Alexandre Kasper

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Alexandre Kasper ("AK") 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?

AK : I started at CGS Móveis at the age of 16, always admiring the factory's designer sector, imagining me one day to be there, time went by and I always kept that focus, when I decided to go to architecture school, it opened the eyes of my boss, who it gave me the opportunity to start in the sector 4 years later i already sign 3 product lines.

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

AK : what motivates me is to know that we have a lot to explore in the world, we cannot limit ourselves to what already exists, I say this as a form of creation, I am motivated by the need to have and convert experiences into objects.

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

AK : I chose to be a designer when I was 5 years old, I really liked the Pokemon design, and one day bored with the 150 that existed in the design, I drew another 150 new pokemons.

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

AK : I am passionate about architecture, I want to make a difference in the environment, project needs and experiences.

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

AK : first of all, I’m not a legend, but I’m looking for recognition. this is all a reflection of my desire to learn and do, my advice is to move, act, focus and don't give up.

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

AK : for me, good design is a successful person in the field of quality, knows how to make the product very well done, but does not explore its own emotional side, the designer has to work with emotion and with food and uniting these two factors is only for great minds of the designer.

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

AK : it must be complex of information, not of machining or raw materials, but design when it was with emotion and rationalism it becomes pure and unique.

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

AK : because it is what you keep in the most important object of your life, your home.

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

AK : botanical garden, for the iguaçu waterfalls

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

AK : botanical garden

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

AK : faith in thoughts, and observation, my source of inspiration is nature and architecture.

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

AK : Hans J Wegner, Sérgio Rodrigues, Jader Almeida, Joaquim Tenreiro, João Teixeira, Nanna Ditzel, Oscar Niemeyer, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Lina Bo Bardi, Bjarke Ingels...

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

AK : From Hans J Wegner to Wishbone Chair, for being one of his first designs, he achieved simplicity in the product and linearity in the information that it reflects with a beautiful carpentry work.

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

AK : i believe that the carioca line and the vani line satisfy me equally as good, they reflect my constant search for product excellence with different inspirations but similar results.

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

AK : always in search of knowledge.

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

AK : never crossed my mind.

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

AK : s the reflection of human feeling along with technological rationality.

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

AK : of the owner of CGS, José vani Grassi and my mother Arevani Maria Kasper

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

AK : of the owner of CGS, José vani Grassi and my mother Arevani Maria Kasper

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

AK : the difficulty of seeing, I had to meet people and pass barriers of ignorance to show my point of view about the designer.

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

AK : as clearly as possible.

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

AK : I am developing a line of tables inspired by Brazilian architecture

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

AK : I am developing a line of tables inspired by Brazilian architecture

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

AK : always the best

DL: How does design help create a better society?

AK : with the poetry inside it, making the user think about that, about him, generating innumerable feelings.

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

AK : in a row of tables

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

AK : carioca line and vani line, because I feel the change within me and I feel that these products reflect this professional understanding that I am going through.

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

AK : focus on the environment.

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

AK : I don't know, the designer like any other profession creates many membranes that lead to different paths.

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

AK : 1 to 2 years

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

AK : hand drawing

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

AK : everything that is in the realm of reality was once a dream, by. Leonardo da Vinci

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

AK : both define themselves.

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

AK : technology enters the field of rationality in design.

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

AK : 3dsMax, Rhino, Vray, Solid, Alphacan, Pitagoras, Lumion

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

AK : sensorial, it is the part that of life and meaning for the product.

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

AK : about the feeling of the product.

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

AK : persistence, because I know it’s not easy to get to that.

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

AK : I believe, anyone who allows themselves to live by design becomes a good partner

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

AK : family, and industrial processes, are internal feelings that we reflect on projects without knowing.

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

AK : biography of leonardo da vinci, smarter than the devil, positive mental attitude, life is a breath, 1000 chairs.

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

AK : practicing every day,

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

AK : Hans J Wegner

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

AK : I haven't even had one yet

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

AK : black color, soup, winter, adidas.

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

AK : during my short trajectory I got to know my great design heroes at the fairs I attended.

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

AK : be silent and watch the factory, so I can communicate with myself

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

AK : no, but i always knew i was going to be a designer

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

AK : technology is going to be love and war.

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

AK : never give up on what you believe, design is made of it and life too.