Tag Archives: Saif Faisal

For Saif Faisal, All Roads Lead to Design

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

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It all started with cars, as Saif explained to us. His dream of becoming an Automotive Designer started early on to which point he even enrolled into an Architecture Undergraduate program near Bangalore just to be able to pursue a Master’s degree in car design. There, in college, he also joined the Formula Student Racing Team, where he acquired diverse experience in design and technical know-how. Now that’s real commitment.

But things took a U-turn when later he dropped the plan to go ahead with his Master’s, thinking that it was too restricting to be involved in just one specific field. At that point, he had discovered that only an Industrial Design course could give him the freedom to be multi-disciplinary, and to be able to work on Architecture, Product design, Automotive design and more. Then, the rest is history.

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Winning design from EDIDA INDIA 2017: Qaiser Series (T) and Cork Trays (B).
Winning design from EDIDA INDIA 2017: Qaiser Series (T) and Cork Trays (B).

“Design, in general, is what gets me going,” he said, “So it is all a playful adventure.” Since setting up his creative office in 2014, Saif had been steadily creating designs that draw heavily from his appreciation of technology and processes. But it wasn’t until he won the recent EDIDA India for furniture and tabletop with the Qaiser Series and Cork Trays that he finally caught the eyes of the global design industry.

The former is a series of side tables with tops that used a unique craft form called ‘Bidriware’. “One of its kind in the world,” explained Saif, “It uses a special mud from the medieval fort in Bidar, in South India.  So it is made by us with local craftsmen.” The latter, a quite self-explanatory design, takes the shapes of typical hanging cutting boards, but with a thick border to hold objects in their place. Akin to Enzo Ferrari who used to build and sell cars to fund his racing, the trays are currently self-produced by Saif but would definitely like to be mass-produced. “Maybe by a manufacturer from Scandinavia perhaps…” he hoped. And so do we.

We talked to him about his journey so far and his future endeavours.

Qaiser Series used a unique craft form called 'Bidriware'.
Qaiser Series used a unique craft form called ‘Bidriware’.

 

In the process of making the Cork Trays.
In the process of making the Cork Trays.

For people who are not yet familiar with you, tell us about your background.

I’m an Industrial designer working on Architecture, Interiors, Product design, Brand Identity, Design Development, Creative Direction,  Motorcycle design, Automotive racing, Furniture, Lighting, Craft & Jewelry. I’ve always had an admiration for things and objects: their materials, beauty and how they were made. I always found it fascinating to watch a carpenter or a mason engaged in his craft. I could make stuff out of anything that was around; I used to make miniature farms with plantations and worked on irrigation, inspired by the country life I experienced during the summer stays at my grandfather’s farm. I’d also make models of scooters and bikes out of wheat flour dough. That’s one of the reasons I still love scale models so much, making them and collecting them. It was around 16 that I discovered design could be a legit career. I wanted to become an automotive designer. I’m an autodidact, and it’s quite natural for me to pick up something that interests me and pursue it with certain passion on my own, learning and doing on the way.

How do you describe your design aesthetic?

I’m an ‘ESSENTIALIST’; my focus is on sensitive, thoughtful and meaningful design. I have quite a contrasting way of looking at things; some designs are practical and functionalist while others are poetic expressions that can have certain humour and curiosity. All in all, everything has to have that beauty. Making stuff has been a huge part of the process; so much so that some of the products hardly have any drawings or detailed sketches – it’s just straight from the concept sketches to the making of the prototype.

 

Designing cars, including racing architecture has always been Saif's dream.
Designing cars, including racing architecture has always been Saif’s dream.

Lots of your pieces used natural materials like wood and cork. What's your fascination with these materials?

I love working with beautiful, humble natural materials; they have great quality regarding how they age gracefully. I love exploring their properties in new and expressive ways, for instance, the Cork trays have two variations of cork, the rubberised one for the strap and the hard one for the tray body, perfectly coming together, not to mention the ecological aspects of these materials.

Where are you based now?  What made you want to be here? What are the advantages?

I’m based in Bangalore at the moment; I came here for my undergraduate about 12 years ago, while doing my Architecture I was part of the Formula SAE team which mostly had Mechanical engineering students, I used to design the Chassis, Ergonomics, Suspension, Brakes, Safety and Packaging. During this time I developed a great network of vendors and suppliers. This field felt quite indispensable when I wanted to start my multidisciplinary studio. But I seem to have exhausted the potential of the city. Maybe I will shift to Scandinavia in future; you’ll never know…

What is the current design scene in India?

Its still evolving and not that refined at the moment. There is this underlying fascination with Bollywood and Kitsch with a ‘Royal’ hangover from the bygone era of the ‘Maharajas’ that I feel is quite hindering. But otherwise, there is new breed of young designers with a more progressive perspective that is doing some significant work that I feel would be worth something in the coming years.

Where do you find your inspiration?

Inspiration to me comes from a social concern, a beautiful material, an inspiring craft, a practical need, a curiosity… I look to other creative fields too. At this moment, in particular, I’m fascinated with the contemporary culinary scene. Also, it’s quite difficult not to notice the tech-innovations of late…

Another EDIDA winning design from 2016: Poise Lamp.
Another EDIDA winning design from 2016: Poise Lamp.

 

The new Euclid Series of candleholders.
The new Euclid Series of candleholders.

Where will we see you next?

We have several projects that we have completed and are speaking to different manufacturers to get them in production. Among other stuff, I’m working on an electric Café racer that will host a couple of very innovative features in response to the whole Autonomous vehicle scene. Also, I’ve been approached for an electric car; it’s more on conceptual lines at the moment focussing on the future of urban mobility in developing nations like India, I’m working on the Packaging, Interiors & Styling. One important thing at the moment is we are working with a manufacturer who is looking at working with a couple of craft form to launch innovative contemporary Art-Design pieces soon, hopefully during I Salone 2018 in Milan. This is a new direction for my work; I’m quite pleased with the progress at the moment.

For more info about Saif Faisal, visit here.

Any views or opinions in the post are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the company or contributors.

source: http://www.theartling.com / the Artling / Home / by Yen Kien Hang / January 26th, 2018

The minimalist creations of product designer Saif Faisal

Bengaluru, KARNATAKA :

From designing cars to designing products for your home—Bengaluru-based Saif Faisal is fast becoming a name to reckon with

Foster Memo Clip (Left). Brackett Trays (Right).
Foster Memo Clip (Left). Brackett Trays (Right).

Product designer Saif Faisal who started his career designing cars has very successfully ventured into designing products for your home. Trained as an architect at Bengaluru’s RV College of Architecture, Faisal previously represented his college at Formula SAE, a student design competition, where he worked on driver safety and ergonomics. Now, Faisal’s eponymous studio has created a collection of home accessories with a markedly minimalist design. AD sat down with the designer to get a more intimate understanding of his design instincts and inspirations.

Architect and product designer Saif Faisal (Left). Loop Mirror (Right).
Architect and product designer Saif Faisal (Left). Loop Mirror (Right).

Architectural Digest (AD): Where did you learn wood working?
Saif Faisal (SF): It was more like collaborative learning with a couple of people in the trade to understand the craft. This helped a lot in the design and product development. With my earlier design and engineering work in Formula Student racing, this brought the two extremes of craft and high-tech together. For instance, our design, the Counterpoise lamp uses the dynamics of gravity but is made in a humble natural material: wood.

AD: Did you start the brand with the intention of specializing in table-top office accessories (like lamps, trays, clips, coasters, etc)?
SF: Actually it’s the contrary; initially we were more focussed on furniture. We have worked on a lot of furniture, the String Series for Godrej Design Lab, a book case, and a series of Roto-molded seating for indoor/outdoor use. The development process of larger projects take quite a while so we started doing smaller objects in between, which can be self-produced and completed quickly as well—again something which we didn’t favour much earlier. I have to admit it’s quite enjoyable doing smaller stuff.

AD: Will we see any other products—like kitchen or tableware for instance—from your brand?
SF: Maybe…in 2015 we ventured into jewelry and craft that was a surprise for us. Every new thing we do is an exploration and adventure.

Counterpoise Lamp. Principle: Function and flexibity with ease.
Counterpoise Lamp. Principle: Function and flexibity with ease.

AD: In its minimalism and simplicity, your products remind one of Scandinavian design. What/who is your design inspiration?
SF: You are right; they are reminiscent of Scandinavian design, and I suppose, of Japanese design too. I would say its Essentialism and not merely Minimalism, as we try to be more honest to the design essence with no frivolous decorative elements. If you see our Qaiser series in Bidriware, it has the Zillij pattern on it—that’s not minimal but essential. On that note, Essential Design can help the world become a better place, and it’s not just with the products…my observation is cultures with a better sense and appreciation of design have holistic politics and interactions.

AD: You mention ‘poetry’ and ‘harmony’ in design (in the notes on the products) several times. Why is this so important to you?
SF: It’s quite important that a design be poetic, to express to a user the object needs to communicate on a poetic level.

source: http://www.architecturaldigest.in / Architectural Digest – AD / Home> Perspective> Profile / by Leena Desai / February 24th, 2017