Maurice Lacy

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Maurice Lacy ("ML") 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?

ML : As a student at Melbourne Box Hill institute of technology I enjoy and focused on art, technical drawing, metal fabrication, woodwork and solid geometry. I would have to say though most of my skill were practically learnt through hands on experience.

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

ML : Becoming a designer wasn’t so much planed, it was more just the result of developing ideas creatively without thinking about putting myself in a box.

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

ML : I think of myself more as an inventor, because I love to find solutions to problems. Design is a necessity of the overall process, particularly with furniture. So it was just something that naturally evolved.

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

ML : I think of myself more as an inventor, because I love to find solutions to problems. Design is a necessity of the overall process, particularly with furniture. So it was just something that naturally evolved.

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

ML : Focus, stick to your goals and persist.

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

ML : The best designs always reflect individualism.

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

ML : What makes a really good design in furniture is when it ticks all the boxes in texture, colour, comfort and the space it’s designed to fit within.

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

ML : I would love to have the opportunity to design a resort with a team of like minded designers, using natural resources.

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

ML : The desire of most artists is to create something that lives on to bring pleasure and comfort for generations. Like a musician dreams of writing the perfect song that reaches the hearts of the listeners.

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

ML : The secret to a successful creation is recognising that persistence hard work is always by far the main ingredient. Don’t be overly obsessed by critics.

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

ML : It’s a hard question for me to answer, I get inspired by so many thing. It is like if your ask me who is my favourite musician and the answer is always the same, and that is that there are just so many to choose from but to name a few. Verner Panton, Charles and Ray Eames have had remarkable vision that few can surpass.

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

ML : Charles and Ray Eames because they ticked every box with such detail.

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

ML : Well, I don’t wish to seem tunnelled visioned but again I will mention Charles and Ray Eames for the incredible and masterfully designed lounge chair and ottoman. It absolutely tick all the boxes and is a times set.

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

ML : Just be who you are and focus on your dream. If you are good at what you do you don’t need to pretend you anything but who you are.

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

ML : I can’t imagine not trying to be creative in one form or another. We are all born to be creative we just get lost along the way. I often wish I had focused more on being a musician when I was younger but life takes strange turns sometimes and I’m a closet performer. It’s also a reason why I like to design, because no one is watching when you make a mistake.

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

ML : Design is the inspiration of creative evolution.

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

ML : Stephen Marriot helped me quite a lot along the way as an investor, business partner and friend. My brother Robert has been an amazing support to the point where I probably would have given up some time ago, but he is a man who sees beyond himself and goes to great lengths to encourage others. My patent attorney Tom Nielsen is also a man of incredible character and good will, who has helped me tremendously along the way. There are many others for whom I owe a great deal of gratitude for having faith in me and for which I feel humbled by.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

ML : I would never call myself a great designer, I’m just a man with dreams

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

ML : I could never be so bold to call myself a master,. That is up to others to judge.

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

ML : My next project is a combination of outdoor furniture but I have an outdoor lounge chair I’m excited about. I believe it will be quite evolutionary and in a similar theme as the Seychelle sofa.

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

ML : My ultimate goal is to make my children proud.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

ML : Design incorporates many things in the world, even political and social culture. Real artists work to make the world a better place and show the absolute respect for what supports all living things, mother earth.

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

ML : I’m currently working on a very different outdoor lounge chair.

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

ML : I’m most proud of the Seychelle sofa because it was a complex piece to design and yet for the average person to see it in operation it would seem functionally simplistic.

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

ML : I can’t wait to see the explosion that will come with 3D printing and the endless design opportunities that lay just around the corner.

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

ML : Nano technology and 3D printing are about to create a whole new world that hopefully will resolve among other thing our pressing environmental issues.

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

ML : Nano technology and 3D printing are about to create a whole new world that hopefully will resolve among other thing our pressing environmental issues.

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

ML : My Ideas come from acknowledging a need.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

ML : Understand the difference between a dream thief and a genuine critic.

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

ML : Design creates trends.

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

ML : The roll of technology is to develop ways to overcome manufacturing challenges.

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

ML : I design everything on paper and in the old school technical way and then work with a CAD designer to transfer it into autocad.

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

ML : In furniture all of these things are of absolute importance however there has to be some degree of compromising sometime for the sake of structural integrity.

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

ML : Can I get some.

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

ML : The first thing that usually comes to mind when I see a great design is admiration for the designer.

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

ML : I would love to work with someone who has good cad skills and understands the value of forth coming technologies.

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

ML : My late fathers ability to come up with solutions to problems was my greatest influence.

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

ML : I always look at the pictures in hard cover landscape and furniture magazines for inspiration.

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

ML : I would have to say that most of my skills were born of curiosity and hands on experience.

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

ML : David Attenborough.

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

ML : I’m so thankful to the judges for winning the A-design award but it is difficult to imagine myself as famous.

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

ML : I love earthy and natural colours and the vibrance of spring in Northern Europe.

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

ML : There are few things more inspiring than n early morning walk on a beach or in a forest.

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

ML : As a child my biggest desire was to just be accepted for who I was and fit in, I didn’t quite see the world as most.

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

ML : It is difficult to imagine the world in a thousand years if we continue on our current path. We have to change in our global attitudes right now to even entertain the thought of future generations. I’m not a pessimist but a realist.