Interview with Fletcher Eshbaugh

Fletcher Eshbaugh ("FE") interviewed on Tuesday, 5 May.

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

FE : I have been in the design industry for about 20 years now, working with and for companies such as Coach, Beautyblender, Nine West, Tommy Hilfiger, Dell, LG, Miller, and many more. Prior to this I graduated from the University of Cincinnati's DAAP program with a degree in Industrial Design.

How did you become a designer?

FE : My grandmother was an early influence in art and history, and from there I was profoundly influenced by what Nike was doing with athletic shoes in the early 90's, specifically Tinker Hatfield. This really opened the greater world of design to me and I realized I had a passion for almost every facet of product design as well as other disciplines such as fashion and graphic design.

What are your priorities, technique and style when designing?

FE : My priorities are that there is a meaning or a message behind each design. I look at design like writing a song in that there is a meaning behind the design for me that can be interpreted by the consumer in a way that is totally theirs. First and foremost I want to make something better than the way I found it in a beautiful solution though.

Which emotions do you feel when designing?

FE : Elation, joy, despair, frustration! I think that my emotions run the gamut. The most exciting is the eureka moment when you have the concept figured out form and function wise. After that it is a back and forth between feeling challenged and hammering away at the solution. It is always fulfilling to see the final product fully realized before moving on to the next design.

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

FE : When I first moved to NYC, I ended up having many jobs in different disciplines so not like a traditional product designer. This at first I think was a hinderance in terms of gaining work and clients, but I soon realized that there was a space that wasn't occupied between the worlds of fashion, product, and graphic design fields which has become my signature. I am also profoundly influenced by and interested in psychology which makes itself evident in much of my work.

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

FE : I have shifted the business model of my venture 1th Studio from being client focused to really becoming a design house for my designs direct to market. I am currently working on several projects that I hope to launch in the next several months which are very exciting so stay tuned!

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

FE : My advice is to find a mentor, and to really work on perseverance. Following through on your designs and ideas are really the key to success even in the face of adversity, and what better way to navigate it than with a mentor when you are at your greenest.

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

FE : Design something every day or every week. Get in the habit of showing it on social media and don't be afraid to fail. Once you understand that it's not catastrophic to fail, it will free you to be open and confident in your ability and as a result your designs.

What is your day to day look like?

FE : I start the morning by reading general and design news, and then I go for a run to clear my head and think about the tasks at hand for the day. I try to schedule blocks of time for tasks and really not bite off more than I can chew. I am definitely guilty of trying to pack too much into a day and that is just counterproductive and deflating. I schedule some time in the afternoon or early evening to get away from things for a while and then usually make dinner and hop back to my desk for a bit of work before I go to bed.

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

FE : I try to see what other designers are doing, or at the very least what people are doing so you can stay in tune with the "collective unconscious" but I do think that there is a limit. If you are continually chasing trends or other designers its like falling down the rabbit hole and you totally lose your sense of self and sense of your design ethos after a while. You need to be careful.

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

FE : I know a product or project is well designed if I want to steal the idea or feel an adequate level of jealousy. Kidding aside, there is an excitement about a good or great design that excites and inspires me to create something better-not regarding that design specifically, but in whatever project I am working on. It's almost a bit of competition where there wasn't any before, a challenge.

How do you decide if your design is ready?

FE : Your design is never ready unless you set boundaries, timelines, et cetera. The design could go on infinitely without being finalized, so you do need to press yourself to finalize. It is tough, but you realize that if things are successful enough there will be a request for a newer better version, and at some point what you are improving is not worth the time. And some feedback you just won't get until it's fully realized and commercial. That goes beyond you sitting at a desk coming up with a slightly better version of what you have done.

What is your biggest design work?

FE : My biggest design work is my newest release, the table Codependent. The project was born out of a mutual fascination and interest in the fields of psychology and design. I am particularly proud because it is part of an ongoing series "Anima-Forma" -essentially the physical manifestation of a psychological condition, bringing psychology from covert to overt in terms of a commercial product.

Who is your favourite designer?

FE : I think right now I am particularly impressed with quite a bit of Mathieu Lehanneur's work, so I would have to say he's definitely a favorite. His work has such a refined sensibility, you just want to live in that world. Outside of that I would want to speak with Alexander McQueen as I thought he was a true visionary in the fashion world. I would also give a big nod to Philippe Stark for sort of introducing product design to the masses in a modern way.

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

FE : I live in NYC so really any influence you can think of globally can be found within a few minutes, maybe a half hour or so. It is inspiring in that you can get out of your world for a little bit and become a part of something that you normally don't inhabit. Culture absolutely shapes your designs, and I think what is great is we are seeing quite an eclectic influence on mainstream design these days, it really has opened up to offer more than anyone thought it could. Outside of that my lifestyle is rather straightforward but I am drawn to the oddities and the unique in this world which certainly shapes how I design, it becomes a freedom.

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

FE : I would say I am not the easiest to work with when it comes to design, but I also try to create a rapport with the people I work with. We end up spending so much time together you really want to develop a relationship, but you need those boundaries of what is acceptable for work and what is not. There is a fine line though because the reality is that this is work and there are no shortcuts.

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

FE : I just recently completed a total rebranding effort for East End Temple, my congregation in NYC that was a pro-bono initiative. I think that there are moments like these when you feel a sense of obligation to the community to lend your talents to organizations and people that matter.

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

FE : I am just extremely thrilled and honored to have received a Gold A'Design Award for my table Codependent as it validated a lot of what I felt in the project, and it has given it a greater stage and visibility to the world which is wonderful. As well, there has been an increase in interest from the public and my colleagues which is fantastic.

Fletcher Eshbaugh Profile