Rodrigo Berlim

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Rodrigo Berlim ("RB") 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?

RB : I have a degree in industrial design since 2006, since then I have been working in the nautical industry primarily and producing other projects in parallel, I specialized in yacht design at the Instituto Europeo di Design IED in the yacht design course, years later I set up a carpentry shop where I dedicate my time to create furniture

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

RB : I really liked drawing, painting, creating, I have a taste for manual work, this led me to the world of design, creating products

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

RB : At first I would have liked to have been an architect, but I ended up choosing design

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

RB : I like designing boats and their interiors, but when it comes to furniture, chairs are what attract me the most.

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

RB : just the computer is not enough to create something, getting involved with production and processes are fundamental to understanding how to transform materials into the product you want

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

RB : A great designer is always thinking ahead, beyond expectations, seeking results in the best possible and objective way.

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

RB : design has to function in function, meet needs in general, aesthetics, function, ergonomics, market, sustainability, technology, and when you achieve all of this but in the simplest way possible you have a great design, simplicity is great

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

RB : a good design is never easily discarded, we create attachment, as it probably meets our needs, and normally you use it until you can no longer use it

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

RB : chairs, pehaps for IKEA

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

RB : design a Mega Iate

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

RB : not be afraid of making mistakes

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

RB : no one in specific, but when it comes to furniture, I like Scandinavian and Japanese design

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

RB : no specific design, I like everything that pleases me visually, I appreciate when the human-product interaction works perfectly

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

RB : today is the Velga folding chair, The fact that the jury chose it tells me that it's the best piece I've done

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

RB : I always seek to learn new ways of manufacturing

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

RB : maybe he would have been a civil engineer or architect

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

RB : design for me is the simple solution to a problem

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

RB : my perfectionist head

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

RB : a lot of work, a lot of study, a lot of mistakes, a lot of good and bad clients

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

RB : first to a client, possibly with a prototype, however simple it may be, it works better than a virtual image

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

RB : more chairs

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

RB : a mega yacht in the water

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

RB : teaching, advice

DL: How does design help create a better society?

RB : I believe it is creating sustainable products

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

RB : Today I work doing nautical projects and making furniture

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

RB : when I manufacture handcrafted furniture made of noble wood such as a table and chair

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

RB : care with recycling and reusable products

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

RB : I think the challenge will be competition with artificial intelligence

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

RB : ends when the full scope of the brief and customer and end user satisfaction are achieved

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

RB : I start with the main measurements and adapt the ergonomics

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

RB : that my product lasts as long as possible and brings satisfaction to the user

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

RB : visionary designers set the trends

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

RB : auxiliar a fabricação para tornar o mais simples possivel

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

RB : softwares 3D/2D CAD, Catia, Rhino, Autocad

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

RB : make it comfortable and pleasant

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

RB : I hope you ask me to create the best I can

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

RB : admiration

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

RB : my ideal partner is the one who complements knowledge that I don't have, who raises questions

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

RB : anyone around me, I ask anyone their opinion

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

RB : none in particular

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

RB : learning from my mistakes and successes

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

RB : Steve Jobs

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

RB : I don't consider myself a famous person

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

RB : Green, Itajaí, pasta, spring, tools, no particular brand

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

RB : my father thought that when I went to design school, I would just design bird cages

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

RB : When I'm asked to design something that I haven't designed yet

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

RB : I thought I would be a visual artist and a firefighter

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

RB : I hope we still have humanity

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

RB : I don't know, I'm just a simple person