Ayse Birsel on Product Design
Interview, National Design Awards, Washington, DC, July 20, 2010.
Ayse Birsel spoke to us about designing utensils for Target (whisk, spoon), for a line associated with Giada de Laurentiis (celebrity and celebrity chef). Giada requested implements designed for a woman’s hand; most chef equipment is designed for men. “Objects tell a story,” Ayse said. “You hold the whisk in your hand and it feels like an extension of your hand. It also looks good in your drawer.”
“When the design process is going well, I am more like a channel for the idea. Writing is like that, too. We are all working with ideas. We are all telling stories. It’s a story that the user will discover when she gets the product home. She might not understand the story, but she enjoys it.”
Other recent projects include:
Modular furniture for Herman Miller. “Like Legos,” she said, and Elie smiled.
HP product counters and reception counters. “Drums that look like eggs.” Top cut off to become a flat surface; bolted to the floor in order to stand upright. Cables through center.
M’Afrique Furniture. Made in Senegal. Metal tubing with weaving in nylon rope. Traditional colors and weaving techniques. Challenges of achieving quality control. Ayse’s husband is from Senegal. Women of Senegal are tall and broad — “monumentally beautiful.” One chair emulates this aesthetic. African seating is very inclined, and they borrowed some of this, too.
Taboo stools: also made in Senegal, but moving from handicraft to industry. Made from recycled paper bags.
Nice interview with Ayse, including great photos.
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