Kristian Ruden

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Kristian Ruden ("KR") 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?

KR : As a kid, I always loved drawing and coming up with wacky ideas. I sketched cars, spaceships, machines, and buildings, and dreamed of becoming an inventor like in the movies. When it came time to choose high school, I thought architecture would be the closest thing, so I enrolled in the Civil Engineering School of Josef Gočár. In my senior years, I started working part-time at an office design studio, where I realized I had found exactly the field I wanted to pursue - industrial design. I later chose the Design Department at the Faculty of Architecture, Czech Technical University, where I earned my master’s degree.

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

KR : I became a designer because I love coming up with new ideas. I love problem-solving and tinkering. I love beautiful and useful things, and I want to channel my energy into creating meaningful products.

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

KR : I chose to become one myself. It was always a natural path for me since childhood.

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

KR : I don’t want to box myself into a specific field. I love designing furniture - especially pieces people interact with daily. I’m excited by lighting, so I’ve designed many lighting fixtures. I also have some simpler home goods in my portfolio. I’d love to design more electronics and consumer goods, and maybe one day explore automotive and other forms of transportation.

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

KR : Do what you really want to do. Take suggestions, but don’t necessarily follow them. Most importantly - stay persistent.

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

KR : A good designer delivers what the client asks for. A great designer shows the client what they need. They consider the end user's needs, ergonomics, aesthetics, and manufacturability, and synthesize a perfect solution that becomes iconic.

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

KR : Dieter Rams described it perfectly with his 10 principles of good design. Great design is useful, intuitive, unobtrusive, manufacturable, and pushes technological boundaries. It’s beautiful, logical, and ergonomic.

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

KR : Good design lasts. It transcends trends. It combines quality materials, craftsmanship, aesthetics, and intuitiveness.

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

KR : I’d love to collaborate on something big - something that could change the world and become legendary. I don’t have a specific project in mind, but that’s the dream.

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

KR : Since childhood, I’ve been sketching spaceships. One day, I’d love to design an intergalactic yacht. Hopefully, the technology will be there in my lifetime.

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

KR : I always start without external inspiration. I try to create something never seen before by tapping into my inner imagination. Then I follow where that leads.

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

KR : Raymond Loewy, the Eames, Dieter Rams, and Philippe Starck are my biggest influences.

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

KR : The Eames chair. It became ubiquitous and iconic. It pushed the boundaries of what was possible at the time. It’s the first object many people associate with design.

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

KR : The Aeriform Armchair. It feels like my current magnum opus. Someone once told me every designer should design a chair when the time is right - when their skills are honed and they feel confident. I believe this chair captures everything I’ve learned: artistic expression, comfort, and manufacturability.

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

KR : Tap into your inner ideas. Learn from history. Get inspired by current trends, but don’t chase them. Read, research, and take your time.

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

KR : I’d probably be an actor. I already do some acting on the side - mainly commercials. I love stepping into a role, becoming a character, and inspiring people.

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

KR : Design is multidisciplinary. It’s about finding the golden ratio between beauty, usability, and viability - something that resonates deeply.

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

KR : My university and professors. They taught me not to settle on the first idea, to iterate, follow my heart, and sometimes ignore criticism.

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

KR : Persistence.

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

KR : Design is expensive. It requires time and money to realize your ideas. Sleepless nights, your brain constantly simulating products - it’s exhausting but rewarding.

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

KR : Along with beautiful visuals, they should show the process - iterations, prototypes, sketches, and detail explanations. Good design is often invisible, so we must explain what makes it good.

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

KR : I'm currently working on a fun little stool shaped like a dog for a client. In my free time, I want to create light fixtures for myself, see where that leads, and possibly sell them.

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

KR : To create products that go down in history as iconic.

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

KR : They expect quality. Thought-out designs, down to the last detail - and I believe I can deliver that.

DL: How does design help create a better society?

KR : Design should be conscious of its environmental impact. I believe quality and longevity are better than recycled mass-produced goods. Good design brings people together - just look at the MCM communities.

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

KR : I’m excited about my Aeriform Armchair winning a competition. I’m now seeking a partner to help bring it to market so people who appreciate good design can own it.

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

KR : The “Circle of Life” dog bowl I designed during my bachelor’s. Now sold as “Eatee Bowl,” it’s simple yet unusual - and my dog loves it. It’s not just a dog bowl; it’s an entire dining experience. Humans can use it, too.

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

KR : I want industrial design to reclaim its name. It used to mean physical product design. Now, the lines are blurred between graphic, UI, UX, interior, and product design - even companies struggle to label us correctly.

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

KR : It’s shifting toward intangible digital products. But I think the need for quality physical design will soon return.

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

KR : It depends - from a few months to a few years. In reality, design is never finished; there’s always room for improvement.

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

KR : I begin by sketching my own ideas. Then I look for inspiration, do research, iterate, build models and prototypes. I start with pen and paper, then move to VR or CAD.

DL: What is your life motto as a designer?

KR : Give people what they need, not what they want. Strike a balance between beauty, usability, and viability.

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

KR : Design sets trends. When something is done right, others follow.

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

KR : I like to blend tradition and new technology. I design on pen and paper, but also in virtual reality. I use materials and processes we had for hundreds of years, but also just now began to explore.

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

KR : I use Gravity Sketch in VR (Quest 3), Rhino and Inventor for CAD. For prototyping: clay, foam carving, CNC, and 3D printing.

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

KR : Materials are key. The right material can elevate or ruin your design. I prefer quality, luxurious materials, but also consider sustainability. Surface finishes impact touch, longevity, and craftsmanship. Color is secondary - something that can be adapted to the product’s environment or user preference.

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

KR : “Can I try it?” - Yes, I encourage you to.

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

KR : I wonder who made it, how they came up with it, and why it wasn’t made sooner.

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

KR : I believe in co-design. Collaboration can lead to more thoughtful results. My ideal partner would complement me - see what I miss.

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

KR : Test groups. Feedback reveals what I overlooked. It helps me iterate and refine the design toward perfection.

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

KR : Victor Papanek’s Design for the Real World. It stuck with me since university.

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

KR : Trial and error. I refined my skills in woodworking, metal, glass, plastics, and machining. Knowing your tools and the technology you design for is crucial. You must also research every new topic you work on. Don’t just design - learn, then improve on what already exists.

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

KR : Since people of the past and present have already spoken to us and their wisdom is laid out into he books, I'd love to meet a person from the future. A Post-Earth Designer who designs for life in space or other planets where gravity, light, and materials are different. Perhaps they transcended traditional chairs and have magnetic fields that levitate them which gives humans unmatched comfort? The Bio-Designer who works with living materials and designs grow, evolve, and respond to human emotion?

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

KR : Honestly, it’s not enough. I’m not tired of it - I welcome more. Recognition boosts my confidence and keeps me moving forward.

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

KR : My favorite colors keep changing all the time, right now I'd say it's off white for clothes, black for cars and rose gold for accents. Favorite places is where I feel at home. I love sushi. My favorite season is summer, especially if I spend it by the sea. Somehow I have to say my favorite thing is my car, a 2016 Mercedes C class in amg package, it's so beautiful and comfortable, I love her. And my current favorite brand is Xiaomi. They do so much, everything is very esthetic and functional.

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

KR : Haha, I fondly remember my second semester in uni, because I was tasked with designing a juicer and made a few initial versions. Professors chose one and I worked on it for the rest of the semester. But when the final week came and I was almost done, I absolutely didn't like how it was turning out. I scrapped the whole idea and with only 3 days to spare started from scratch. Somehow I managed to make a decent and unusual juicer, surprised the professors with this totally different design, which is something they didn't fully appreciate, but still recognized the effort and gave me a good grade. So yeah, sometimes it's not bad to scrap your idea and begin again. If you feel like it doesn't work.

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

KR : I feel a sense of satisfaction and motivation when some detail of a design that was giving me trouble and I couldn't figure out just clicks. That sense of achievement when something suddenly works gives me pleasure and allows me to continue on a daily basis.

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

KR : To me? I don't think so. When I was a kid, even when I was in high school I didn't even know that Design existed. But I knew I'm gonna make big things. I wanted to create. No matter what.

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

KR : Thousand years is a very long time with how fast things are currently going. I am certain we will achieve enterplanetary travel. Perhaps humanity will unite and there will be no more country borders, but we will become one big Earth nation. Also with how fast AI is advancing, I think it's here to stay as a symbiotic entity. I am optimistic about the future.

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

KR : I want my fans to know that I'm open to collaborating on bold, meaningful projects that challenge convention and push the envelope of design.