Name: Christian Lessing
Alma mater:
Kommunikations Design und Illustration, Düsseldorf
Products:
(smow)blog: And has the path since leaving college been easier or harder than you imagined? Christian Lessing: Definitely harder. At the beginning I had a lot of luck and some well paid jobs. But that didn’t last forever. Looking back I was very naive, and approached everything with very little strategy, and at times it was very hard to continue working as a product designer. As a graphic designer it’s all much easier.
(smow)blog: What do you understand as your role as product designer Christian Lessing: There’s two things really. With the larger objects, so the furniture, I always try to produce something that improves on what is available or to create something that isn’t available – so not furniture for the sake of furniture but something functional. With the smaller objects my aim is to include some added value for the user.
(smow)blog: Can one speak of a Christian Lessing style? Christian Lessing: I’m not sure if one could speak from style. Someone once said that with my work there was more that could be achieved, which I liked. One the one hand I have this illustrative approach, so I do approach my designs from the visual perspective, but principally I try to concentrate on the functionality. Also I don’t really like these big design projects such as sofa ensembles and such, my interest is much more objects for smaller spaces.
(smow)blog: Which brings us neatly to your balcony design projects. You previously brought out a new balcony project every year. Do you plan to continue that tradition, or is that something that for you is now finished. Christian Lessing: I think that it is large project area, and it’s certainly a subject that always produces positive feedback at exhibitions. This playing with small spaces, or how do I bring a little green to a compact space? I’ve sadly not yet found a producer who I could interest in the project, but I’m keen to continue with the work because I feel there is a lot of potential there.
(smow)blog: You do however produce some objects yourself, is that an area you plan to expand? Christian Lessing: I produce a lot of the small objects myself, but I don’t want to produce the larger things myself, because I don’t want to be a dealer, I’m not good at such. I principally want to concentrate on the designing. Ideally I’d like to work more with producers and less self producing. Not least because it involves a lot of energy and I’d rather invest that in designing.
(smow)blog: It’s a couple of years since you finished college, what is the most important lesson you have learned? Christian Lessing: That one must work a product through to end, from the initial concept through to marketing, the name, etc… And also that one needs to develop a sense for what could work and what probably won’t. I think every product designer begins with a table or a chair, which is extremely difficult because you’re then comparing your work with the big names. It is better to begin with those things that affect you, things that bother you, and to take that as your starting point.
More information on Christian Lessing can be found at at www.christianlessing.de/
