After graduating from Brandeis University, Massachusetts, United States, Ari Teman started a product design firm, 12gurus. Although, the firm is in its infancy but it boasts to team up with likeminded people especially in the design fraternity so as to ‘innovate with integrity’… scroll down to know how,
1. Teman, give a brief biographical sketch about yourself to our readers? And what made you plunge into designing?
Teman: My name is Ari Teman. I’m the CEO of 12gurus, a premier, full-service design (media, environment, and industrial design) firm headquartered in New York City, with operations throughout the world.
I was drawn into design because it is primarily about solving problems, which I love to do. A design must also communicate a product’s function and place. This is often mistaken for ‘style’. I believe timeless style emerges from clear communication.
2. Please acquaint our readers with your ‘sketches ideas’?
Teman: A lot of my personal design is whimsical, and often compared to Magritte (in view, if not in execution). I like to get people thinking differently, and asking “where did you get that idea?”
3. What is the story behind the ‘Guitar Couch’?
Teman: When I was younger I loved the guitar. It is a beautiful instrument, graceful and curvaceous. Instant heroism is belayed on anyone who can tame it. I was doodling one day (as a pro we say ‘sketching’) and drew the Guitar Couch. I thought it’d be cool to have in the room where my band got together, so we built one.
4. What is innovation to you – design, technology or the creative processes itself?
Teman: Innovation is making people’s lives easier by thinking differently. I don’t think you can separate design from technology. Is great design the coolest abacus you can draw? No, I think it’s the latest computer nobody has even considered yet. Design is about advancing society. Throughout history people have thought they could make the world better just by making it prettier – that doesn’t work (and most of those people are considered dictators and war criminals now!). There’s a place for pretty things, but real beauty is one with function – and the creative process becomes obvious if the product is elegant.
5. How far have you reached in creating a mark in the genre of design?
Teman: We’re very new, 12gurus. I just received the Grand Prize from the Core77 One Hour Design Competition (www.Core77.com), and already we’re being covered in the news regarding how we use design, technology and psychology to help sell ideas and aid charities.
6. What are the upcoming trends in the field of design, which you are trying to inculcate in your creation?
Teman: Obviously the key words now are “green” and “sustainable”. At 12gurus, we don’t see this as a trend of preference, and never have. It’s the only way of doing things, more functionality per product, less waste. There is no business where less waste doesn’t offer more profits. That it’s becoming a “trend” now is nice, but it must be recognized as a way of life.
The next trend is three-way-communication. The producer, the customer, and their fellow customers are all communicating, so products must be designed to enable people to share the story. Our job as designers and marketers is now to listen – the consumer does the telling, and the selling.
7. Do you feel that product design and architecture are related? If so, why?
Teman: 100%. Look at the Apple Stores. The entire environment is necessary to give you the elite feeling. One word unites both fields: experience. With the 3D technologies becoming increasingly popular and uniform, the valuable players won’t be a “product designer” or “environment designer” but an “experience designer”.
8. If you had to point to the most impressive feature about the new product design, what would it be?
Teman: The most impressive thing about new product design is its limitlessness. That thing you are holding in your hand can communicate with a world-wide network. You have no boundaries – you can do anything.
9. Where do you see yourself, after, let’s say, five years from now?
Teman: Solving problems, creating new opportunities, and working with a great team of people, all over the world.
10. Finally, we would like to have your thoughts on the Instablogs News Network and all its related sites. Which one is your favorite?
Teman: GizmoWatch is cool. I’ve seen some great things on it. The more frequently you read blogs, the more ideas you’ll get. I like to get a broad view because you never know how your brain will connect two random ideas into something great. The ability to view multiple blogs sharing a single tag is very cool.
Before signing off, I’d like to thank Teman for sparing his valuable time with us. I’m sure our readers would have enjoyed reading the interview as well. Also, I’d like to wish him luck for all his future endeavors.