Joeri Reynaert丨一个比利时设计师在上海的创业之路

Original eyes on me designverse设计宇宙 2024-02-25

verse编辑部： 介绍一下Joeri Reynaert Studio。您创立Joeri Reynaert Studio的初心是什么？

verse editorial:Please introduce Joeri Reynaert Studio. And what is your initial goal when establishing Joeri Reynaert Studio?

Joeri Reynaert：在来中国之前，我曾在比利时、意大利、克罗地亚等地工作和生活，缘于一次工作机会，我来到了中国。我先在上海的一家比利时人开设的工作室工作了4年，之后就创立了自己的工作室。因为在之前的工作中，我都在为欧洲的高端品牌提供设计服务，比如Extremis、Foscarini，我觉得是时候该为大众提供设计服务了，而非仅针对富裕的精英阶层。

Joeri Reynaert: After having worked and lived in Belgium, Italy and Croatia, a job opportunity took me to China. After working for 4 years as a for a Belgian owned studio in Shanghai, I decided to start my own studio. During my former jobs I was designing for high end brands in Europe such as Extremis and Foscarini. I felt it was time to design for everybody, instead of the rich elite.

▲JRS x Acer ConceptD bag design

verse编辑部：Joeri Reynaert Studio一以贯之的设计理念是什么？

verse editorial: What is the coherent design philosophy of Joeri Reynaert Studio?

Joeri Reynaert： 作为设计师，我想让周围看似简单的事物显得更加美好一些。从传统的意义而言，就是通过功能的创新来提升物品。在我看来，产品的情感价值是最重要的功能。Joeri Reynaert Studio的设计旨在有趣，力求在触摸和使用的过程中激发出积极的情感。设计灵感则来自社会中的社交变化，它比潮流或“时尚”的范围更广一些。

Joeri Reynaert: As a designer I want to make the seemingly simple things around us a little bit better. In a traditional sense, that reflects into improving objects through innovation in its function. Emotional value of a product however, I consider as the most important function. My design aims to be playful, made to touch and use, provoke positive feelings. My design should be inspired on social changes in society, more than trends or “fashion”.

▲JRS x Matsu – Morse

verse编辑部：当开始设计的时候，您通常从哪方面着手切入？并如何考量颜色、材料、形状等的搭配和运用？

verse editorial: When you are starting design, what angle would you often adopt firstly? And how do you consider and arrange the palette of colors, materials, shapes, etc.?

Joeri Reynaert： 我的切入点是首先定义产品的真实目标及其对使用者产生的影响。最终的颜色、材料、形状则来自于最初定下的目标和氛围。因此，我的设计风格不仅限于一种，而是随着项目不断变化。

Joeri Reynaert: The first thing I do is to define the actual goal of the object and how will it influence the user. Color, material, shape comes at the end is a mere consequence of the atmosphere and goal I define in the beginning. That is why I so not have 1 style. My style changes according to the project.

▲Loop是便携式usb充电灯。当你收到Loop的时候，它是被放在一个扁平的包装盒里的。通过扭转灯具30度就可以打开灯具灯光，被扭转开的灯具就可以站立在平面上并形成独特的线性灯光。使用者可随身携带Loop，且无论何地都可悬挂Loop。

▲Loop is a portable and usb chargeable lamp. Loop comes in a flat box. By turning the left curve 30 degrees you switch on the lamp, while giving it the structure to stand as a unique line of light. Take or hang Loop where ever you please.

verse编辑部：您如何把握艺术性和商业化之间的关系，在产品里既满足了品牌业主的需求，又融入工作室特有的设计语言，同时能售卖得很好？

verse editorial: How to deal with the relationship of artistic effect and commercialization? So that the product not only meets the needs of the client/brand, but also integrates the design language of your studio as well as has been sold well?

Joeri Reynaert：首先需要挑选匹配的客户。我倾向于称呼他们为合作伙伴。基本要求是在产出高品质产品方面达成共识。

Joeri Reynaert: First way to deal with this, is to have the privilege to select a matching client. I would rather not call them clients but partners. A common interest in delivering a quality product is the fundamental requirement.

通常而言，如果我们只是为了金钱，双方都不会成功。我的合作伙伴需要认同我的价值和意图，我也必须支持他们公司的目标和愿景。然而，对于年轻刚起步的设计师（我依然将自己视为初学者），这样的言论完全是空谈，他们需要工作来支撑日常的开支。由此，关键点则在于客户的变量组合，一些客户在乎金钱，一些客户在乎热情。

If we are both only in it for the money, it will usually not be successful for both parties. My partner needs to believe in my values and intentions and I need to stand behind their company goals and visions. Unfortunately as a young and beginning designer (i definitely still consider myself as a beginner) that statement is utter bullshit, as you will have to take on jobs that you do not support to pay the bills. Portfolio variation within your “clients” is key. Some for the money, some for the passion.

基于热情的那些少量作品，其要求广泛，如下：

合作伙伴是否有能力真正创新的同时生产出前所未有的产品？在我的领域里，这通常取决于是否存在一支强劲的开发团队，在我们将产品推向市场之前，他们做好了多次打样的准备。这就将我带到下一点。
合作伙伴是否投入时间和耐心，而非金钱？他是否会为了真正好的、且产生长期利润的设计而等待？在进入市场之前，我们是否有时间关照细节？
合作伙伴是否采取正确的市场策略，以对的信息在对的地方来真正营销设计？
合作伙伴是否有正确的分销渠道来售卖产品？
我们能否产生关联并成为朋友？这是大的加分项。

Those few projects for the passion have a much broader range of requirements:

Does the partner have the capability to actually innovate and produce something that has not been done before? This in my field usually depends on the presence or absence of a strong development team that is ready to prototype several samples before we reach the ready to market product. Which leads me to the next point.
Can the partner invest in time and patience instead of money? Can he wait for a truly good design that can generate long term profits? Can we have the time to take care of the details, before going to market?
Does the partner have the correct market strategy to actually promote your design in the right place with the right message?
Does the partner have the correct distribution channels to sell the product?
Can we relate and become friends? That is a big plus.

现今，我接触的五家公司里就有四家不符合以上画像，他们的特质是以短期市场驱动的设计，这与创新背道而驰。

4 out of 5 companies that approach me today can not fit that profile and are characterized by short term, market driven design, which is the opposite of innovation.

▲Plyght是一片胶合板通过3D压弯的产品，集书架和壁灯为一体。它像漂浮在墙上的一个轮廓。压弯的胶合板给予了书架强韧性，并创造空间，隐藏了将书架固定在墙面上的痕迹。

▲By 3d bending a single sheet of plywood, a shelf and lamp appears as a floating silhouette on the wall. The bend gives the shelf its strength and creates the space for an invisible mounting to the wall.

verse编辑部： 比利时是个多语种国家，境内基本分为荷兰语、法语、德语三大语言区域，而英语也为人们所使用。您在这一多元化背景下成长，它给您的设计带来了哪些影响？

verse editorial: Belgium is a multiple languages country, with three languages areas – Dutch, French and German areas. And English is also spoken by the Belgians. You have grown up in this diversified background. What impacts does it brings to your design?

Joeri Reynaert：我很欣慰自己是比利时人。我们学习成长于一个多元文化的国家，没有清晰的认同感，但能以不同的视角看待事物。这正好是实现好的设计的基本技能，即将不同人群的需求都纳入考量。

Joeri Reynaert: I am grateful to be Belgian, as we learn by growing up in a multicultural country without a clear identity, to see things in different perspectives, which is a fundamental skill to reach good design that will take into account the needs of different people.

▲Wolfram这盏个人台灯被关闭时，灯罩就变成了镜子。当台灯被打开时，使用者能透过镜面灯罩看到钨丝，这也是灯具名字的由来。灯具底部的结构同时是摆放个人物件的容器。

▲A lamp becomes a mirror when turned off. When on, the tungsten filament ("wolfraam" in Dutch) becomes visible through the mirrored surface. The structure becomes a container for personal items.

verse编辑部：上海也是一个国际化都市，且是一个设计之都。您在这座城市的多年创作经验，是否进一步影响了您的设计思维？

verse editorial: Shanghai is also an international metropolis as well as a city of design. You have creation experience of several years in this city, too. Does it further influence your design thinking? What is the different points of design in Shanghai compared with other international metropolises?

Joeri Reynaert：是的。上海市中心的多元文化胜于比利时。与各个国家的人共同生活在一起，这样一种中国的生活方式潜移默化地对我的设计产生了很大的影响。在中国，每个项目都与众不同，有些聚焦国内市场，有些聚焦美洲、亚洲、阿拉伯或欧洲市场，且每次都需要不同的视角。

Joeri Reynaert: For sure. Downtown Shanghai is way more multicultural than Belgium. To see the Chinese way of living together with so many other countries, has influenced my design a lot for sure, in a natural way. In China every project is different as some of them focus on domestic market, others on American, asian, arabic or European market. It requires a different perspective everytime.

▲Rug - 在轻体量的铝制框架上漂浮着一块3D编织的布料，可用于户外休闲。

▲Rug - A 3D knitted fabric floats upon a lightweight aluminum frame, welcoming you for an outdoor break.

verse编辑部： 如果只能推荐一个作品与我们分享，您会挑选哪一个作品？为什么？

verse editorial: If you are set to recommend and share with us only one design work, what work will you select? Why?

Joeri Reynaert：我作为应届生在实习期的时候，协助Dirk Wynants设计过Kosmos躺椅。虽然这款躺椅不是畅销产品，却是我一直最为骄傲的创意之一。其独特的外形和多功能性创造了空间里的空间，拥有一种非常特别的氛围，即仅聚焦做一件事情：让人们相处更加亲密。可升降的桌子在下降后就成为了床，鼓励亲朋好友享受美好的夜晚。

Joeri Reynaert: During my internship as a fresh graduate I helped design Dirk Wynants to design the Kosmos lounger. It is not a best selling product, but still one of the creations I am most proud of. It’s unique look and multi functionality creates a space inside the space, with a very specific atmosphere that only aims to do 1 thing: bringing people closer together. The table that lowers down, to become a bed invites for great evening spend with family or friends.

▲Kosmos躺椅 Kosmos lounger

verse编辑部：这些年的创作中，您遇到过最大的挑战是什么？

verse editorial: What is the biggest challenge you have met in creation in the past years?

Joeri Reynaert：最大的挑战是满足客户要求的同时，不违背自己的价值观和原则。例如，可持续生产和材料的运用，以及不受困于仅仅为了让产品更加“特别”而进行的过度设计。

Joeri Reynaert: Meeting the clients requirements, without betraying my own values and principles. Such as sustainable production and material use. Such as not being trapped in over designing an object just for the sake of making it more “special”.

▲Ray

verse编辑部：当前疫情分别对办公及家居领域的家具设计有哪些影响？

verse editorial: Could you please talk about what impacts does Covid-19 bring to furniture design in office space and home space respectively?

Joeri Reynaert：疫情对我近期的项目产生了巨大影响。由于疫情，我得以有机会回应并提出新的解决方案。越来越多的人开始居家办公，但通常意义而言，家并不适合办公。目前，我正在设计的项目里有一个紧凑型的居家工作站。人们在快节奏的工作里会产生高舒适性的需求。因此，为什么不在办公室内部引入居家氛围和户外自然呢？我有许多新项目正是介于居家/办公/户外的界限之间。针对这三个领域，很多家具行业领导和其他品牌会共同合作，分别提出完整的却不惊艳的解决方案。而未来则属于跨界。

Joeri Reynaert: Covid has had a big impact on my latest projects. Covid was the perfect opportunity for me to answer with new solutions. People work more at home, but homes are usually not that suitable for working. A compact workstation solution for home is one of the projects I work on at the moment. At work, people have the need to feel more comfortable in an ever faster lifestyle pace. So why not bring some home and some outdoor nature inside the office? Several of my new projects are flirting with the boundaries of Home / Office / Outdoor. It will not come as a surprise that a lot of the furniture industry leaders partnered up with other brands to offer a complete solution for all 3 areas. Cross over is the future.

verse编辑部：对于设计助力提升制造水平方面，您的看法是什么？

verse editorial: What is your opinion on that design helps upgrade the standard of manufacturing?

Joeri Reynaert：产品/家具设计师有责任推动这些标准的突破和制定。设计师和研发领导之间的讨论十分有代表性。我们应该鼓励这样的方式，它也是创新真正产生的唯一入口。

Joeri Reynaert: It is a product and furniture designer his responsibility to push those standard boundaries. Discussions between the design and the head of R&D is classic. It should happen Iit is the only way real innovation happens.

-End -

所有图片版权属于Joeri Reynaert Studio

请点击“阅读原文”查看更多“Eyes on Me”栏目访谈文章。

-往期回顾-