Pierre Foulonneau

LEGENDARY INTERVIEW

Design Legends ("DL") had the distinct honour to interview legendary designer Pierre Foulonneau ("PF") 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?

PF : Well, I'm an alumni of L'École de Design Nantes Atlantique where I graduated in Product Design in 2003. I spent a beautiful Erasmus semester in Finland at the Faculty of Art and Design of the University of Lapland in Rovaniemi. Quite a change in the scenary but so enriching at many level, this experience keeps a very special place in my heart. After graduation I went to Milan in Italy where I worked along George J. Sowden for a decade; A very substantial and formative experience !

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

PF : My motivation is to create objects that brings joy to people. Life is sweeter and easier surrounded by beautiful, meaningful and useful things :) Also when the objects you created have found a place and a purpose in people’s life, I find it very fulfilling.

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

PF : 100% a choice! When I was around 13-14 years old I came across some design schools booth on a "school fair". I very naïvely realised I could be paid to drawn all day, what a job! Never looked back since! Of course I later discovered the different dimensions of design beyond drawing and aesthetics, but just fell more in love with the job.

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

PF : My work focuses on tableware, kitchen and houseware. I also do some decorative ceramics pieces on my own and would like to develop this further. Furnitures is also a type of product I’d like to design more.

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

PF : ahahah! I don't feel like a legend at all. Be curious, stay curious, try and test everything going through your mind.

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

PF : I'd say great designer can tap into collective references that render their work appealing to the masses. Also the long lasting/iconic design transcend time and trends and stay relevant across generations, but only time will tell.

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

PF : For me a really good design is when it is evident all aspects and details of the product have been carefully considered and all the superfluous shaved off.

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

PF : good design remains

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

PF : I'd love to design products for Iconic brands such as Christofle, Svenskt Tenn or Alessi.

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

PF : Collaboration between the client and the designer. It creates emulation and helps pushing limits to elevate projects to another level.

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

PF : Tapio Wirkkala, Christopher Dresser, Ettore Sottsass, Enzo Mari, Dieter Rams, Constantin Grcic to name a few

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

PF : Pollo vase and Cantarelli vase by Tapio Wirkkala, these objects just makes my jaw drop! It makes me vibrate, its a load of poetry and life into inanimate objects. Miura STool by Constantin Grcic also is a favourite of mine, for it's perfect balance between soft and sharp, angles and curves.

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

PF : I was leaning towards biotechnologies

DL: What helped you to become a great designer?

PF : perseverance

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

PF : more personal creations

DL: How does design help create a better society?

PF : Design can help apprehending complex problems or systems to transform them

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

PF : My next own productions of ceramics

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

PF : less over production, more responsible and long lasting products, more time for good developments

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

PF : well I see a fork between tangible and non tangible, hard goods and virtuality. Also I think design thinking and design method will infused more and more into our societies, hopefully for better economical, social and political decisions.

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

PF : with industrial products, from idea to product on a shelf it is usually 18 month, sometimes it can be reduce to 12 month.

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

PF : I start with a conversation with the client

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

PF : I don't think design should be related to trends. Trends comes and go, good design remains.

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

PF : technology is a tool

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

PF : software are not important, they are tool and it is how they serve your design that matters. But there is nothing better than a pen and paper and "quick and dirty" modelling.

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

PF : Any client that trust my capabilities and is open to discussion and challenges

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

PF : trial and error, repetition, perseverance, challenges, curiosity

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

PF : Tapio Wirkkala for the poetry in his design, Christopher Dresser for the analytical approach.

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

PF : Awards are always appreciated, it is a form of recognition of your work. However, I don't design to collect awards nor fame.

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

PF : favourite food is the simplest thing shared with friends or family.

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

PF : When new ideas starts brewing after a period of calm

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

PF : I would find it funny if in a thousand years some archaeologist would dig up my Leaf vase in the dirty and try to understand what it was.

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

PF : Come say hello and discuss if you see me