Sanaz Hassannezhad

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Sanaz Hassannezhad ("SH") 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?

SH : I hold a Master of Design Innovation from Loughborough University London. I also earned a Master of Industrial Design from the University of Tehran. Additionally, I have a Bachelor of Industrial Design from Tabriz Art University. And, now it's over 6 years I'm working as a designer.

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

SH : My motivation to design comes from a desire to solve problems and improve people's lives through innovative and user-centered solutions. I became a designer to combine my passion for creativity and functionality, making a positive impact on the world.

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

SH : I chose to become a designer. It has always been a personal aspiration driven by my interest in art, creativity, and problem-solving.

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

SH : I specialize in industrial design, with experience in product design and development. I wish to design more sustainable products that contribute to environmental conservation and social well-being and also I'm crazy about behavior design.

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

SH : I never thinking I'm a design legend, But I will tell to young designers should focus on continuous learning, gaining hands-on experience, and building a strong portfolio. Networking with industry professionals and staying updated with design trends is also crucial.

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

SH : A good designer creates functional and aesthetically pleasing designs, while a great designer goes beyond by innovating and pushing the boundaries of design to create impactful and lasting solutions.

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

SH : A good design is one that meets user needs, functional, and aesthetically pleasing. It solves a problem effectively and enhances the user's experience. I evaluate good design based on its usability, innovation, sustainability, and overall impact that value it adds to users' lives.

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

SH : Good design enhances the user experience, improves functionality, and can lead to better economic outcomes and adds value to products and services. Investing in good design leads to better user satisfaction, brand loyalty, and long-term success.

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

SH : If I had the time, I would design innovative solutions for mentally disabled people like ADHD, Autistic, Anxiety and depression and etc, to focusing on improving their quality of life through functional products.

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

SH : My dream project is to design a product help to change wrong behavior and habits and replace them with healthy and correct behaviors and habits.

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

SH : My secret recipe for success in design includes a combination of creativity, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of user needs. My secret ingredient is persistence and a willingness to iterate and improve.

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

SH : Every single designers are brilliant inspiration for me, because each one them have different attitude and style. and I can learn different things of them.

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

SH : I admire Nima Bavardi, young and smart and creative Iranian designer.

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

SH : It's not self explanatory if I say that most of my design are great, because I always seek to solve need and solve a problem for users. for example one of my greatest designs is a product developed during my dissertation, aimed at helping cure anxiety disorders. Its effectiveness in addressing a real-world problem and its innovative use of technology and user-centered design principles make it great.

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

SH : To become better designers, people should focus on continuous learning, seeking diverse experiences, and browsing among good designs and see different designers projects. I improved myself by pursuing advanced education, participating in competitions, and working on a variety of projects and browsing among a lot of designs every day.

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

SH : If I hadn’t become a designer, I might have pursued a career in psychology or Artist like painter. fields where I can still make a positive impact on people's lives.

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

SH : For me, design is every things.

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

SH : My biggest supporter is myself.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

SH : Really i don't think I'm a great designer, but I try. Continuous learning, hands-on experience, and a passion for innovation have helped me a lot. Staying curious and open to new ideas has also been crucial.

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

SH : Some obstacles I faced included balancing creative vision with practical constraints, overcoming self-doubt, and staying updated with rapidly evolving design technologies and trends.

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

SH : Highlighting the problem, design process, and solution. Visual aids like sketches, prototypes, and interactive models can help communicate ideas effectively.

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

SH : I have some to do, like Lighting design, Product design and Sustainable products.

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

SH : My ultimate goal as a designer is to create products that positively impact people's lives and people know me as a good and influencer designer.

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

SH : People expect innovative, high-quality designs that solve real-world problems and improve user experience and at the same time creativity.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

SH : Design helps create a better society by addressing social, economic, and environmental and ect, issues through innovative solutions. Good design can improve quality of life, accessibility, sustainability and satisfaction.

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

SH : I am currently working on a project that involves designing sustainable Product. This project excites me because it combines my passion for sustainability with reusing clothes and fabric.

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

SH : My all projects that gave me the most satisfaction because all combined my passion for innovation with the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on people's lives. Especially Voyz, Because I got the A"Design Award with this.

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

SH : I would like to see how AI can help design industry. In fact, collaboration between design industry and AI.

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

SH : The design field is headed towards more integrated and interdisciplinary approaches, incorporating advanced technologies like AI and IoT.

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

SH : The time to finalize a design project varies depending on its complexity. On average, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, including research, prototyping, and iterations.

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

SH : When starting a new design project, I begin with thorough research and understanding of the problem, followed by user research, ideation, sketching, and prototyping to develop and refine solutions.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

SH : "Design with empathy, innovate with purpose."

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

SH : Design can both set trends and be influenced by them.

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

SH : Technology plays a crucial role in my design process, from research, digital sketching and 3D modeling to prototyping and user testing.

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

SH : I use a variety of design software including Rhinoceros, Keyshot, Adobe Photoshop, Figma, Canvas For equipment. And my favorite equipment is my sketching notebook.

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

SH : Color, materials, and ambient elements play a critical role in design, influencing aesthetics, functionality, and user experience. They contribute to the overall feel and effectiveness of a product.

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

SH : I wish people would ask more about the design process, the inspiration behind the designs, and the impact of the designs on users.

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

SH : When I see a great design, I think about the innovation and creativity behind it.

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

SH : My ideal design partner is someone who shares my passion for innovation and sustainability. I believe in co-design as it brings diverse perspectives and enhances creativity.

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

SH : My professors and mentors had a significant influence on my design approach.

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

SH : Books like "Designing Design" by Kenya Hara and "The Design of Everyday Things" by Don Norman have had a profound impact on my understanding of design principles and user-centered design.

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

SH : I developed my skills through formal education, practical experience, continuous learning, and by seeking feedback from mentors and peers. Participation in design competitions, exhibitions and events also helped hone my skills.

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

SH : I would love to meet and discuss with Leonardo da Vinci, as his multidisciplinary approach to art and science is incredibly inspiring.

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

SH : Receiving awards and recognition is an honor and validation of my work. It also provides a platform to inspire and influence positive change in the design industry.

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

SH : My favorite color is yellow, favorite place is the Jungle and rar places, favorite food is Persian food, favorite season is spring, favorite thing is my sketchbook, camera and dogs.

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

SH : One funny experience as a designer was when I did the final prototyping, I realized that it was not the final design and I did wrong design, So I was angry about my self because spent a lot of time and energy for wrong things, then had to start again.

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

SH : Seeing the positive impact of my designs on users makes my day great. I motivate myself by setting clear goals, staying curious, and finding inspiration in everyday life.

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

SH : As a child, I was always interested in drawing, painting, building things, and solving problems.

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

SH : In the future, I envision advanced technologies and sustainable practices shaping the design industry. In a thousand years, we may see designs that are completely integrated with nature and driven by artificial intelligence.

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

SH : As a designer I am committed to creating products that not only look good but also improve people's lives and protect people and our planet.