The character of the material is allowed to control the form and the properties become part of the function.
- Influences can come at any time and I process them for quite a long time. I know myself and my creative process, so I rarely get stressed," he says.
John Andersson, 24, is in his second year at Umeå School of Architecture. He has suspected it before and the Summer eXpression course confirmed his feeling: it is in design that he wants to invest.
- I have travelled a lot and had varied jobs. I have been able to use these experiences in my design, they have given me perspective.
John's designs are often rooted in himself. For example, his interest in food has resulted in "Don't reach me" and "DOT" as well as Japanese-influenced kitchen knives.
Smart interior makes the most of cast iron
John developed two products over the summer: 'Don't reach me', a rotating serving platter available in marble or granite, and 'DOT'. And it is the latter that he himself emphasises. The "DOT" is a spherical cast-iron spice grinder. The design has such an innovative height that John has now applied for a patent on the product.
- The patent application has been submitted, then we'll see what comes of it. The cast iron itself is the linchpin. It's a heavy material, but instead of trying to change that property, I wanted to find a way to take advantage of it.
The spice grinder is designed to be a design feature rather than a tool in the kitchen. A conversation piece at the dining table, while the clever inner gauge makes it functional.
Design initiative to take advantage of
After realising that design was something he wanted to pursue, John set up his own company. Now he is looking for a stable partner and producer for "DOT" to take the product to the next level.
- I would like to take on new design commissions and hope that the exhibition and the trip to Japan will lead to many new contacts. I am also looking forward to experiencing the Japanese restaurant environment and talking about my design.
