Sebastiaan Van beest

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Sebastiaan Van beest ("SVB") 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?

SVB : I do not have any education in design. I have always done my own thing. I just recently decided to pursue my passion of furniture design and try to make a living out of it. This is the first ever competition I have entered in and with my first ever chair.

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

SVB : I see design in everything and my mind is constantly trying to improve on designs i see around me. It was only natural that eventually I would take the step to follow this dream professionally.

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

SVB : I was always a designer, drawing, painting and just creating since a very young age. Unfortunately life doesn't always go as planned and I was not able to pursue a career in design as I wanted to until now.

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

SVB : I sculpt, paint, produce music and design and build furniture and lighting. I want to spend more time designing and building lighting installations. I would also very much like to design new permanent furniture and objects for the city I live in.

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

SVB : I would hardly classify myself as a legend... I just have a deep love for design and creation and to take what's in my head and make it a reality. I love creating things that help uplift people and inspire them to create. Work hard, work your ass off!! I f you start something, finish it. Even if you have to put it aside for a while and work on something else. I find it's always great to have many projects at once on the go as something you design for one thing might fit better on another project. Believe in yourself and don't be afraid to put yourself and your work out there for people to see. You need feedback to grow.

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

SVB : That's a hard question. There are many designs that at the time were not great, but later on became great. Just because something is not great right now, it can be. I think work ethic and attention to detail make a big difference between the good and the great.

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

SVB : Craftmanship, precision, use of materials and how they work together to create the ever so important flow. Everything must flow. A truly great design will fit in any surrounding.

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

SVB : Good design is art. No one can tell you what you should think is good design. If a design moves you and you want to see it often as it will bring value to your every day life, then only you can decide the value of that design to you. As for everyone investing in good design, well, design is everything around you. Whether its man made or natural. Everything is designed and with out design, there would be nothing.

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

SVB : I have the time now to design anything I want. If the materials I want to use are too expensive, I switch to something more cost affective. I would love to design for other designers, I don't think there's a higher appreciation than that of another designer.

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

SVB : I want to design and build my own house somewhere in nature. I want it to compliment the surroundings.

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

SVB : Be bold. Do what you want. Don't conform to "what's hot" right now. Design to break the boundaries. Set out to create the trend. You might just hit a home run and be the next great designer!

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

SVB : This might sound weird, but I don't really follow any designers. I live in my own little design world. I often run through google images to get some inspiration, but never delve much deeper than that. I am a fan of Christian Woo and his daring minimal designs. It takes a minute to get used to what he makes before you can appreciate it and I like that. It makes you think and and try to look at it from different perspectives and thus actually helps grow your pallet.

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

SVB : I am a huge lover of architecture and Bjarke Ingels is one of my favorites. He just recently designed "The Vancouver House" here in my city and it is something to behold. I love his designs as they push the boundaries of what is possible in architecture.

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

SVB : I would have to say the "minimal techno arm chair" and in my opinion, the greatest park of it, is the negative space and how the chair uses it.

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

SVB : Keep a sober mind. As much as you think substances like alcohol and drugs might help elevate your design process, they don't! Practice every day, fail a ton, learn from it and move on.

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

SVB : Worked a job I hated and been unhappy I guess...

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

SVB : It is my life.

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

SVB : With out a doubt my mother and my girlfriend. None of this would have been possible without them.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

SVB : I still don't see myself as a great designer. I make some nice things and I am happy with that and that other people like them too, that's fantastic!!!

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

SVB : I don't think there are "design masters".. That would mean that everything a master would make would be perfect and we all know that not everything we designers come up with is great or should ever even see the light of day. Don't worry about all these labels. Just create and push it out into the world to be seen.

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

SVB : In the best way possible for them.

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

SVB : I am currently working on a line of furniture with neon acrylics. So I am going to step outside the norm of what is right now and take a few risks. Fun minimal designs!

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

SVB : To have a successful company and have the ability to help young designers grow their talent. I Also want a boat, a nice boat hahaha

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

SVB : Winning 1 award hardly makes you an esteemed designer, but it definitely helps! You can expect more experimental designs to come from me. I like to have fun with this and that will translate into my work.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SVB : Good design helps promote creativity, something that's not promoted enough in todays schooling system.

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

SVB : I am currently doing a complete renovation of our house and designing and building everything from scratch. I am very excited about the kitchen and bathroom designs.

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

SVB : Every project gives me satisfaction once completed. It can be a long tough road to get something new finished and once you do get it finished and it turned out better than you could have imagined, what could be more satisfying! I always try and push my abilities to the maximum and try new things that I didn't know I could do.

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

SVB : Architecture!!! I would like to see more daring futuristic design. We don't want anymore of these cookie cutter glass boxes with no vision!!!

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

SVB : I think people are tired of seeing the same old same old and I think designers will be pushing the limits of what's possible. I hope to see some truly crazy designs in the near future.

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

SVB : it can take anywhere from 1 day to 1 month depending on how complex the design is and how inspired I am at the time.

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

SVB : I lay in bed picking it apart in my mind till I have the bones figured out, then I start the build and modify it along the way.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

SVB : Less is more!

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

SVB : Design sets the trend. Without design, there would be no trend.

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

SVB : Pretty much none existent. I am old school. Brain, pen and paper.

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

SVB : I build everything in my shop. It's a small little shop till I can make it big and can open an actual facility.

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

SVB : Very important. I carefully choose my materials and finishes to compliment each other in the best way I know how.

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

SVB : That's amazing!!! And it almost always inspires me to sit down and create something better than the last.

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

SVB : Absolutely. I've worked on many song with many different and talented musicians over the years. I love creating with others, it can lead to some truly amazing things!

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

SVB : It takes time and practice. you just have to keep going till you are happy with what you create, even though you may never be.

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

SVB : Anthony Bourdain. I would love to sit and have good talk about the future of humanity over a bottle of Lagavulin with this person. The world was a better place with him in it.

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

SVB : pink is my favorite color, black is my favorite shade. I love being in nature. Summertime as it's nice and warm and I like the heat. My favorite thing is the Miruna...

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

SVB : The urge to create comes naturally. Sure I have writers block from time to time and when that happens, I make some art, work on music or do something not creative at all. As for motivation, it just comes to me or it doesn't. Since I don't do designs for anyone in particular, I don't have the pressure to have to create.

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

SVB : I always had a tough time at school. I could not focus and was not interested in anything they were teaching. I often would just draw and get kicked out of class. I never saw myself having a long term job or fitting into the mold. I always knew that one day I would be able to turn my creativity into a business.

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

SVB : Terrible question. Unless we as a civilization figure out all of our problems very quick, I think there will be no future with us as a species in it.