Road Warrior

Victor Sanz, the new creative director of internationally renowned luggage brand Tumi, shares his passion for travel and the art of combining disciplines

- Leona Liu

Why did you become a designer?

I was trained in the classical forms of art, including drawing, sculpting and painting, as well as industrial design. Being a designer of travel bags has allowed me to utilise all my past experiences and fuse them together to create unique products.

What’s your design approach? It has been to bridge the gap between art, design and fashion, which stems from my diverse background.

Where do you get your inspiration?

Being based in New York City, there is an endless supply of inspiration just outside the door. Much of my design inspiration also comes from travelling, experiences and interactions along those journeys in many corners of the Earth. From visiting a crafter of traditional Japanese kimonos, for example, we translated some of those techniques into one of our latest prints for fabrics.

What do you find special about designing travel accessories?

Understanding customers and how they live their lives is the key. The more designers are able to understand the customers, the more we are able to develop products that meet their ever-changing needs and lifestyles. That said, [it’s also about] bringing the best quality, style, functionality, iconic design and stylish products to consumers to help perfect their travel journeys.

Function versus form: which comes first, and how do you balance them?