Mohsen Koofiani

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Mohsen Koofiani ("MK") 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?

MK : I graduated in painting then I became interested in design as a teenager. Packaging design, illustration, and painting is my main specialty in designing.

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

MK : I enjoy creating what is in my mind and displaying it. I feel the statistics and flight while designing. The design gives me a sense of relief.

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

MK : I neither chose nor had to, I felt like becoming a designer from the inside.

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

MK : I am a packaging designer and illustrator. I design whatever I can. I really like a design for food industries and beverage companies.

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

MK : I am not a myth. But to become a good designer, they must have a beautiful attitude and try hard to listen, look and be different.

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

MK : A good designer designs well and executes well. But a great designer has a broader vision. Sees well, hears well, understands well, analyzes well, designs well, and delivers well.

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

MK : A correct and different understanding of the design in a way that nobody else can. A good design lasts forever!

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

MK : Good designs look better. Good design looks different and impressive. It does not become repetitive and old. Anything that works should be invested in, but a good plan should be maintained because it will last longer.

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

MK : For someone who respects my work, I offer a design that is born within me and with all my emotions.

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

MK : Illustration of characterization and design of Ferdowsi Shahnameh book with different packaging, one of the most influential poetry books in the world.

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

MK : Do not duplicate or copy.

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

MK : Salvador Dali, Picasso.

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

MK : I like the Picasso cow design because it is simply completely drawn. Coca-Cola glass packaging design, creating a simple and impressive form of packaging.

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

MK : My best design so far has been Proshot coffee packaging. Because a large part of my soul is in these packages. These packs offer a different version of the coffee product marketing hand in hand with revolutionary coffee characters.

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

MK : Ideation and style and being able to identify exactly what they are great at and what they like.

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

MK : I think I was dying.

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

MK : Design is, in my opinion, abandonment. Designing a bridge between the inner and outside of our mind. Design is a common language among all the people of the world.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MK : Childish senses.

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

MK : Being accepted by the community as a designer is not an easy task. Building trust is hard work and there is nothing worse than a designer not being able to put his ideas into work.

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

MK : Display your works either virtually or as an exhibition.

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

MK : I have lots of projects. It is a difficult question, but all I am trying to do is come up with a new plan for better communication with the community.

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

MK : Achieving goals is cross-sectional. Achieving goals is easy with effort. If you have an ultimate goal, then everything is much easier.

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

MK : Good public relations, good design, and ideas.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MK : By changing and cultivating public culture and visual and aesthetic vision.

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

MK : A project on dried fruit and the continuation of Proshot coffee packaging.

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

MK : Projects in which there was illustration. Because repentance has a stronger visual connection with the audience.

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

MK : Type of project presentation

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

MK : Design is a means of advancing the mind. Ideas and designs are endless.

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

MK : Depends on the type of project.

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

MK : Listening to customer's needs.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MK : Always protect your inner child.

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

MK : Both are possible. But I think so far the design has determined the trends.

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

MK : Technology creates a broader vision in creating a design and presenting it to us.

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

MK : Any tool and technique that can help me convey my inner feelings.

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

MK : Color, material, and environment complete the design process. Creating a space is a very important point along with the design, which is definitely very effective in the viewer's eyes.

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

MK : I would rather like they to ask me about brainstorming and how to create a work.

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

MK : I'm happy that a designer has been able to come up with an idea, either individually or as a team. I'm glad to see that something has been created that makes our surroundings look more beautiful.

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

MK : My partner has to think differently from me and you have to see differently from me, but as a team, we have to be like-minded and at the forefront of coming up with an idea. Yes, I like teamwork, and most of the time I get good results from teamwork.

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

MK : My family

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

MK : It might be funny, but books that are simple and not complicated are as effective to me like children's books.

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

MK : By practicing and updating myself. Create a goal to achieve a new technique or a different line of thinking.

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

MK : Picasso, Jim Carrey, Walt Disney, and Spielberg.

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

MK : Yes, becoming famous increases human responsibility towards its audience.

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

MK : All colors, Italy, stick, spring, pencil, and paper, Rolls-Royce.

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

MK : ​​In one project, I had finished the design, the illustration (watercolor) was done and the file was ready to print. The client came to me for final approval and said, "I have a few small changes." The small changes were: the background color changed, the face image turned 30 degrees, and the hat. And the color of her clothes should be striped. And then he said to me with a special look, "Isn't that hard work?"

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

MK : High energy environment

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

MK : I did my best and one of my dreams was to work at Walt Disney.

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

MK : Progress, Progress, and progress.

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

MK : Ideation and design is a timeless world, just try to create beauty.