IN CONVERSATION WITH PIET HEIN EEK

The Dutch creative details his distinct design philosophy and the importance of creating a stimulating work environment

- AMAN MEHTA

I became a designer but originally wanted to be an architect because, all my life, I’ve loved being outdoors, creating something or the other. I was a very busy guy even at a young age, constructing huts and so on,” muses the Eindhoven based designer. Renowned for his sustainable approach and use of leftover material, Piet Hein Eek is a patron of an increasingly coveted trait—efficiency. “A lot of people stereotype me as a designer who recycles and is eco-friendly, which is true but it’s not a left-wing progressive inclination like some make it seem. For me, it’s just logical to work with the resources that are readily available. By doing that, you don’t utilise too much precious energy or exploit our world and what it provides,” he shares, going on to illustrate his design philosophy that has been refined over 30 years.

“My starting point is ‘what’s the question?’ and then I try to create a rational process or design relating to what’s available here in the workshop in terms of machines, labour and material. Unlike most contemporary designers, I don’t think of something new and then follow it up by ‘how do I execute this?’, avoiding too many challenges in that regard.”