Legendary Designer Troels Grum-Schwensen

TROELS GRUM-SCHWENSEN

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Troels Grum-Schwensen ("TG") 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?

TG : Architect and furniture-designer from Royal Danish Academy 1986

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

TG : A passion for giving shape. Interest in improving functionality by innovation. Minimize use of materials.

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

TG : I chosed to be an architect and designer

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

TG : Design for spaces and humans: Room, smaller buildings, furniture.

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

TG : Im not a legend - just a designer/Architect trying to do my best. Designers should be humble and steady working for the sake of their philosophy.

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

TG : Coherence and inner logic in the object. Substantial innovation.

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

TG : Coherence and inner logic in the object. Substantial innovation.

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

TG : Better solutions, longliveability aesthetcally and physically

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

TG : Im open to many kinds of new challenges in the area of design related to spaces.

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

TG : A building inc. all detailing and furnishing

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

TG : Im not having that much success I have had to be very steady and hard-working.

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

TG : Eames, Kjærholm, J. Gammelgård

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

TG : Many. E.g: Eames fiber-shell-chairs

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

TG : ATTACH tablesystem. Its combínation of industrial production and extreme costomizeability and adaptability to any architectural space

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

TG : Work - in some periods "day and night"

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

TG : hmm - maybe a marine-biologist

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

TG : Planning and creation af better solutions - always with human and space in mind.

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

TG : I had good teachers during my time at the Rpoyal Academy: Dan Svarth, Erik Krogh among others.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

TG : Steadyness. Around 30years of hard work despite limited success.

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

TG : Around 30years of hard work with limited success.

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

TG : their own way

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

TG : We´ll see.

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

TG : having done something useable for people

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

TG : Ask them (Im not really esteemed)

DL: How does design help create a better society?

TG : by taking care of people, spaces, environments, the planet

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

TG : Cant tell you before publizing

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

TG : some of my innovative table-systems

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

TG : more suistainable approaches

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

TG : sustainability and adaptivity

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

TG : 4 weeks - 5years

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

TG : thinking and sketching with pencil

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

TG : integriity

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

TG : Trends are friend of sales of lesser products. Trends are one of the worst enemies of good and substantial design - and something a good designer should not adapt to.

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

TG : Great importance

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

TG : Important - not at least materials

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

TG : Their choice

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

TG : Inner integrity

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

TG : I do believe in co-design, but have always practised as a solo-designer myself.

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

TG : Some teachers from my time of studies

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

TG : Monographies about Mies, Aalto and others

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

TG : by practice

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

TG : A Aalto, J Lennon, K Marx

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

TG : Im not at all famous, despite the awards

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

TG : I try to be open mindede and avoid sticking to favorites

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

TG : It was fun to see the Lammhults-developers in their secret cellar, exalted by the supringsingly stability of first prototype of my ATTACH-table.

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

TG : Having done something, I feel is good. I also think everybody likes to get some rekognition for their work. Me too.

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

TG : No - but I l,iked to draw and study birds and their evolution

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

TG : Nobody knows. Hope the humanity will survive that long ...

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

TG : See my website: www.grumdesign.com

TROELS GRUM-SCHWENSEN

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

DL: Could you please tell us a bit about your design background and education?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

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

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

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

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

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

DL: How does design help create a better society?

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

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

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

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

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

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

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

TROELS GRUM-SCHWENSEN

LEGENDARY DESIGNER