I was once asked in an interview if there was any particular method I used to approach such a variety of projects. I replied...

...for me it is important for the designer to ignore style and instead search for the soul of an object. To search for its true nature, its 'suchness'. I believe that every potential object has its own unique character which should not be imposed by the designer, but rather discovered through a rigorous design process. In order to find the 'soul' of an object one must venture to its source, discarding all superfluous and superficial aspects. This design process is well illustrated by the story about a famed Indian carver of elephants. When asked how such beautiful elephants were carved, he simply replied - "Oh! it’s really quite simple. I get a piece of wood and remove everything that is not elephant!"

This is the most important and satisfying aspect of design for me, the search for the true object, to discover the familiar in the unfamiliar.

I hope there is some evidence of this in the following work.


Seattle. July 2004.