Responsive Spaces

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Responsive Spaces ("RS") 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?

RS : I studied "Media Technology and Design" and always considered myself as a rather technical person. After the university I spent almost 20 years working in the digital field. Starting as a pure developer I grew into new roles as the agency I worked for grew as well. The design aspect of our projects became more important to me over time. To me, I´m still not a designer at all, but consider myself quite capable in regards of interaction design and creative use of technology to create unique and fitting ways to enable people to interact with it.

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

RS : I don´t consider myself a designer. I like to see myself as a storyteller who uses any kind of digital technology that´s feasable to lifts the storytelling to new heights. Technology used in a design-thinking kind of way that is focussing solely on the story or message and never just because something is technically doable is art to me.

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

RS : I kind of just happened. Thinking more like a designer in different aspects of our work feels like a natural development, if I think back. As our projects evolved and got more complex and sophisticated, the role of any kind of design just grew by itself.

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

RS : My team and I, we create, design and develop walkable and tangable digital installations, at the edge between digital worlds and physical places. That´s were the company´s name Responsive Spaces derives from.

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

RS : I would not dare to call myself a design legend. On the one hand I´m way to young for this and on the other hand I still consider myself more a creator than a designer.

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

RS : Stubbornness. Great designers don´t go for compromises. Keeping an open mind and surrounding yourself with great people helps as well.

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

RS : For our digital installation this answer is easy. If they are not design well in every aspect, they fail in their purpose. The graphical design, the spatial design and especially the interaction design can´t be overstated.

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

RS : Building a complete interactive and immersive exhibition area or brand land for an international brand would be for sure a dream project.

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

RS : Always staying childish, curious and never thinking something can´t be done.

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

RS : If my company, Responsive Spaces, establishes itself as an international recognized agency für interactive and digital installations, than I´d be very satisfied and happy. Something like an ultimate goal doesn´t really exist, because what would it mean, if someone reaches it. What would be next?

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

RS : The larger part of our projects gives my team and myself satisfaction. At least we know the whole story behind those projects and those stories are all unique. Since we love what we do, the satisfaction comes by itself.

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

RS : For our projects, the role of technology can´t be overstated because it´s the base for everything that we do. Sometimes it´s really a pitty, that we always strive to hide the technology as much as possible. Perfectly hidden technology would appear as pure magic and give the perfect stage for the stories and messages we want to tell.

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

RS : Leonardo da Vinci.

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

RS : Never. But than again, I still don´t think I am a conventional designer. I´d stick to terms like creator, technology-oriented storyteller or interaction developer.