Interview with Reed Tonearms.lt, UAB

Reed Tonearms.lt, UAB ("RTU") interviewed on Monday, 20 May.

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

RTU : In this specific field of audio equipment design we are working about nine years. Two of our team members have artistic education and one has technical education.

How did you become a designer?

RTU : It was an internal drive to be a designers and creators. All of our team members have a natural desire to create.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

RTU : The most important aspects when designing products are: research of the idea, novelty and ergonomics. First we start from sketches by hand and then we rely on digital tools. We make detailed views with computer programs. After that comes a physical 3D printed prototypes.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

RTU : When designing a new product we feel a sense of self-knowledge. Most exiting phase of the design process is the sense of having the final product finished. Designing fulfils us with new experiences with every new product. It is a pleasure to create something new that surprises people.

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

RTU : One of our team members has technical education and that influenced other team members as well, while designing technically complicated objects. This experience is very important for product designer to understand everything in technical details of your product and it will be a big benefit in the future projects.

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

RTU : Our company growth path is to involve some new products in our product line. Our future plans is to create other products of highest quality audio equipment, like amplifiers. We always have ideas that we are working on and we hope to realize them soon.

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

RTU : The main advice for young designers is to work and improve your skills every day. And don’t forget to study your environment and nature as the main sources of ideas.

You are truly successful as a designer, what do you suggest to fellow designers, artists and architects?

RTU : Don’t be afraid of unexpected decisions and ideas, that’s how new things shows up, even at the beginning it may look strange.

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

RTU : We are always studying latest design trends, but we have our own style and we try to develop this style in our product family.

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

RTU : The main aspect of good design is visual attractiveness and it’s adaptation in the environment as an art accent. Common mistake in a design is unnecessary details and solutions.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

RTU : We say that our product is ready when we put it on the market. And after that we are not making any design changes. Then we know from our customers that our product design is successful or not. The other way to make sure that our design is good is to participate in a design competitions, where you can see the other professional designers opinions about your product design.

What is your biggest design work?

RTU : Our greatest design is a turntable 'Muse 3C'. Recognition and winning other worldwide design contests like 'IF Design Award' and 'Red Dot Design Award' makes us think that this design is great.

Who is your favourite designer?

RTU : Leonardo da Vinci.

Would you tell us a bit about your lifestyle and culture?

RTU : Music takes a big part of our creative process. We are working in highest quality audio equipment design so the music is inseparable part of our work. We live in Lithuania, Kaunas city which is in center of our country. Sometimes we feel that cultural heritage of our country affects some design solutions.

Would you tell us more about your work culture and business philosophy?

RTU : We work as a team, because in this specific audio equipment design field it is necessary to have in your team members with different education and point of view. Then we can complement each other’s knowledge and create really good products.

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

RTU : Three main benefits of participating to A’ Design Award competition is: recognition, experience to talk about our product design and opportunity to be evaluated by the professional designers. This competition is an impact to create better designs. We are happy and proud to be a designers of the day.

Reed Tonearms.lt, UAB Profile