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Q1 Please tell us your brief profile and working career. Why did you become designer?
Like most Industrial Designers, since I was young I have always been curious about how things work, how are they made and the enhancements made to the same object throughout time. |
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I was about to study Industrial Engineering, as it was the only career I knew you can bring your ideas into real products; until (luckily) I ran into Industrial Design, where you can be involved in the whole process and the development of a project, but always in a boundless and creative way.
Q2 What is the concept of your products?
Functionality.
Within my work, I always try to give a new approach to the objects we have always used, giving them as many functions as possible without loosing the esthetic. There is always the dilemma of constantly improving the shape, but the solution is there. For example TurnX4 (www.agustin-otegui.com/X4), which is a watch that can turn into four different watches. RUGA (www.agustin-otegui.com/RUGA), a dividing screen that turns into a sofa, a bed or a bench. ZHAN (www.agustin-otegui.com/ZHAN), a pair of shoes in which the soles fit together, allowing the user to carry or store them easily. |
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Q7 Could you tell us the work you enjoyed so far?
I like something about each one. Every project has a special story behind.
Among them, I would choose RUGA (www.agustin-otegui.com/RUGA), not only because of the outcome but also about how I arrived to this solution. This project consists of a dividing screen, which can turn into a bench, sofa or a bed. |
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It started as a research project to solve the big challenge of saving space in small apartments where most of the young people live.
I have a lot of faith in this project. Taking in account the global tendency of optimizing space and the increasing limited space for living in the big cities makes RUGA a great solution with a very interesting commercial development.
Q8 Are there any people who inspired you?
I would say that Conceptual Artists have been a great source of inspiration. As they become one with the materials they use, transforming them into just what they needed, throughout an extensive process of trial and error with techniques and possibilities you would never imagine.
But I try not to limit myself by the sources (Photographers, architects, film makers, product designers, conceptual artists, graphic designers, illustrators and many more.
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Q13 Is there any event that are you going to this year?
I'll try to go to the Design festival in London in September. I would also love to go to the TED conference.
Q14 Who do you respect?
There are a lot of designers; Sam Hecht, Naoto Fukasawa or Enric Miralles for example. |
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Q15 Do you have any advice for the young people?
By my own experience so far. I would say that nobody will do anything for you; you have to fight for your ideas and remain faithful to them. You have to be persistent and humble, things are not easy and you have to be patient. Things will work out at the end......... I hope for me too.
For all the investors, producers and manufacturers, look down on the new generation of designers which are eager to develop any kind of project.
Q16 What do you want to achieve in your career? What is your goal?
I would love to work in projects for developing countries bringing real solutions to real problems. I have always had the idea of having a studio where one or two out of ten projects would be destined to help a community (even if profitability could be an issue). Of course I would like to start in my own country (Mexico), where there are a lot of things to be done. |
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Agustin Otegui was born in Mexico City in 1980. He holds a Degree in Industrial Design from the UIA (Mexico City) as well as a Masters degree in product design and simulation from Escuela Superior de Diseno Elisava (Barcelona). His designs have enjoyed numerous successes in various design competitions including first place in the 2005 Bombay Sapphire competition in Spain and first place in a Motorola competition to design communication systems for rural communities 2003. His work has also been exhibited in Milan, London, Paris, Mexico City and Barcelona. He has worked for a number of European car manufacturers, including BMW, Citroen, Rolls Royce, Mini Cooper, Fiat and Faurecia.
Currently he develops freelance projects for different clients in the electronics, home appliance and consumer goods sectors like MABE and Southwing. |
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Q3 What is your greatest inspiration?
Everyday life.
Q4 Currently which stores carry your pieces in the world?
The only products on the market right now are the cars I've worked on.
I am currently working on some projects for a French company which will be released in the near future.
Q5 What would you be if you weren't a designer?
I would definitely be a Chef.
Every chef’s creation is like a project, where you have to plan yourself, think of the recipe and the people you are cooking for, select the right ingredients and spices, go through the different procedures of preparing the meal, supervise the whole process and then even enjoy the meal at the end with the people you like. |
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Q6 Who is your dream collaborator?
I would love to collaborate with NGO's or Governments, creating projects for underdeveloped countries, traveling where there's more need; identifying and bringing real solutions. |
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Q9 What do you think about design industry in your country?
Young designers are starting to return from being studying different specialties around the world and opening their own businesses.
Industrial Design in Mexico is still focused on small scale production with raw materials (metal, wood, textiles, ceramics, etc.) through small workshops as we have really good craftsmen specialized in different fields. These means are accessible to every designer for the development of prototypes and small-scale production.
Little by little big industries are starting to trust projects to upcoming designers. There has been a lot of investment in the car industry, home appliances and electronics sectors in the last few years.
Q10 Could you tell us anything what you think its cool at the moment?
Projects for developing countries and climate change. |
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Q11 Are there any places or countries you would like to visit?
China, Brazil, India, South Africa, and many more.
Q12 When is the most important time of your day?
All day long. I try to stay active and enjoy every moment.
We should not live expecting what’s coming we should be living and enjoying right now. |
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I am planning on staying in Europe for a couple of years, working for different clients and then start my own studio in Mexico where I have already started to have some pretty interesting clients and projects.
With some friends we are starting to develop a design network where we could share and exchange projects working in different places around the world. |
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