Unto

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Unto ("Unto") 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?

Unto : We both completed our BFA in Product Designs at Parsons The New School at New York.

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

Unto : Finding small solutions, but solutions nevertheless, to a world that has so many problems.

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

Unto : Choose, of course, Asian parents usually force you to not be one, so quite the contrary.

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

Unto : Not limited to any category, but we hope to design to last.

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

Unto : Know what moves you and strive to be better at it.

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

Unto : The greater the urge and attempt to achieve a harmonious balance between usefulness, functionality, aesthetics, means of production, and making an object or experience speak to our emotions.

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

Unto : Its only accurate to refer to Dieter Ram's "10 principle of Good Design", we cannot agree more.

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

Unto : The world has unsolvable issues, and it just throws one over the top, for instance, poverty and pollution. But good design can be small solutions, that builds towards making this world a better place. By tackling those unsolvable issues in any creative perspectives or just opening a new dialogue.

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

Unto : Design solutions to communities in need (mostly related to education, wellness and health issues).

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

Unto : A set of furniture

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

Unto : Theres plenty, to speak of some: Dieter Rams, Oki Sato and Tadao Ando.

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

Unto : We are a fan of objects that speak for themselves, one of our favorite design is Rams’s wall-mounted audio system. Comprised of two speakers, a tape recorder and a control unit, it was first made in 1964. The form is so simple with the intuitive functionality. The quiet appearance and tactile detail make the product shines for generations.

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

Unto : Stop being a designer, try to be a user, a craftsmen, a manufacturer. And soak up this world of information but stay tune and refine what you choose to put on your plate.

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

Unto : Psychologist or recently i am thinking an awful lot on farming.

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

Unto : A creative communication with aesthetics.

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

Unto : Start from bring a user, the end receiver, the manufacturer, anything but the designer.

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

Unto : Design sets the trends, for sure, a good design is meant to last and serves as classic.

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

Unto : Think we’d be emotional. Passionate and feel inspired.