Lucio Rossi

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Lucio Rossi ("LR") 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?

LR : I'm an architect. I have studied architecture in the university of Buenos Aires, Argentina, then I have studied in Germany, a master in architecture in the DIA in Dessau, where the Bauhaus is, and finished in Paris, studding with Peter Cook. My design experience (non architectural) is mostly self taught, I consider my brother (also an architect) my teacher on this.

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

LR : I like to do stuff. I got to the position of a designer out of a big political/economical crisis in Argentina, although as an architect you may design furniture, and some stuff, but the crisis left no work for architecture, many turned into design as a way to get some work, or at least get busy on something. I was consistent with that. So, it was a given situation that made me face this idea, eventually the situation (in miniature) repeated in France years after, so I thought on working on something that is not attached to any political situation or territory, I saw the idea to slowly setup a design startup to be able to work anywhere anytime and keep myself moving. Of course, I like it.

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

LR : Already explained, in one way I chose, (its always a choice) but the environment pushes in one or another direction.

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

LR : Currently I'm busy with Venvstas, this was stationary at the beginning, now we move to other products, so its lifestyle. Two years ago I have never thought I'll be designing audio equipment, and I'm also doing the engineering of it. I do everything as long as I can; I'll like to focus on transportation.

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

LR : I don't think I'm a legend, I'm just a short story. Don't go to a design school. Look at nature.

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

LR : Good designers.....maybe great designers we have two or three alive. The rest are filing the gaps, great designers have taken risks, good designers won't ever take any.

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

LR : How does it ages. Like people.

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

LR : Well, buy a well designed thing and you won't like to through it away.

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

LR : We need more housing, cities are terrible, poorly designed, its the big challenge. Cities should start to produce (in any way) their own energy, we need to lower the impact of construction by using better concretes (we have them). People are living very bad everywhere, the quality of housing and living is very bad elsewhere. Cars have ruined the planet.

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

LR : Paradoxically a car.

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

LR : Do your own stuff. I don't have secrets, just be your own client.

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

LR : Early....Frank Gehry, not only as an architect, but as furniture designer he was or is so good. Clorindo Testa, Peter Cook, Eric Owen Moss. From all them, the only I have not worked or met or study with is Gehry. I'm lucky I met most of my heroes.

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

LR : A chair by Frank Gehry, the Gibson Les Paul by Ted Maccarty or the Lancia Stratoss by Gandini I just like that. The citroën ds has a special part on my thinking. Was the best car I have ever been in. Little we know about Bertini. A lamp designed by my brother, a pen by my wife;

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

LR : The Acera Chair. You cannot add or take anything from it. That's where things are ok.

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

LR : don't go to a design school. Look at nature.

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

LR : A full time musician or a paleontologist.

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

LR : Its everything, the good and the bad.

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

LR : My brother. He's one of the best designers I have ever met. He showed me the way on this.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

LR : I don't think I'm a great designer, but in any case it helps to work with or for people you respect and you can get things from. That have a teaching capacity. I don't recommend to go to a design school. I'll study architecture instead.

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

LR : I'm still facing them.

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

LR : finished.

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

LR : some carbon fiber made stuff.

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

LR : To do things you won't like to through away.

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

LR : I can say what do they expected from the stuff I did. Stuff they like.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

LR : It should be central, but unfortunately it isn't.

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

LR : Some headphones and speaker systems.

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

LR : Well, some fountain pens I did, its funny to pull out a design instrument you did, and its made to your like. But the one that I was more happy about was a store I did years ago. It was the realization of years of stuff that was never made.

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

LR : To see better looking cars. Cars look terrible, They are so ugly you wanna get inside so you don't see them anymore, but once inside the smell of plastic knocks you out, and the proliferation of useless details and knobs and marketing rubbish makes you wanna get out. Specially german cars are looking terrible. What they have done with the mini, it should be called a design crime.

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

LR : Body parts, robots, that direction.

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

LR : Don't know, really. not much time. Depends on the subject.

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

LR : The beginning, I mean, the problem.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

LR : I have none.

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

LR : design sets the trends when its free. It comes from true freedom. Trends are things that are horrible. Like german cars.

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

LR : depends on the design. Maybe you have to accommodate some chips, make a pcb be made for you, or just cut a piece of metal. Print in titanium, you have to be flexible.

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

LR : Right now the brain.

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

LR : Its really random.

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

LR : I have never thought about it.

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

LR : Why didn't I thought about that, I like to see more things I like. It helps.

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

LR : Right now my wife. So was my brother. Seems people who are with me with emotionally involved. I work good with friends. I believe in to working with other designers, but not backed by a marketing department. That's zombie design.

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

LR : My brother.

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

LR : directly, none; I suggest to read Martian chronicles by Ray Bradbury. He really designs the martians houses, its a short description, but makes you understand that for doing books, better a write. A good description works as a code, you make the decodification in your head, translating the words into mental images, which won't be the same of the writer, nor to anybody reading the same you read. So you design, without thinking about it. Architects like Le Courbusier have written horrible books, they are just impossible to read. Designers like to talk or write about themselves, and that's terrible.

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

LR : A master designer should not have skills. Talents its a nicer word. I give skills to the monkey that's riding a bike.

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

LR : Imhotep. I'll get a big deal of knowledge from him.

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

LR : I'm not famous! I have won some stuff, but what matters is what you do, your designs, you can have a bunch of awards, but if what you do does not convince you, well, maybe do a turn in your career.

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

LR : food....the pizza I make. Color, probably red. Place, maybe city, Paris, its where I like to be, but any seaside town is good. Season, spring, thing.....If I had to think on one thing will be a Gibson Les Paul. Brand, well, Gibson, just because of that.

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

LR : Once I convinced champagne makers that the best they could do was to have a nice box. Because otherwise, while buying the champagne if you have not tried it before, why would you buy it?, which reason would make you buy a champagne you have never heard of, besides price, maybe. A great box, a box that looks silent and different, that by its silence is different to all the rubbish on display. They were looking at me in speechless as I was telling something they have never heard before. I understood that you need sometimes to get a story in order to sell an idea, no matter if the idea is good or bad. Its full of marketing people out there, but the true is, designers don't often do marketing as marketing is an inferior thing to do. In any case, if they push you, you'll do better marketing than then.

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

LR : I'm a lazy person I guess. Music. Taking a nap.

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

LR : its not even obvious today...

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

LR : I hope there's still a civilization here that is not trying to invent the wheel or make fire out of a couple of stones.

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

LR : The only fans I have are those from the pen world after my work at Venvstas, so...stuff has to look good, that's the main thing!