Interview with Suliman Innab

Suliman Innab ("SI") interviewed on Sunday, 18 March.

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

SI : I have been in the design industry since 18 years, with a big diversity of design services, starting with media and graphic design, and because of my architectural background and passion to design in general and details in specific I started to work on a several interior projects, then architectural projects, and my interest started with furniture design and production in 2015.I have worked lately and finished some projects for Bayer Pharmaceutical and SITA in my origin country, Jordan.

How did you become a designer?

SI : My love to design and craft started when I was kid, my interested was obvious for painting, drawing, modeling, crafting, carpentry, and furniture, and besides all that I used to participate in competitions for Arabic calligraphy, which I have used later in my early design profession. Passing through all these gave me some sense of proportions, colors, details, and good design, and what made me finally to decide architectural design.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

SI : My priority in any design to start with is the story and the Concept behind the design, and then how to reflect that into a good Function, which is for me the most important part, then jump into materials, which could be related to the concept itself.I like the digital tools in a way since they are the tools at the end to show the project, but basically I like to start sketching and hand drawing and details before reach that and doing mock-up if needed in that stage.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

SI : Since the design is my biggest passion for me, I believe when I am designing that I’m meeting this passion inside, and makes me relaxed and happy especially when I am working on new concept and idea from the beginning, and makes me proud seeing the whole journey of the design till its finished product or project.

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

SI : Designer has to be so determined, stubborn, sociable, problem solver, educated, and a reader. I believed for myself as an architect and designer, being stubborn and determined, helped me so much to fight how to deliver my work, being sociable helped me how to deal with all kind of people for different kind of projects.

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

SI : Having diversities in the business for the last 10 years, gave the business strength for having different design services, on a product level or on a project level, from architecture, to interior, and to finally furniture. Was successfully a good growth since it was the idea and the dream to build a design house offering wide range of design services, and in the future to build a respectful fully design house with a design brand for furniture, fittings, accessories, and different objects, to serve and to complete our design service, the architecture and the interior.

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

SI : To be exposed for all old and new in design, and to be updated for everything that might help in their career. To love the design and its challenge.

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

SI : Always introduce what is most unique; always be innovative whether on concept, design, or materials level. Be inspired by anything, which could be a start for your design. To think deep before providing and submitting any work or design concept. To think smart starting with any project and to be always positive and to follow their deep feelings.

What is your day to day look like?

SI : Always starting the day early is the best thing with a cup of coffee. Trying to follow the guys at the office for any updates and new decisions to take in design. Checking later some running sites under construction and seeing the product coming closer to the end is making me happy.For a relaxing evening checking some design news and exploring what new is somehow pleasant.

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

SI : I like for sure to follow design trends and what’s new. It matters to see how other designers think, it helps to keep me always outside the box. I don’t have dominant style or direction that always reflected in our projects, on the other hand a bit of twist of our taste might be there but with a new image and different thinking.

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

SI : The main criteria to judge a design for me is the proportion and the scale of the project or the product. The lines shaping the product is the most important, its balance and proportion, and of course the function is so crucial, is it working easily is it functional. So function and design first then we can look into materials and details.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

SI : I always follow a sequence of sketches and drawing for each product or project, tweaking and tuning many times to reach a result of a steady and balanced design, if I come back to that design later means it needs something missing, if not, I make a circle around it and that’s it! I start developing it technically.

What is your biggest design work?

SI : Because of the diversity of design we have at our studio, always there is excitement in the work, especially when you are working some times on chiar design and the same time you are designing an architectural project. Everything is giving me the inspirations, specially when you dealing with almost all the available materials, wood, metal, concrete, and stone.My biggest challenge started when I was selected to participate in Milan Design Week 2015, for a collection of furniture that I have submitted. When I was selected the challenge started when I have decided to produce the collection by myself with help of local workers, and how I’m going to compete in such serious and important design event. I was so keen to provide a well-finished product.Another project, was a residential family farmhouse, which was from scratch included landscape, architecture, and interior architecture. A project was strongly built on a concept within its site, and we saw tat potential of the project and we were proud of receiving a silver award in A’ Design Award 2016-2017.

Who is your favourite designer?

SI : From these days I find Rem Koolhaas and the American architet Tom Kundig are really cool. If given the chance I would love to talk to Mies Van Der Rohe, which I believe gave the most impact for good design. And I found Le Corbusier is the most iconic designer which I also admire.

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

SI : I live in a city called Amman, the capital of JORDAN which is my country, a middle eastern country. I believed the day I have graduated that I have to continue and build my career in my own country, to be in a way influential in design industry, in the academic or the professional level. I loved to be part of design workshops, mentorships, college design courses, and some universities design juries. I believed that would introduce some awareness for the new generations of design in our culture.I love music and love to hear it but not really part of my creative process. I wish I have time more that would give me more time to travel more, which I adore the most. I love to visit the cities, the crowded cities which my favorite is Rome.

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

SI : We work as a team at our design studio. I have some people work with me and they are part of the office. They are very talented and also responsible which how I selected or hire the people. The big challenge is how to keep all designers in same direction but with different thoughts.

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

SI : I like to participate in workshops and mentorships besides being part of graduation juries. I wish I could find more time to have more involvements and contributions, which I believe would help society and young generation.

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

SI : Always competition is very important to professionals, young designers, and also students to learning the challenge. It’s a way of sense of responsibility and discipline. A very good exposure and unique experience, especially meeting different designs and designers from all over the world.In this way competitions and awards give a value besides the career experience and the design skill.Being Designer of the day is “Awesome“

Suliman Innab Profile