Maryam Heydarian

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Maryam Heydarian ("MH") 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?

MH : I finished my MS in Industrial design, and my MA in Industrial and product Design , University of Tehran,Iran. Also have been working in this field since 2012

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

MH : I have always wondered design is about combining art and technology. I believe usability by it self is not enough and beauty without usability is not nothing. Therefore, I chose Industrial design to work in this field and will continue to design and create things.

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

MH : Designing is my passion and I wanted to become a designer

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

MH : i love to design smart devices

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

MH : just follow their dreams and passion and never give up! it's important for them to practice as much as possible as well.

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

MH : a great designer should be creative and sharp and disciplined

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

MH : Good design is not just what looks good. It also needs to perform, convert, astonish, and fulfill its purpose. It can be innovative or it might just get the job done. A good design cannot be measured by a finite way multiple perspectives are needed.

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

MH : design brings the main purpose of creating something. it is so important for an item to be well designed, design combines since and art.

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

MH : A smart vacuum cleaner. I'd love work with Dyson company one day.

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

MH : Travelling abroad more and learn about different cultures.

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

MH : brain storming with my team

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

MH : I can mention Nades Faghihzadeh for designing BMW products.

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

MH : One of my favorite designs is: Philippe Starck. which contains emotional design. Also I can point out Steve Jobs for designing minimal Apple products.

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

MH : Clexi is one of the good examples. it is practical, new, fancy and unique

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

MH : read about different cultures and follow the designing protocols

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

MH : a Yoga instructor

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

MH : To me design is not just about make appealing things or just about usability, design is the process of imagining and planning the creation of objects, systems $ etc. With using design process like design thinking, double diamond and so on.

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

MH : My dad is my main supporter , however my professor during BA really changed my perspective and motivated me.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MH : I am not yet a great designer, however practicing, reading and follow the designer's protocols

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

MH : I was always good at sketching however working with designing software and platforms was not easy for me. I had to learn them

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

MH : they should present their final result in a good quality after checking everything is completely done

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

MH : well we are thinking on a smart backpack

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

MH : learn as much as I can and keep working with great designers

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

MH : to be focused, sharp, disciplined and creative

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MH : design can bring something useful,practical and new to the real world. something that makes people live their lives easier and happier.

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

MH : it's a smart key chain that has so many lighting design on

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

MH : Hio key design. it is a small device and I had to designs almost everything on a small peace and choose the right material to bring it to the real world

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

MH : combining art in more fields of industry and creating more meaningful designs and concepts

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

MH : designing more in the AI field and combining art with technology more for creating robots and smart devices.

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

MH : it depends I had projects that i finished in 6 months, also some in a day.

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

MH : reading about the history about that product or study about the main purposes of creating that.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MH : simplicity is the most beautiful thing.

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

MH : design sets the trend

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

MH : since I mostly work in a technology field almost technology has a main role in my designs

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

MH : 3Dmax Rhino Vray Cinema 4D Photoshop Adobe xd Illustration

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

MH : each color has it's own meaning and message, therefore choosing the right color is so important in different designs. also each product needs a special material. so a good designer should know well about these two factors.

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

MH : how i got inspired at the beginning.

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

MH : I need to work with this designer! this person is awesome!

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

MH : I love to work with a partner who doesn't exactly think like me, but we almost have the same point of view. in this way we will design something more beautiful and unique together.

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

MH : My dad, professor and co workers

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

MH : Donald Norman 2-The art of innovation 3-Emotional design (Donald Norman) 4-Experience design (Nathan shedroff) 5-Process: 50 Product Designs from Concept to Manufacture Buch von Jennifer Hudson

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

MH : practicing sketching and learning software and tools. also reading a lot about art and concepts.

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

MH : Philippe Starck , Salvador Dalí

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

MH : being famous is not enough for me. I believe getting famous can be easy, but in what in field you are famous in? I believe if you follow your passion and dreams also work hard, you'll be famous in a good way in the fields you want to be.

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

MH : Orange. Paris. Burger. Fall. Books and Apple

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

MH : I was attending a big and popular industrial event, one of the most famous professors in this field was giving a speech. During the break, I was so excited to talk to him, so I went super nervous and started to talk to him, suddenly saw he is wearing one of the bracelets i designed before. so I laughed and we started to talk about my designs.

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

MH : Doing Yoga and read news and articles in art and fashion and read books

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

MH : I was always creative and couscous about everything around me. i was good at paining as well. so my dad always thought i'll become a famous painter! not a designer!

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

MH : I believe AI will play the main role in each society. probably everything works based on the technology and everywhere will be robots.

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

MH : I'd be so happy if I could help any one the students and young designers. They should feel free to contact me via LinkedIn or email.