The spogagafa, the large garden trade fair, took place last week in Cologne. There, in the premium furniture area, garden unique the results from the garden goes balcony contest were exhibited. Not only the interested public, furniture manufacturers and landscape architects were there, but also our three jury prize winners Tim, Jonathan and Vanja. So I had the chance to talk to them in person and to do an interview with them. The first interview was with Tim:

Hey there Tim! Tell us a bit about yourself, where are you from?

Hi, I’m Tim from Cologne. Actually I started my creative career as graphic designer. But then I wanted to work on something you can really touch. So I started studying interior design at the University in Aachen. I guess my experience as graphic designer is the reasons why my concepts are now very reduced and clear. Nowadays I’m self-employed and work as a freelancer. After my studies I moved back to Cologne, here are my friends and my family. I’m a “Stadtkind” (city kid) but in the greener part of Cologne.

How did your creative career start and how did you become a designer?

I think it is because of my family, who is very interested in art and design. My father is working as an illustrator. He used to work at home, so his illustrations were always around us. We went very often to musuems and exhibitions, we are a creative family. When I started working as graphic designer my father asked me several times, if I really want to work in the creative industry, he wasn’t sure if I would do it just because he is working in the same branch. I really wanted to do it!

When designing where do you get your inspiration from?

I suck everything what happens around me. For me everything is inspiration as a nice place in cologne could be as much inspiration as doing BBQ or talking with friend. The best inspiration for me is when someone comes to me with a problem he needs a solution for. Then I start thinking about this problem and try to make a concept, which is as easy as possible for the users.

How did the idea for the submission “Sight” come up?

I use to work in a typically process. So first I define and explain the problem. Then I start thinking about solutions for that problem. There are a lot of aspects, which have to be considered when you design balcony funiture. They should protect you from the sun, you should feel comfortable and relaxed, ideally they protect you from noise and give you a feeling of vacation. They should look nice and differentiate from the “standard”.

Here at the Spoga Gafa is now a prototype of your idea “Sight” and a lot of furniture manufacturers are running around here, how is the fair running for you?

This is the third fair where I present my work. I had a lot of very interesting talks, but let’s see what happens. I’ve a positive feeling about it, but I don’t want to stress myself. It costs a lot of energy to contact all the people passing by but the people who are really interested will surely come a second time.

What will happen to the prototype after the garden unique fair?

I’ll take it home with me, probably I’ll exhibit at further furniture fairs.

The “garden goes balcony contest” was your first contest on jovoto.com. What are your experiences about it?

The contest was huge fun for me, I got a lot of very helpful feedback. Especially the jury was important for me, because the were form a lot of very renown magazines.

Are you usually working on your own?

Of course not! A lot of friends of mine are designer themselves. We talk a lot about our work, their feedback is very helpful for me.

Anything you want to share with the jovoto community?

Keep relaxed and keep the distance from your work! For me, the distance is very helpful, then the inspiration will come all by itself. Let it flow!