all these are just serving my brand’s reputation. They are not life-changers; at least not in my case.

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

IS : black, Rome, pizza, Winter, my Gibson guitar and DIESEL.

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

IS : Recently, while I was describing to my mother the details of a new big project in which I have to design a brand new pattern, she asked me: « can you do it? ». A moment later we were laughing out loud together.

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

IS : When I’m able to create anything my mind has imagined

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

IS : Well, my parents say that they could tell by the way I was playing with my toys. Once I was getting a new one with screws and parts involved, it was a matter of time when I was tearing it apart and assemble it again. Maybe that was a clue, indeed.

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

IS : really hope for great food that doesn’t make you fat.

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

IS : Don’t do drugs, listen to and play music, respect your loved ones and go visit your parents! That’s how I live my life and I suggest the same recipe to anybody. Thank you!