PRODUCT DESIGN
Who: Clara and Adrian Westaway, co-founders of product design and invention studio Special Projects
Age: 32 and 34
Known for Bit Planner, a calendar made entirely out of Lego bricks that synchronises to a user's digital calendar, and QardioBase, an elegant set of weighing scales that smiles at users to encourage their progress.
How did you get into your particular field?
Clara ran a fashion brand in Berlin and designed products and furniture for a living. Adrian is a member of the Magic Circle who studied electronic engineering. They met at the Royal College of Art, studying industrial design engineering.
What are the big trends in art and design today?
It's becoming much easier to embed technology into things, from lightbulbs that turn into speakers to doors you can open with your phone. The way we interact with objects is being rethought.
Future trends?
Design is becoming collaborative, and the barriers to production are coming down. We'll see inventions from people with diverse backgrounds. Rapid manufacturing and prototyping methods are a massive influence, coupled by open-source sharing of knowledge. You can build most of the tools you would need to 3D print and manufacture an idea from scratch at home.
What are the secrets to successful design?
Learn from the people you are designing for - and stay fresh. It's your role as the designer to break through all the barriers.
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