After exhibiting at New Designers last year, and winning the Johnson Tiles Associate Prize with his lighting product Helios Touch , James Vanderpant was approached by Dyena’s James Glover to bring his graduate project to market. A year later both will be returning to New Designers to support Brighton University, having launched a business around James’ design.

 

How did you become interested in design?

Maybe it’s a little cliché, but I think my imagination and passion for creating things were first sparked at a very young age when I used to visit my granddad’s workshop/shed in his garden. I would spend a lot of time in there messing around on the machines and making different objects out of scrap pieces of material laying around. This was really the gateway for me into design.

 

Where did you study and what was the most useful thing you learnt from / best things about your course?

I studied at Brighton university which was a great place to study. The best thing about the course was the range of opportunities to try different things. Students on the course took on such a wide range of projects it meant that there was always someone with expertise in a certain area, which was also great for collaboration.

 

What inspired you to start your business?

The inspiration really followed from the feedback I gained at New Designers and other exhibitions. Obviously I had put a huge amount of effort into the project for my studies, but you have to find out whether the market actually values your concept. New Designers was a great way to achieve this.

 

 

Give us an insight into your thought process to design your work – where does your inspiration come from?

I think inspiration can come from many places and it really depends on what you’re trying to achieve. In regards to this project, the inspiration really came from the initial research. To create the best solution for your brief you have to truly understand all aspects of the project. Key insights during the research period are invaluable when informing the rest of the design process.

 

Are there any techniques or materials being used by this year’s OYO’s you’re particularly interested in?

I really like Song Wang’s work, particularly the added layer of user interaction with the jewellery.

 

How do you see the role of design in responding to current social issues? Do you have any interesting examples? 

Great design is all about solving problems and improving peoples’ lives. There are many tools within design thinking that can help with the hurdles we face today. I think the importance of good, considered design in our society is becoming more and more prominent.

 

 

What piece of advice would you give to this year’s graduates?

Keep learning!

 

What are you most looking forward too about New Designers 2017?

As I said previously, inspiration can come from many places. New Designers is a great place for inspiration. I am excited to see what the next wave of graduates will bring, it’s always a pleasure seeing the variety and quality of work produced.

 

Instagram @heliostouch

 

COMMENTS 0

Leave a Reply