Ermanno Aparo

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ermanno Aparo ("EA") 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?

EA : 2019 Post PhD in Design at Lisbon University (POR) 2010 PhD in Design at Aveiro University (POR) 2001 Master in Design at DOMUS ACADEMY (ITA) 1998 Architecture Degree at Palermo University (ITA)

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

EA : I became a designer because I always liked the world of objects, how they are made and why they are useful.

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

EA : I chose to be a designer

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

EA : I am a design teacher and a researcher, I don't choose my project challenges, it depends a lot on what comes before me.

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

EA : I don't feel like a legend, I'm just a person who does what he likes. And to do what we like we have to work a lot.

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

EA : I don't know, maybe the great designer is just the consequence of a good designer.

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

EA : Good design is the one that responds well to the questions that are proposed to it, good design is the one that knows how to give a design dimension to the reasons of a project.

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

EA : Design is always important and its value is a reflection of the value that the product or service will have for the people who use it.

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

EA : I design what presents itself to me as a challenge and for good challenges, time is always there.

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

EA : A cure for cancer, but I'm not a doctor, just a designer ... maybe, maybe one day I'd like to be able to create something to help these people, creating a synergy with a team of doctors and researchers. Yes, I would like.

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

EA : I don't think that I have success, I think I do what I like and that's why there are no ingredients or recipes, just a lot of work.

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

EA : Leonardo da Vinci, Beethoven and my grandfather.

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

EA : I can't answer this question because I like a little bit of everything. There is a lot of good people who make incredible things in design.

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

EA : My design has no particularity, mine is a method based on the creation of territorial networks. it is more a strategy than styling.

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

EA : Remember that before being designers they are people.

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

EA : Probably a musician or an archaeologist.

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

EA : Design is a creative discipline that brings knowledge to society, in the sense that it considers and crosses practical, aesthetic, ergonomic, use, imagination, construction, prototyping, market, sustainability and innovation issues. The design can be revolutionary and quiet, practical and effective, without having to be exuberant or glamorous. Like any good story, design should always teach something. For design it is the choice that transforms old concepts into new instruments, using them with a new efficacy according to the current reality.

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

EA : My wife and my children, the family in general.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

EA : My parents and the excellent professors I had during my studies.

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

EA : There are no obstacles, only challenges, and these are made to be accepted or rejected.

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

EA : I think that designers must dialogue with companies, with people and know the market.

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

EA : My next project is in the area of musical instruments. In the future I expect new challenges, new goals, new projects.

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

EA : My goal is to respond to what is asked of me as a designer, as a teacher and as a researcher.

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

EA : People expect me to be good at what I do, expect effective and innovative answers, expect good design.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

EA : Design can improve society by designing for society, knowing companies and the territory and accepting the challenges that arise.

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

EA : The trumpet, because it was the most difficult project I've ever done.

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

EA : I'd like to see more companies create products with design.

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

EA : I don't know yet, the world is constantly changing and we must be ready to design in a continuing mutation process.

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

EA : I do not know, it depends on the project, it cannot and should not be generalized.

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

EA : I begin by reading the premises and studying the areas that involve the project.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

EA : I don't have a motto.

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

EA : I think the truth is in the middle, design influences the trend and the trend influences the design. But people, yes people do trends and need design.

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

EA : Technology is as important as everything that involves the project, technology is also important but not fundamental.

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

EA : It depends on the project, from high to low technology, from hammer to CNC.

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

EA : Color is as important as shape or as patterns or textures, all important parameters.

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

EA : People need to ask for good design.

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

EA : A won challenge, a good example of a well solved problem.

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

EA : Clear, I really believe in co-design, my partners are chosen depending on the type of project but mainly they are people who believe in design and in the project in which they work.

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

EA : All the people.

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

EA : All the books, it is not important what we read but how we read it.

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

EA : It depends on the challenges and the skills.

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

EA : I would like to travel through time and talk with Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Beethoven

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

EA : They are important but not fundamental, in design people are the most important thing.

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

EA : It depends on where I am, who I am with and what I mean. Each scenario has its own reason, every food is the reflection of a culture, every form is the consequence of a function. We need to look at things in a "bigger way".

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

EA : The first time I designed a product, when they asked me for the product name I decided it would be my wife's home address ... I couldn't explain why, I liked it as an idea. The name was not important for that project but then it turned out to be decisive in the marketing campaign .... don't ask me how it happened because neither I know it.

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

EA : I don't know what a designer is great but what motivates me: my children.

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

EA : No, as a child I liked to take things apart, build my toys, maybe I didn't know it but I was already a designer.

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

EA : I do not know it and I do not know if I would like to know where the world also goes because I probably won't be already here.

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

EA : I have no fans, I hope my students can say that I was a good teacher.