Interview with Saïd Belmir

Saïd Belmir ("SB") interviewed on Saturday, 17 March.

Could you please tell us about your experience as a designer, artist, architect or creator?

SB : I've been attracted by design during my architecture studies in Brussels thanks to Mr.Levy and its singular approach. After my graduation as architect around 2016, I've got the opportunity to work as graphic designer for supercar racing teams such as Bentley and Ferrari. Parallely, I designed a prototype for a new cultural mediation, which has been accepted to the incubator of the Louvre-Lens Museum. In 2017, I've got the Public Prize at the International Inspireli Awards for an architecture project, and the Silver A'Design Awards for the XX Table. This last prize allowed me to exhib around the world.

How did you become a designer?

SB : Every young graduated architects know the struggle to find an interesting job after school. In my case, I didn't find any agency ready to hire me as junior architect. So when you're jobless you have a lot of time to develop your own concepts. So that's what I did, I used my skills in architecture into small scale, and then, I became a Designer.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

SB : I love the Brancusi's approach, specially this sentence : " simplicity is complexity resolved ". This sentence sums up my whole work, because I like make my work so simple and obvious, than we forget the complex design process to reach this solution.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

SB : designing is like a need, because when an idea is growing in your mind, you have to extract it on a sheet for not being submerged by it. Then, you can judge if this idea deserves a development or not. If it does, the most exciting part of the design process is building the prototype

What particular aspects of your background shaped you as a designer?

SB : Nothing was really expected, design wasn't my first priority, I wanted to be an architect. And this is our environnement, the difficulties that we have to cross, the encounters that we gonna do, the struggle that we have to undertake, these things will shape us as a designer.

What is your growth path? What are your future plans? What is your dream design project?

SB : As I just said previously, Everything that I have planned didn't happen as I expected. So let's just live in streaming and check what is gonna happen.

What are your advices to designers who are at the beginning of their career?

SB : Try, fail, learn from your fails and try again until to reach your goals. To sum up in one word : Perseverance.

What is your day to day look like?

SB : working on some ideas, checking their feasibilities, choosing the ones which worth to invest time on them, developping them at 100%, and then checking the networks for the product promotion

How do you keep up with latest design trends? To what extent do design trends matter?

SB : On social media, I always follow the main design and architecture magazines to know what is up in the field. But I don't try to follow a trend in my work, my approach doesn't fit very well with this idea. However, as I'm looking to do something intemporal, my works could be in the past, the current, or the future trend.

How do you know if a product or project is well designed? How do you define good design?

SB : A design is currently good when it reaches its goals in any aspects. it's a functionalist approach, but more in the alvar aalto's way. It's means it's including physiological psychological aspects.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

SB : You know your design is ready when everything that you gonna add is superficial.

What is your biggest design work?

SB : Actually this is the XX Table, I didn't expect this recognition from the field for this table and it's still going beyond all what I've expected. And I'm still curious to see where this table will finish its path.

Who is your favourite designer?

SB : There is a lot ! But currently I really appreciate the Benedetto Bufalino's works.

What are your philanthropic contributions to society as a designer, artist and architect?

SB : I would like to propose some smart solutions that could improve or save lives around the world. Actually, I'm doing exactly the opposite by making expensive products and designing buildings for rich people. But that's cool, everything comes to those who wait.

What positive experiences you had when you attend the A’ Design Award?

SB : The A'Design Award bringed me prestige, recognition and visibility. I clearly stepped to a new level thanks to this contest.

Saïd Belmir Profile