Interview with George Drakakis

George Drakakis ("GD") interviewed on Tuesday, 16 October.

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

GD : I am an architect engineer with 20 years of experience and i was always excited with the micro-scale of design, be it detailing, finishing or creating objects.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

GD : I really enjoy working with materials that can be used in liquid organic forms. Lately i am also interested in 3D printing materials / technologies and ecological design as well. 3d modeling applications made everything easier especially during the phase of refining the details of the design, or reconfigure over and over again the whole shape.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

GD : Fulfillment. Each project carries a part of myself, especially when we are talking about prototypes.

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

GD : It's a mixture of every-day life events, interests, feelings, emotions, music, visual arts, math and science. Any of the above will trigger the creativity process. Those "oh yeah" moments can happen anywhere, any time. Being a Designer is an on-going process. It's going through stages. It's about grabbing a word, a sense, an idea and mentally sculpt it till it gets a new meaning. It’s a non-stop procedure, but in certain moments, when the time is right, the process is materialized, a new product is made.

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

GD : I would advise then to get the most of their rationality into their imagination, and the most of their imagination into their rationality.

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

GD : Good design is the one that makes people smile and urge them to pay attention and interact with the design, that is, spend more time with it. Time is our most precious property. Designs awarded with the gift of time, are certainly the most successful ones.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

GD : I couldn't really answer this question. Mainly because the "end" of the design process simply doesn't happen. I could refine a project, bit by bit, every now and then, over and over again. Deadlines and time scheduling milestones, are "Non-Finito" moments. Design is an on-going process. It's going through stages. It's about grabbing a word, a sense, an idea and mentally sculpt it till it gets a new meaning. It’s a non-stop procedure, but in certain moments, when the time is right, the process is materialized, a new product is made.

What is your biggest design work?

GD : My chair. it ain't the biggest, it was my first attempt to enter into the world of forms. i designed it 10 years ago as a coffee-dining chair. Now the prototype serves as my office chair. The cantilevered back creates a swing motion (like a rocking chair) and gives me a piece of mind so i can consecrate on my projects and it also calms my enthusiasm when a new idea comes into my mind and the time is right to move on form brain-storming to rational thinking.

Who is your favourite designer?

GD : Ron Arad, Dieter Rams, Ross Lovegrove, Charles and Ray Eames to name a few. The list actually can go on and on.

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

GD : Iconpoetry is a design studio that does exactly what it states: practicing serious fun. Designing projects at the border between art and design, constantly reminding that "Poiesis" and Poetry is one and the same.We are working with companies interactively. Given the fast that the identification of the problem is the most critical factor in the early stages of the design process, crystal clear communication is essential for a successful design. Iconpoetry, solves problems through design processes and delivers concepts and solutions through an artistic approach and attention to detail, following one simple rule: Form Follows Satis-Function.

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

GD : From time to time i share do-it-yourself projects on my company site.

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

GD : Actually it gave me the opportunity to communicate my designs and sign my first contract.

George Drakakis Profile