Marius Mateika

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Marius Mateika ("MM") 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?

MM : I am an architect. I have a Bachelor's and Master's degree in architecture. I have 20m experience as a developer's representative. I opened a design company relatively recently.

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

MM : I became an architect because that was my dream.

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

MM : I became an architect because that was my dream.

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

MM : I'm motivated by the fact that I'm creating every day, every time I have the opportunity to create something new. To convince the customer that it will be the right thin

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

MM : I won't say anything unexpected: work, work, work hard.

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

MM : They are not much different. A good designer does good work. A great designer has a lot of good work already done.

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

MM : Basically, it is very intuitive. It's good when it's hard to find arguments to undermine it.

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

MM : Many reasons: Good design does not necessarily cost more than bad design. Good design performs a better function. Good design attracts the user. Good design represents you. Good design makes your customer feel good. Very good design doesn't age at all because it is too iconic.

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

MM : A space research centre on Mars.

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

MM : A space research centre on Mars.

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

MM : My secret ingredients is patience, passion and belief in what I do.

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

MM : Tadao Ando, Le Corbusier, Antoni Gaudi

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

MM : My favourite interiors are Le Corbusier's Ronchamp chapel and Timo and Tuomo Suomalainen's Temppeliaukio church. Being there is something special. I love these interiors. Because they are very emotionally charged.

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

MM : I don't understand what designs you are talking about? If it's mine, they are all valuable to me. After all, they are all my children.

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

MM : You need to keep working. Don't get tired of striving for excellence, even when you fail. Because you only get better if you keep learning. Just when I think I know it all, I pick up something I don't know how to do, and then the learning process starts again.

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

MM : I think I would have become a film or theatre director.

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

MM : Design is a way of life.

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

MM : My biggest supporter is my family. They are very unlucky that their father/husband/son/brother is an architect, as my work is very time consuming. Therefore, their unconditional support allows me to be selfish and spend more time on my work.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

MM : I wouldn't say I'm already great. I am still on my way in that direction.

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

MM : I have a slightly different path than other architects. I've never worked for an architectural firm. I worked for a developer. I was responsible for part of the development process. I opened my own design company very recently. So my experience is a little bit different. My main obstacle is that I had to learn everything myself. There are advantages here: I do things differently when I am self-taught. That's what makes my company's work unique.

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

MM : I don't know.

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

MM : it is a secret for now, but you'll find out soon enough.

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

MM : My goal is to never get tired of searching.

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

MM : They expect professionalism and unique ideas that meet their clients' needs. I think we're doing a great job of that

DL: How does design help create a better society?

MM : We strive for perfection, and anything closer to perfection is closer to god.

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

MM : We are designing the interior of the Klaipėda State Music Theatre. It will be spectacular. The whole interior will be made of real clay. In total, 32 tonnes of clay were used. It is an impressive amount. What is even more impressive is that the main event hall is a solid work of clay art.

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

MM : We did the interior of a nightclub. The aim was to do better than the main competitor in the city. We finished and opened the club. The main competitor went bankrupt after just a few months. This is direct proof that good interiors make sense.

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

MM : I expect more uniqueness, more iconicity, more mixing of styles and cultures.

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

MM : i do not know.

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

MM : Depends on the project. For example The Lithuanian Symphony Orchestra Hall took 7 years to realise.

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

MM : I always start with a detailed analysis: why are we doing this? Who is the client? Who is the client's client? Who is the end user? What is the context? etc. Only when we have a clear understanding of what is needed do we start to create visions.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

MM : Think differently

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

MM : Very good question. Which comes first the chicken or the egg? I think a good designer has to be fashion-proof.

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

MM : We haven't done pencil work for a long time. We visualise on the computer, with graphic design tablets, etc. we use many different programs. AI also helps us. We are cyborgs and proud of it.

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

MM : it is a secret :)

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

MM : Everything is connected. there is nothing I can single out. But sometimes the choice of material determines the trajectory of an idea. For example, in the Klaipėda Music Theatre, we chose clay as the main finishing material. We've created a stunning wall décor. Its possibilities are endless.

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

MM : Better not to ask anything. Admire.

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

MM : "Someone has put in a lot of work and effort". "Someone had the patience"

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

MM : my team is the best

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

MM : All. Customers, builders, furnishers, decorators, engineers... all do their bit.

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

MM : Carl Jung's Archetypes. All the answers of the universe are within each one of us.

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

MM : I won't say anything new. Work work, hard work.

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

MM : I would love to attend the last supper.

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

MM : We architects/designers are not rock stars, no one is following us. And about awards, they encourage us to keep working. It's a sign that we're doing something well if our colleagues around the world recognise it.

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

MM : Colour: black (surprise!); Place - bedroom; food - watter; season - autumn; thing - bicycle; brand - NYB (not your business)

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

MM : There's nothing funny about what I do:)

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

MM : I try to do only what I like, or turn what I don't like into what I do like.

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

MM : Of course. As soon as I was born, my mother said "he's going to be a famous architect/designer"

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

MM : What happens to all sandcastles by the sea will happen. People will destroy what they have created and start all over again.

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

MM : Nobody needs to know anything about me, let my work speak for me