Sebastian Jansson

portrait by alfredo salazar

1) what is the design for you I see many different layers of purpose related to design.
Depending on the project, it must be concerned the right proportion between functionality and necessity, cultural and poetic argumentation, producibility, social and environmental sustainability. The aesthetics should therefor be a result of a development process, of an idea. It must not be a driving force, because an object might loose purpose. -Functionality aims to support our living. But the function can also be emotional. If an objects makes you feel happy, it's an function. The intuitive reaction of users fascinates me. Our surrounding has to have a positive emotional impact on us. —As a young designer I try to find a meaning and a purpose in an object. The visual appearance is thereby less important for me. We are ought to argument against our selves to be convinced that we are working for a right purpose, because of the current overproduction and redundant consumption of natural resources. Regarding sustainability, we should actually find solutions that would make our profession as designers purposeless.

2) your best product/project
The badminton feather. It is functionally a perfect object where the form follows the function in an fascinating way. Time and tradition have shaped the object. The materials have a natural background and are used in an intuitive way.

3) your next job's goal
For me the process behind the result is the most enlightening, as one implement one's existing knowledge and search for new related facts and information. I am also fascinated by the cultural impact that objects carry. I want to create something culturally sustainable.

4) your idols
I admire outstanding entrepreneurs, who has an natural and intuitive approach to their work, being in a constant process of self development and bringing new, unexpected solutions to our everyday life. I appreciate honest and genuine people. As examples successful company leaders such as Jack Welch of General Electrics or Alberto Alessi. On the other hand I respect design oriented personas with a strong sense of poetry and characteristic rationality, such as Jasper Morrison or visually very virtuous Zaha Hadid and Frank Gehry. —I also admire the female beauty. If an object manages to communicate as much fascination, attraction and passion - then we are on the right path.

5) which one will be the next trend in the design field (an your opinion)
The next trend will be sustainable luxury. —The constant topic is today the climate change, as well as environmental and social sustainability. Technical innovation will drive us to new materials and more efficient ways of using existing ones. The computer softwares will support us to more complex visual and constructional solutions. The western culture needs to become more collective and we need to create a larger quantity of sharable solutions. I believe that we have much to develop within the transportation industry. We also have to take in account the third world countries.

6) a your dream
I will build up a cross disciplinary creative studio and run my own manufacturing and brand. —I look forward of become in age of retirement, being financially independent, having a wine yard and mansion in Tuscany, and to travel abound meeting interesting people and exploring different cultures. —It is really important to be open and honest towards your dreams — and constantly work on realizing them bit by bit, because this is the only way to reach what you really want. This brings me personal satisfaction and safety. People need to explore and find their own channel of purpose in life, and consciously work in the aimed direction. In this way we can find luck and happiness. By inspiring each other we might also create a more healthy and sustainable society.

7) a famous product that you would liked to design
A sports car. I thought I wanted to become a car designer before I realized that I want to design more that one object over and over again. I am fascinated of fast and furious vehicles.