Eric van Limpt

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Eric van Limpt ("EVL") 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?

EVL : My background is an education in engineering, a huge interest in metal and metal processing, the process of designing is self-educated and started with pencils and paper.

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

EVL : My motivations to become a designer is to be able to translate, to find new ways to show jewelry in a different way. Becoming a designer is probably a natural way of evolving, starting in mechanical engineering and manufacturing jewelry to designing.

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

EVL : I never ever thought of being a designer, it originated in a very natural way. Very much to my pleasure, I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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

EVL : I mostly design jewelry, and therefor rings and necklaces are the most common to draw because they sell the most.

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

EVL : Be yourself, don’t look at other designers and do it, just try and try again.

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

EVL : The great designer distinguishes her or himself from a good designer by the way she or he feels with the design and is able to let the costumer experience this extra vibe.

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

EVL : A really good design does not need explanation, only seconds to be remembered.

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

EVL : The value of good design is when the design deserves the right to exist and entertains people, for those who appreciate the value of design and able to invest there automatically is a rewarding and happy feeling.

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

EVL : I would love to design a piece of jewelry for Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, her being the model of elegance and style.

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

EVL : The dream project I haven’t realized yet is a set existing a ring, bracelet, necklace and earrings in a matching style. Designed with using natural coloured diamonds.

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

EVL : I don’t have a secret recipe for success, every designer knows that every well accomplished design takes adrenaline, time and perseverance.

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

EVL : I do get inspired and get a warm feeling when I see a well-designed dress in one of the four fashion weeks by designers as Alexander McQueen and Elie Saab.

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

EVL : Noa Raviv, ensemble 2014. I like this top because of the voluminous lines and curves. Peter Popps, The Cube. This extraordinary design of these heels challenges your imagination.

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

EVL : My greatest design will be a ring designed with an orange oval diamond and two white oval diamonds. The design of the settings holding the stones and contrasts with the rest of the ring is a great thing to see.

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

EVL : I cannot tell you how other people can improve their designs, what I can tell you is what I do and this is no higher mathematics but solely trust on my feeling and challenge myself, in designing, in competing, in living.

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

EVL : If I hadn’t come a designer I probably would be working in nursing or at least work with people.

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

EVL : My design is defined as functional with a story. The centerpiece stone takes the full attention where all other design elements add and work together as a strong design. For me design is when the object is causing excitement.

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

EVL : My biggest supporters are without a doubt my parents.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

EVL : Listening, perseverance and not afraid to fail probably helped me becoming a great designer.

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

EVL : My obstacles before becoming a design master have mainly been believing in myself and keep working on the things I value most.

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

EVL : My belief is that designers should present their work while being there, explain, hear reactions and communicate with costumers or public in general.

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

EVL : My next design project has already started, it will be a big white golden ring, set with a diamond which rises high above the ring and pave set with numerous small diamonds.

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

EVL : My goal as a designer to have costumers all over the world. Be able to design, travel and enjoy people.

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

EVL : I think people expect from me the extraordinary, a design which adds to their lifestyle.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

EVL : In my line of designing jewelry it is possible to help create a better society by using honest materials, the use of conflict free diamonds, combined with a production facility where no chemicals are used and educate these statements to the next generation.

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

EVL : Currently I just finished designing a small bracelet. The next assignment will be a ring, and I am very excited about using triple excellent cut stones.

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

EVL : The most satisfactory design projects are the extensive ones with multiple pave set lines.

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

EVL : There is nothing I can think of what should be changed in the design industry in the coming years.

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

EVL : Maybe the design field will be headed more towards automated computer designed, where people just give parameters and control the output.

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

EVL : It takes me up to two weeks to finalize a design project.

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

EVL : When having a new design project, I will always start with the already existing parameters. Do I design a ring, if so what size, what kind of stone, and which color? From there on de design process starts.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

EVL : Never give up

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

EVL : I do think design sets the trend.

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

EVL : The role of technology in my designs is huge, I design in a 3d program called Matrix 3d. When finished it becomes a stl fil which is printed in wax or directly in the material I need.

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

EVL : The design software I use is Matrix 3d design, a plugin on Rhino.

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

EVL : The role of color and materials in my design is very important, a design can definitely improve by the use of the correct color.

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

EVL : I would like people to ask me everything they can think of when seeing my design. Per example ask me why, what, how where, how much time and I will tell you everything I know.

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

EVL : When I see a great new design I instantly feel challenged, how is this designed, and where are the points of interests.

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

EVL : So far, I do not believe in co-design because I never experienced it, it might work though.

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

EVL : Costumers I interacted with had the most influence on my design.

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

EVL : The books I read which have the most influence on my design are a book from Peter Gössel and Gabriëlle Leuthäuser named architecture. A book called Ferrari F1 by Rainer Schlegelmilch and offcourse jewellery books like Understanding jewellery and Diamonds.

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

EVL : I developed my skills as a designer mostly on my own by study, try, fail, try again, visit museum, understand the tension between strength and delicate lines.

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

EVL : Without a doubt, I would love to talk and discuss with men and women with a vision like Ben van Beurden CEO of Royal Dutch Shell to talk about future energy, Alexander McQueen to discuss lines, fabrics and curves. On my list will be for sure Leonardo Fioravanti, the man responsible for the Ferrari Dino to talk about his vision.

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

EVL : My feelings about the award and the recognition are mixed, it never was or will be a goal to be famous, however that being said the recognition, the attention from customers and press feels rewarding.

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

EVL : My favorite color is black, my favorite place is Temple bar district in Dublin for its music, my favorite food is finger food, my favorite season will be winter because of skiing in the winter holidays, my favorite thing is my dining table and my favorite brand is Ping.

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

EVL : A funny thing happened when a customer had made a bet with his friend about who was the designer of a ring. This being the first time someone recognized work from my hand was a nice experience, having dinner with the winner of the bet made it a very nice evening.

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

EVL : Being a designer every day is a great day, to be able to do the job makes me smile every day. My motivation is inspiring conversations with customers and deadlines when my jewelry has to be finished.

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

EVL : When I was a little child it wasn’t obvious at all that I would become a designer, looking back though it has been the best possible career path I could imagine.

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

EVL : A thousand years from now there probably will not be any paper and are designs made by bringing thoughts wireless over to a computer automated 3d printer.

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

EVL : Huge fan of NBA basketball, playing golf, enjoying single malt whiskey on a cold winter evening by the fireplace.