Ridzert Ingenegeren

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Ridzert Ingenegeren ("RI") 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?

RI : At the Delft University of Technology, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design Engineering and a master’s in Integrated Product Design.

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

RI : I enjoy using beautiful well thought out products, and would like to create products that invoke these feelings in other people. Furthermore, I feel the need to create something that lasts, and it is fulfilling to me to have tangible results of the work that I do.

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

RI : I chose to become a designer. The study of Industrial Design Engineering was the one that appealed most to me as it utilizes technology and creativity for creating tangible products. After I completed my studies, I was ready to go on and start creating products.

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

RI : I design many different types of products, for example I worked on train interior and exterior designs, but also on jewelry boxes and a sustainable travel coffee filter. I would love to design more sustainable products, every day carry objects and luxury items.

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

RI : Thank you for calling me that, that is very nice of you. Young designers could learn a lot from people that are already successful in the field. They could start working in a design team with senior designers or look for a mentor in the field.

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

RI : Great designers seem to treat their work like a part of their life instead of just another job.

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

RI : A really good design should be good on many levels, like esthetics, functionality, social impact and sustainability.

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

RI : Design is changing the world, good or bad, since all physical products require materials that are transformed into products. Good design takes this into account and could change the world for the better by choosing for the best options that are available. People should invest in it in order to improve social and environmental conditions around the globe.

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

RI : An airplane interior for KLM, hardware for Fujitsu and various product designs in partnership with Aman Resorts International.

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

RI : Next to the answer on the previous question, it would be to develop products for my own brand.

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

RI : Maybe I could tell it if you would ask me in a more personal setting, but otherwise I would like to keep if for myself, since it is part of my personal brand!

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

RI : Tapani Jokinen and Ross Lovegrove are among the living legends that I get inspired by.

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

RI : The firsts designs that come to mind are products form James Dyson and his company, because they create sleek designs that are radically different from their competitors.

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

RI : The greatest design that is not confidential is the FLTRgo, a travel coffee filter. It is is collapsible, has a simple shape, a bamboo frame and organic cotton filter, and can be used hundreds of times.

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

RI : Learn from experienced designers, because they know what they are talking about!

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

RI : If I hadn't become an industrial designer, I would have been an architect.

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

RI : Design is a way to strive for perfection to me.

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

RI : My biggest supporter is my lovely wife.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RI : Practicing day in and day out, and becoming obsessed with design.

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

RI : It seems that when you are looking for your own path, people tend to warn you to take the regular and safe path. It has helped me to go against the grain and to create my own path.

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

RI : I don't think there is one right way for designers to present their work. Go for it and try to perfect your presentation, one project at a time.

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

RI : At the moment I'm working on multiple exciting projects for an outdoor brand, for a no plastic brand, and for a luxury brand.

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

RI : To impact thousands of people in a positive way. To create a way for them to enrich and ease their lives.

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

RI : People expect me to solve problems and come up with new ideas.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RI : Design could create products that influence social and environmental conditions for the better, so that society as a whole is better off.

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

RI : A luxury product that is very durable and has an innovative structure that is different from its competitors.

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

RI : Projects that resulted in products that people use in their daily lives. When people use my products every day, I know that I have made an impact and hopefully improved someone’s life.

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

RI : I would like to see more transparency from brands and manufacturers towards consumers regarding the right choices for techniques, materials, and finishes for health and the environment. I think it would be fair to make the information available all the time.

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

RI : Towards a more sustainable future. Environmental regulations seem to become more strict in producing countries and end users are becoming more concerned about the environment.

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

RI : Every design project is unique, but I often finalize a design project in between three weeks and three months.

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

RI : I start with understanding the vision behind the product. I think it is really important to know what the client wants to achieve with the product and who will use it in order to be able to create the desired product.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RI : Enriching people's daily lives.

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

RI : I think it starts with leading product designs that become the example of what is modern, and they set the trends. The trends then set many other designs.

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

RI : Manufacturing technologies are very important when I design. I have to know the possibilities and restrictions of manufacturing since I design products for mass production.

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

RI : I use drawing software that allows me to create digital drawings and computer aided design software for creating 3D models that I can share with manufacturers.

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

RI : They play a major role in conveying a specific look and feel. Trends often dictate colors and materials that people use, but I think the best product designs stand the test of time and still look modern after decades.

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

RI : Questions about the story behind a design and questions that make me think of how to make the next design even better.

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

RI : I'm thinking: wow, what a great job! Ingenious solutions and fascinating shapes! Who designed this?

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

RI : My wife would be my ideal design partner, she completed a master’s in Psychology, she is intelligent and could deepen product designs with cognitive aspects of human-product interaction.

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

RI : Until now, the industrial designers at Designhaus p+m, a design studio in Berlin, had the most influence on my design. I started my career there and evolved from a graduate in Industrial Design into an industrial designer.

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

RI : Study books that I read about manufacturing had the most literal effect on my designs. Cradle to Cradle by William McDonough and Michael Braungart and Design for the Real World by Victor Papanek helped shaping my vision about product design.

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

RI : Studying, learning from professionals, and practicing a lot.

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

RI : I'd like to meet Eames and Eames and discuss their designs and what they think of their influence on current product design.

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

RI : Thank you for these nice words. I feel that winning multiple A' Design Awards stands for recognition of my work, and I am not sure what it would be like to be famous. In any case, it is not my goal to be famous, I would like to focus on enriching the lives of thousands of people by helping my clients with the creation of their products.

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

RI : In many cases, I would personally favor black instead of a color, however this really depends on the context. For example, many elements of home and office interiors that I prefer are white. My favorite place is Osaka, Japan at the moment and my favorite food originated there, Takoyaki. Summer is my favorite season and my favorite thing is freedom. Muji is one of my favorite brands with great designs by Naoto Fukasawa.

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

RI : One day, I was sketching with a fellow designer for a small electric city car with innovative motors. We felt that we needed some guidance in order to grasp the scale of the vehicle. We decided to take some photographs of each other that could support us in the sketching process. From the requirements and existing components that were already in place, we carefully measured at what height we would have to sit, where our feet had to be, where the steering wheel would be. We ended up sitting on buckets outside, it must have been a ridiculous sight, two grown man sitting on buckets and pretending to drive cars!

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

RI : It makes my day great to know that I can help create a more interesting world for many and that I have the chance to hone my skills day by day. I motivate myself by thinking of all interesting products that entrepreneurs and founders would like to realize. It is great to work together with people that are motivated about bringing their products to life as well!

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

RI : As a child, I created wooden and paper objects for fun. I often drew geometrical shapes and patterns. It was obvious that I had to do something creative and at best unconventional.

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

RI : A thousand years is an immensely long time, but on the other hand, basic issues and worries of human beings probably haven't changed too much since they started writing, and they will likely stay the same. Various developing nations will evolve and surpass developed countries in terms of sustainability and GDP. This might change the balance of power of the economies in the world. In a thousand years from now, we probably changed the way we fly and move ourselves and goods into more sustainable ways, and we would have cures for multiple diseases that are not available yet at the moment.

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

RI : You can review projects that I worked on at www.ridzert.com and if you want to get in touch, you can send an email to info@ridzert.com.