Jean Baptiste Fastrez, variations upon an industrial designer
Interview to Jean Baptiste Fastrez a rising industrial designer with much to do. Agirlinhongkong would love to get some customized furniture for her house in France. Well, when she’ll have a house in France actually – for now I’ll take his Kettles. All of them!
Variations upon an electric kettle.
So Jean Baptiste, how did you become a designer, and if not that what would you be ?
Jean Baptiste Fastrez: I became a designer because my teenage rock band didn’t work at all ( I sing pretty badlly)! So, if I was not a designer I would like to be a music composer.
Where do you like to draw and design?
Jean Baptiste Fastrez: I design anytime during the day. A very unpredictable event can give me an idea or change my point of view in a project. However I often work in the library…
A book that changed your perspective?
Jean Baptiste Fastrez: A lot of books changed my perspective – but one book edited by Starck for his exhibition in the Centre Pompidou(Paris) changed my view when I was a design student. In this book called: «Explications» Starck presents the thought behind his projects, without images. I was quiet impressed by his ability of talking about an object, and I understood that each project must tell a new story.
Tomahawk hair dryers / 2011
A great craft tradition surrounds handle making. Often made out of wood, a handle confers functionality to an object, usability, but also beauty, presence and character.
What are you currently working on?
Jean Baptiste Fastrez: I just won the «Design parade 6» festival in the villa Noailles in Hyères. My price consists in several collaborations for next year. I will work With Cirva (glass menufacturer ), Sèvres (ceramic) …
If you where a building which one would you be?
Jean Baptiste Fastrez: I would like to be the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona because it’s a work in progress building (in construction since 1882). I love this idea of being finished but also in constant evolution.
Fog / 2008
The «Fog» table transforms a manufactured object to give it new usage. The table top is a drum skin metallic mesh usually used to make sound-proof electronic drums.
You can show one of you projects to anyone (even from the past)? Which project do you show and why ?
Jean Baptiste Fastrez: If I could show one project to somebody from the past… I think I would not pick one of my objects but an iPhone, and I’d show it to a great inventor like Leonardo da Vinci, just to see his face!
Variations upon an electric kettle.
