It's all in the eye.
By Rogier
31 Jul 2007
1. What kind of designer are you?
I'm an architect.
2. What did you want to do for a living when you were a kid?
I wasn't particularly concerned with that when I was a kid. When I was about 16, after visiting New York City, I decided I wanted to be an architect. I only started taking photography seriously after I became an architect.
3. What is it about your design work that makes your photography better? And vice versa? Where do you see parallels between the two?
I definitely think my "graphic eye" has improved by my work as an architect. Although pure design as such is only a minor part of architectural work (as most time is taken up by management tasks and the better part of designing a building consists of solving spatial problems), it can be a very intense part in which graphic quality and proportions make a big difference.
The influence of architecture on my photography is a more obvious one, as I take a lot of pictures of architecture. Then again I like it best when I take the architecture somewhat out of it's normal context. I also like to look for the beauty in less obvious subjects that would be considered "ugly" by some. I am fascinated by urban decay and the absence of design. This way, taking pictures of architecture helps me to look at it in a different way at design, thus helping me as a designer. In the end, it's all in the eye. It involves almost no thinking.
The parallel I think lies in the result. In photography I'm largely dependant on the objects and scenes I encounter. The photo takes itself, in a way. In architecture, the result depends on the client, the program and various contextual influences. In both photography and architecture, I like to be surprised by the result of my own work. It's a big rush.
4. What do you find most challenging about your work?
In architecture: solving the unsolvable. In photography: creating interesting images.
5. Do you have design heroes? Photography heroes?
I do, but generally my inspiration comes from other disciplines.
6. Name some unexpected sources of inspiration you've had.
Constant Anton Nieuwenhuys, a Belgian artist who created New Babylon. New Babylon is an imaginary city of the future, in which the inhabitants shape their own environment. In some of my photography I try to envision New Babylon by taking subjects out of their context and combining them with others.
Joep van Lieshout, a Dutch artist whom I admire especially for his architectural work and for his anarchist attitude towards design.
Edward Hopper, for the use of light and emptiness in his compositions.
M.C. Escher, for his play with patterns and perspective.
To name a few...
7. Do you have any regular habits/exercises that make you a better designer? Photographer?
I believe that practice is the best teacher.
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