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Today's featured designer is John G Williams. John G Williams is the creator of iconic designs such as . |
| We had the rare opportunity to interview the exalted designer John G Williams who was recently announced as the Designer of the Day by the A' Design Award and Competition. John G Williams is the creator of iconic designs such as . We got exclusive answers to our questions about John G Williams designs and design philosophy. |
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John G Williams, what are your priorities, technique and style when designing?
John G Williams : Visualize the whole piece in terms of function and aesthetic. Then solve the engineering design challenges. Then iterate....
John G Williams, what particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?
John G Williams : I am really interested in sculpture - I sculpt in clay and then cast in bronze. I think it's interesting because it has no functional purpose and only lives because it conveys beauty or meaning.... |
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John G Williams, what is your growth path? what are your future plans? what is your dream design project?
John G Williams : I would love to setup a small bespoke studio; either building an exclusive line of furniture, or working on commissions...
John G Williams, what are your advice to designers who are at the beginning of their career?
John G Williams : Try and work with great people; take pride in your work irrespective of its price; and remember to enjoy what you do... |
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John G Williams, you are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?
John G Williams : Don't be afraid to lift and combine ideas. Often the best whole idea can be the synthesis of some already well known concepts....
John G Williams, what is your day to day look like?
John G Williams : The only constant is coffee. Thereafter its anyone's guess... |
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| John G Williams, how do you keep up with latest design trends? to what extent do design trends matter? John G Williams : I don't worry too much about trends. What's the point of pursuing a trend that you feel is ugly or ill-conceived? Rather try and be aware of what work inspires you.... |
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John G Williams, how do you know if a product or project is well designed? how do you define good design?
John G Williams : Good design grabs you immediately. The aesthetic captures you. And then the design thought and craftsmanship become very evident. It answers all your questions as they occur to you.... |
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John G Williams, how do you decide if your design is ready?
John G Williams : Good design is a little like mixing and mastering a music album. In the music industry they say a mix is never finished it is merely abandoned. I think you know when additional tinkering is becoming of diminishing value.... |
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John G Williams, who is your favourite designer?
John G Williams : Hans Wegner, and his wishbone chair...
John G Williams, would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?
John G Williams : I live in Johannesburg. I love the mining town urban vibe. I have worked downtown for many years - a space that reflects the aggressive growth of the city (from zero just over 100 years ago). It is resurgent and exciting.... |
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John G Williams, would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?
John G Williams : Build stuff that you truly love. Hence honour the materials that you have used and transformed....
John G Williams, what are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?
John G Williams : I built a stage for my local church, which was an intense project over a 10 day period. This spoke more directly to the engineering aspects, but there were components where I was able to inject some beautiful design.... |
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John G Williams, what positive experiences you had when you attend the a’ design award?
John G Williams : The competition has been very exciting because:It gave me external deadlines and deliverable that made me think about my designs. It gave me the chance to understand how my designs are received by other people, and it helps me build a sense of the standard of my work. It is fun to see the huge variety of great ideas that other people come up with... |
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John G Williams, can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
John G Williams : I work on my own as an independent designer and craftsman. My design studio is a purpose built space at home with a selection of woodworking machines i have built up over the years....
John G Williams, what is "design" for you?
John G Williams : Design is all about seeing. Seeing the beauty in something. Seeing as en engineer how the form should best support the function. Seeing how the user would interact with the design so that they would be enriched. Seeing how to simplify the ideas to make the outcome as elegant as possible... |
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John G Williams, what kinds of works do you like designing most?
John G Williams : I love working in wood, and building furniture that is beautiful and useful on a regular basis....
John G Williams, what was the first thing you designed for a company?
John G Williams : Hmm. I have not got there yet. I have been designing for my own pleasure so far !... |
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John G Williams, what is your favorite material / platform / technology?
John G Williams : My favourite material is wood. In particular I love working with indigenous hardwood timbers from Africa, which exhibit an incredible depth and richness in grain and hue. I love the way the finished product also changes over time as it slowly oxidizes.... |
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John G Williams, when do you feel the most creative?
John G Williams : I feel most creative when I have had time to admire other people's work. For example, I loved wandering around the Danish Design Museum which was very inspiring....
John G Williams, what kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
John G Williams : When the design 'pops', you finish a piece and think ' yes that's actually good' - that's the fun part... |
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John G Williams, how do you think the "design field" is evolving? what is the future of design?
John G Williams : I think design is benefiting from increasing professionalism and technology, so that craftsmanship can push new boundaries...
John G Williams, from your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
John G Williams : Designing is great fun; makes a difference; impacts people. You are not always understood. Or properly remunerated for your contribution... |
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John G Williams, what skills are most important for a designer?
John G Williams : Craftsmanship. The ability to conceptualize the manufacturing process and how that should impact the design itself. The ability to understand the use requirements (ergonomics etc) and how design can directly address the core needs... |
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John G Williams, designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
John G Williams : I generally start, and then keep going until I am finished....
John G Williams, how long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
John G Williams : Depends. ZENE was refined over a long period (over a year)... |
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John G Williams, what was your most important job experience?
John G Williams : Getting helpful and encouraging feedback from other designers...
John G Williams, what type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
John G Williams : Refining a design that you already think is great, to turn it into something you are truly proud of... |
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| John G Williams, thank you for giving us the opportunity to interview you... To learn more about John G Williams and check more designs by John G Williams as well as to see more John G Williams designs such as visit designeroftheday.com/?194456 |
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| We hope you enjoyed our interview of John G Williams. This interview was made possible by the contributions of A' Design Award and Competition - The World's largest and most influential design accolade. A' Design Award is an annual, international design award open to both concept stage and realized works by designers, artists, architects and brands worldwide. A' Design Award and Competition aims to create a public awareness and understanding of good design by promoting the best designers such as John G Williams and their design works worldwide. Visit designaward.com to learn more. |
 REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY:
https://competition.adesignaward.com/designer.php?profile=194456 |
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 VIA:
designeroftheday.com/?194456 |
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This article was added on Monday, 23rd of September, 2019 at 08.43 am by author 
