DESIGN, INSPIRATION AND A CLEAR MISSION ... THE INTERVIEW ON THE AWARD

We can call ourselves proud winners of the “GERMAN DESIGN AWARDS” in the “Excellent Product Design” category!

A top-class international jury decided on this. For them our product - the snowsuit - has an excellent design and is therefore not only innovative but also unique and groundbreaking. We thank the jury for that!

But what does design mean to us?

 Antje, our designer and founder, has retreated to the countryside for a few days in exile to design a new product line. This is a good opportunity to ask her directly from the think tank:

Antje, what does design mean to you?

"Let's start with how I understand the process behind it:

In the beginning there is inspiration. These are the impressions and experiences that we experience every day. When these are processed, creativity arises, fantastic energy. Creativity causes us all to be artistically active in different ways.

For me, design is art that has a practical value, a benefit. Design has to work. For as many people as possible. I have to keep checking my design for this and ask myself: How does the environment affect my design? Where is it used? How and by whom is it used? What do I want to achieve with my design? "

Does that also mean you want to trigger emotions? What exactly is your mission?

“A happy and bold design can inspire one to experience strength and confidence. It can motivate you to be optimistic. And that's exactly what I see with my art as my design task. "

What do you get inspired by?

“When it comes to colors, shapes and sounds, I have a clear preference: I am inspired by smell and color combinations that nature produces, such as spices or a walk in the forest or on the beach.

For example, observing animals inspires me to give them certain characteristics. When my husband talks about quantum physics, what I hear inspires me that anything is possible if you just believe in it. A look at the starry sky or from a mountain peak inspires me to feel very tiny and yet so connected to everything. Funky music inspires me to dance. Street art to be allowed to be striking and challenging.

Children inspire me to be sincere and authentic. I love it when children discover nature. The amazement and joy of movement they show motivates me to look optimistically into the future.

So in the end my design is completely selfish (laughs): I create my own favorite inspiration! "

Antje Risau - founder and designer of WeeDo Funwear

 
And how do you make your design actually work in the end?

“On the one hand, we owe the fact that we were able to win the GDA to these wonderful influences, which enable us to be creative. That's why it's important to protect them in the first place. However, in order to be able to distinguish a functioning design, you need not only the designer, but a supply chain all the way to the product that understands, lives and feels the design and its mission.

And that is our Team, which believes and works together with me to turn the design into a functioning product. Together with our freelancers, we are a great, colorful bunch of street artists, detail lovers, communication artists and number-crunchers. Therefore, as I befit a real award speech, I would like to thank all those who work together with me on my vision. And last but not least to our customers, who confirm to us every day that it is the right vision to which we dedicate to! "