Product Design

We talk with the coordinator of product design degree, Tomas Silva. He is product designer, he studied in Elisava (Barcelona) and has a master realized in the Royal college of Art (London) and of course, a study in Cadiz. (www.tomasilva.com)

What is the product design? How do you would define it?

The product design is that profession which we do a product nicer and more commercial for society and helps indeed, to develop, create a product focused on a user.

Which parameters should consider a designer to establish priority on the develop of a product?

It is always depends a lot of the project, you may find works where the concept or briefing it is totally defined so it is about a very artistic process  or it may be something completely functional, I depend a lot of the project, which also it is going to defined materials which we are going to work, therefore there is not a methodology which always works for the product design.

How far do you think product design can goes in function of the consumer´s claim?

Until make customer happy, I mean, brings happiness to the user. If a product satisfices client´s necessities is a good product but if besides contributes with an extra value and new things that the client did not expect, that is what makes excellent the project.

Why did you decide to become a teacher?

(Laughingly) It was fortuity, but I have many references in product design, obviously other school´s teachers of mine and it's a good way to combine. But well, I do not know, it has always like to me, it is a stuff I love.

We know that ESADA works with PBL methodology, even so, which philosophy do you try to teach to your students at time they work in the projects.

One of the principal reasons for I am here and not in other place is PLB, I think it is a better ways to teach, because theory in the end it is forgotten so, when you really experience something is when you really have a real problem and have to face it, that is when you are really learning. In fact, many people say that in the school did not learn nothing and when they start to work it is when they start to learning and that happened, precisely,  because you do not work with projects.

You´re teacher in several specialties in ESADA, as a fashion designer, among others. Which similitudes do you find between these four degrees?

Creativity, principally, and after tools, we share tools in almost everything. It is true that in fashion we do not, but in product we are able to handle everything a bit.

Have you released some product in a professional way? Which?

(He invites us to his website) One of them was very funny, because when I arrived at Cadiz after London, I thought ``My god, my career it's over´´ I came from London and when I was in Cadiz, I became obsessed for do something creative, different and funny. I made a wheel for little children, like a hamster wheel for walk at the beach and it was recording a slogan in the sand.

Which innovation does product design propose regarding improve with environment?

Sincerely I think we should only focus almost unique and exclusively on it because it is very important, we are destroying the planet and we as product designer have a lot of guilt about that, we're becoming a more and more consumerist society so if we do not start for be ourselves the ones whose are aware, we are going wrong.    

Which is your basement to organize the subject-matter in a class?

First at all, I structure myself according to the Junta de Andalucía’s guide and from there I analyse the project; I find which part are more suitable and I focus on those suitable parts of the project, I divide the project and try to give the whole subject-matter with regard the projects but trying use the project as a basement to explain theory.

What is the most attractive thing of this speciality for you? Why do you recommend it?

Since I have use of reason I loved to draw, to create things and I think that it is, I mean, creativity, to create something with your own hands, to make an object or see something which it is needed but does not exist, that kind of things have always attracted to me. To invent. To invent even though I always have said that we designer are not inventor, we come from an art speciality and looks like in product design we're obsessed with that the only thing its matter is create something absolutely new.

Backpack FAE (For Alice Everywhere)

Ulises Moya - 2017

"The project should be based in a fashion partner´s collection"

The chosen collection, Alice in Nowhere of Sethir Galvan, it is inspired in the film "Alice in wonderland" (2010), it tries to portray the evolution of the protagonist's personality, Alice, through the story. This changeable complement in backpack, handbag or fanny pack, picks up the essential concept of the collection which it bases on, getting to print a character or "personality" different by the form, texture and colour.

Gecko

Antonio Aparicio - 2017

Gecko is a folding shelving which can cover parts of the wall and use only the shelving that it needed. The most original part of this project is the system which uses elastic straps to change the position of the pieces.

"The design is not necessary but inevitable".  Ronald Shakespeare.

Muqarnas

Ismael Pérez - 2017

First project on the fourth product design course, which it required make a game for the tourism.The first approach it is on the Granada city and, how not, in the Alhambra.

The game has two version, one made of paper and the other made of plastic. In the plastic version the gamer has all the pieces that conform the mocarabe for himself builds as it wants, joining each piece with little eight tip stars. In the paper version the develops of the little pieces are delivered to create little boxes and, at the same of the plastic version, create your own mocarabe.   

"Everything you can imagine is real". Pablo Picasso.

"Talent is good, practice is better, passion is best". Frank Lloyd Wright

NOW!

Francisco Molina - 2017

It was the first project in the 2016-17 year, the second of the product design course, getting as subject: Habitat furniture design. With this project I wanted difference myself making a meditation bench, having in mind the union of orient and occident. Through its form and design, it is establishing a directly connection between man and environment, making of this bench an extension of our own being. It can be folded, taking the less space possible, can be transported to any place in a comfort way. Its structure it is inspired in the oriental number eight, radiating a perfect balance because of its symmetry and structure.

Oilcan AOVE

Victor Vilar - 2018

The redesign of the iconic Rafael Marquina´s oilcan is the principal basement of this project. Working on it and finding the possible failure; it researches and develops finding the most optimal solution, without losing the essence that it brings the original design.

The material of the product is porcelain, which gives a good conservation of AOVE because of light is a negative factor to oil.

"Redesign, handicraft and AOVE united in a same product with Mediterranean culture essence".