Interview with Mario Taepper

Mario Taepper ("MT") interviewed on Monday, 6 August.

How did you become a designer?

MT : Before I started my design career I thought studying languages , that really interested me but while studying I discovered my love for design. While studying me my wife and started with our company MM Design Edition. Accessories were our first objects , followed by lamps and a little furniture. We started to expose in the IMM in Cologne and at the Ambiente Fair in Francort. I was influenced by nobody. Being a designer was always my target.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

MT : I am so happy that I am highly gifted with fantasy. I am not searching convulsively for new design. When I have an idea I am working it out in my brain, and then I start with some sketches and mostly I let them lie unfinished.After some time I start over it again. If possible I make a little prototype by myself or I start to make the 3D picture.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

MT : Creating new design makes me always happy. Every step you go through is having different emotions. From the first idea to the final 1: 1 product is really exciting. At the beginning stands the question will the final product correspond to the first idea you had. My emotions do accompany during the whole design process.

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

MT : I am dreaming of creating another 1 million pieces design, like the S/P set TWO IN ONE. I want be remebered as designer who stands for a clear line, and outstanding design. My biggest wish is to realize my OLED lamp collection which consists meanwhile out of 20 designs, but for the time being Oled panels are to expensive. Oled will be the future and gives so fantastic new possibilities.

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

MT : This is a very difficult question and I cannot give any advice because everyone must do his own experience.Some have to fight others have the luck being suddenly pushed by the press and everybody in the branch is talkingabout the person.

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

MT : I have very less contact to other collegues , that was my whole life through , so I cannot suggest anything.

What is your day to day look like?

MT : Everyday when I come in my office I first check my e-mails. Then if necessary I do some telefon conversation.Doing appointments are standing on my days agenda. I never stop thinking positive that helps a lot.

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

MT : I have quite a good design library which I am going through from time to time. Some monthly appearing journals I do study in the evening My fantasy is my inspiration and while walking through the woods I can work out so many things.

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

MT : When I have a new idea and I have realized it in 3D or as a little model I show it to my best friends and we talk about it, I like critics but when I am convinced of what I did I try to defend it.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

MT : It is just a feeling that says me let it be like it is, I am satisfied. You always can improve things but mostly you don't see it yourself.

What is your biggest design work?

MT : I am very proud of my table and floor lamp TUBI ( the name is coming from the italian word " tubo" ) This lamp consists out of 2 tubes ( therefor TUBI. This lamp is on the market for 27 years and is still selling. I wanted to create a lamp with joints which are on the market simply to reduce costs for developping new joints. This lamp was made with halogen technic first but now me changed to LED technic. I am currently working on OLED lamps.

Who is your favourite designer?

MT : Ingo Maurer is for outstanding design and I like Ross Lovegrove. I would have liked to talk to Mies van der Rohe.