Interview with Shiva Pouryousef Khameneh

Shiva Pouryousef Khameneh ("SPK") interviewed on Thursday, 18 March.

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

SPK : I have been in the field of design for more than a decade. My academic background turns back to the Oxford School of Architecture where I received BA in Interior Architecture from and Pratt Institute ranked number one nationally in the professional survey in Design Intelligence where I graduated with MSc in Interior Design. Currently, I am doing research on design studies at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. I am certified in more than ten intensive design and human environmental health courses accredited by IDCEC and Hanley Wood University in Washington D.C. and my last certificate is from Harvard Graduate School of Design in Architectural Imagination. I have worked with a wide range of clients, mainly executives of corporate commercial projects.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

SPK : Considering mother earth, communities and accessibility have always been the core of my attention while designing. Technical drawings and conceptual ideas are two different sides of the same story so to translate on to another it is essential to use rendering software and physical prototypes to make sure the final result is going to reflect your thoughts. On the other hand time and deadline of every project is one of a kind so it is important to decide if the physical prototype is going to worth the time or not. In general, my decision on the style of designing depends on project cost, deadlines, and complexity of the design itself.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

SPK : Excited! The design process is full of emotions, sometimes you get disappointed and at a certain moment, you find the solution and become over excited.

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

SPK : Do not fall in love with the initial ideas. Take random funny ideas seriously. Brainstorm with end-users and ask for their perfect product, design, and what they want from the design.

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

SPK : Entrepreneurship starts with illusion and complex ideas, one of those skills is to have an analytical mind and broad vision. But the key is no to pass and take “what if’s? ” serious. They need philosophical explorations, ethical responsibility, aesthetic expressions, and practical applications in line with professional standards.

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

SPK : I read articles, attend seminars and lectures. Continues education has always been a great part of my journey. Trends matter a lot because we want our products to follow the trend and become trendy so being acknowledged of what is out there is critical.

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

SPK : I ask what problem is it solving? How appropriate to the target market it is? How timeless is it?

How do you decide if your design is ready?

SPK : Design is a never-ending process. you can go on and on again from scratch and design the same thing in many ways but there should be a certain moment to put your pencil down and for me, many circumstances cause this. Budget, deadlines, and standard restrictions, and clients are part of that. I always put addressing clients' needs as a priority and then design aesthetics. Therefore if the problem is solved and it looks as it should I will move on to the next project.

What is your biggest design work?

SPK : The headquarter office of NASCAR in Manhattan is one of my favorite projects I designed in 2016. My passion is for strategic design, more participatory, and co-working spaces now and I am doing research about it at Carleton University.

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

SPK : I trust random funny ideas and take them seriously to lead me towards innovative solutions. Good design comes from randomly highlighted problems by normal end-users so it is important to take society as a great part of the design process and design with them rather than designing for them. Design thought me to listen carefully, look for the problem and be creative to find emerging solutions throughout my life, I think I live design.

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

SPK : Our clients are our partners so, at the p-design studio, I have to imagine our client'ss life or business pattern and cycle very well which is fundamental in the design process. If I can experience their culture by their food, I would taste it. I listen to their memories, look at their appearance, favorite pictures and understand which decade their soul might belong to! My philosophy is to understand people so I call it observation, whatever it is, it comes from the identity of clients so the philosophy would be rich research and analyses, digging in dreams and emotions.

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

SPK : I believe the future is transdisciplinary. I have to confess that, as a designer and architect, I follow artists; in my opinion, they are the only community who understand the past very well with imagination and randomly right perspective of the future. each artist has their own taste of colors forms and subjects and I pick the art piece based on its possible connection to my project.

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

SPK : The fact that your design is going to be evaluated by amazing critiques would be a very huge step towards understanding your approach in design very well and test if you're on the right path or not. On the other hand, when you win, you establish a position for your touch and innovation in design among distinctive designers of the world.

Shiva Pouryousef Khameneh Profile