Fernando Echeverria

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Fernando Echeverria ("FE") 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?

FE : I am a product designer with a Master in Arts specialized in footwear design by the Academy of Arts, Architecture and Design in Prague.

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

FE : I come from family tradition of leather craft. So I wanted to continue this heritage plus a touch of design.

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

FE : Nobody can not be forced to be a designer.

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

FE : I am specialized in leather goods, shoes and bags.

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

FE : I don't consider myself as a legend, but to become one we should work for what we love not for fame.

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

FE : Great designer's products are timeless.

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

FE : A good design should fill all the requirements needed, no less and no more.

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

FE : I would add good and responsible design, responsible good design helps real people because you are buying design but as well the producer will have to money to pay a rent, have food and not only make companies owner being richer.

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

FE : I would love to be part of an airplane design team.

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

FE : A collection of high heels for men.

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

FE : Insist and insist, hard work and good connections.

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

FE : Yohji Yamamoto, Pavel Janak, atd.

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

FE : I love Pavel Janak a visionary who created timeless cubist objects.

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

FE : I love Pavel Janak a visionary who created timeless cubist objects.

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

FE : Never stop learning new techniques and visions from all around the world.

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

FE : A medical doctor.

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

FE : A designer or a creative can't make anything alone so I am lucky to have a family who believes in me.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

FE : Discipline, hard work and sometimes obstinacy.

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

FE : Its hard to fight against the trends and against the mentality of how should things look like.

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

FE : We are lucky to have now social media which make us to have a cheap way to show ourselves to the world, i think this is the way, interact with real costumers in real time.

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

FE : I would love to start a community of young shoemakers in order to experiment and create.

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

FE : Have enough income to help new designers.

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

FE : People wants me not to change and keep my unique personal style.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

FE : Its time to question ourselves if we are really helping or helping to destroy our planet with the extreme consumerism we are creating.

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

FE : Im excited about my new family of shoes that will be shown in the Prague Designblok 2018.

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

FE : Design which involve normal people from the community and not only big corporations.

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

FE : I would like to return to a time when the handwork was appreciated, and when we were buying less but more quality products.

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

FE : The exploration of new bio materials.

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

FE : Design is not a formula so Its hard to say.

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

FE : I need to have clear what I want

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

FE : Less quantity more quality

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

FE : Unfortunately now trends and marketing set the designs.

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

FE : Even in the hand work any design or object can't be done without tools so its primordial.

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

FE : Photoshop, Autocad, Delcam, Illustrator

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

FE : In my experience is fundamental but the use of colors varies from culture to culture so its very important to choose the correct one in the correct context.

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

FE : Who made this , from where the material are coming from?

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

FE : Hard work, money investment.

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

FE : I believe in interdisciplinary cooperation.

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

FE : My closest friends who will not lie to me only to make me happy.

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

FE : I loved the language of objects.

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

FE : With a lot of practice and observation.

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

FE : Dali, Alfons Mucha

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

FE : Famous is not a word I consider I am

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

FE : blue, the Andes, turkey, spring, airplane, Airbus

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

FE : I always remember how my best friend by accident broke a prototype I was working so hard it was his birthday so I couldn't say anything.

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

FE : To receive a mail from a happy client, saying thank you.

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

FE : Never I wanted to be an architect

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

FE : Probably the dematerialization of objects.

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

FE : Buy local and small producers.