Paul Menand, a designer in love with creation.13. Feb2013
Paul Menand is a 25 years old French designer based in Paris. He graduated from the Marc Bloch University and obtained a Master's degree in Product Design while in parallel he graduated a DNSEP design at "Higher School of Decorative Arts" a DNSEP.
He works on his own, drawing constantly the objects that he likes and producing them as prototypes while looking for the editors interested in his object.
Recently, he worked with the city of Strasbourg in France on the design of a carafe and with Gosserez gallery in Paris on the edition of the lamp "Interaction".
He participated with his objects in several exhibition like "VIA" and "Maison et Objet" from Paris, "Il Salone" from Milan and "DMY" in Berlin.
DDJ interviewed Paul Menand and here are his views on his work:What triggered you to start to design things?
I have always been fascinated by design and art in general. At 15 years old, I had the possibility to enter a school which gave me the basis of the trade- basic notions of architecture, style, graphics and of course design. The first object that they asked me to draw was a dish dryer, which is a priori not very interesting. The object that I drew was horrible. But I really loved the creation process, the thinking process around an object, trying to make it the most beautiful, most functional and practical. For me it was really passionate!
So pretty soon I had specialized myself in object design. I got my license in product design at March Bloch University in Strasbourg and after that had obtained a DNSEP design at "Higher School of Decorative Arts".
Tell us about your design process.
I don’t manage to sit on one particular object. The initial shape or principle transforms itself into a completely different object. Maybe this process is determined by the fact that I work in 3D very fast. In the beginning of the process I make some drawings on some sheets of paper, then I model it on the computer, then I play with it until I arrive to completely new ideas. Or, not too often, there is a flash! A shadow, a reflection, a picture, a painting which make me think of a principle- these could be enough to give me the idea of a form.
What is the story of the first object that you created? To whom was it sold/given/donated?
The “real” first object that I drew was a series of 5 pegs which I presented at Salon Maison et Object in 2006.
What do you consider to be your best work so far?
The chair Triplette, I am not sure if this is my best work, but this is the object which brought maximum exposure over the Internet, the written press and during the design events. Thought this object, my other work was also known and partnerships were initiated with various producers I work with at the moment.
Who are the main influencers in your work?
I’m really not sure, I think there are more of them. Art, architecture, design and photography are the starting points of my work. But I am not sure if we can talk about influence. I have a working method which is a little bit unusual, most of the time I work completely free (exception making when I work for a certain order). In the morning I can sit down and draw a lamp and at the end of the day I end up drawing a chair which has nothing to do with the initial work, except that this was the starting point of the creation process. There is no doubt an unconscious process which I find hard to explain.
What design areas are you active in now?
Right this moment, I work on two series of objects - three mirrors and three lamps - which will sit in an interior design project. Both of them are proposing some unusual shapes and functionalities. They are funny objects, drawing the attention of anyone looking at them.
What other areas would you like to explore in the future?
There are so many choices. I could work with objects which have a direct link with technology, such as a computer, an iPad or a television set. I always liked the job of a technical designer, even if I am not too convinced that I am made for it.
Thanks Paul and keep up the good work.
Paul is mostly known for his Tripplet chair and the Modest stool. The Tripplet chair is a sum of three chairs that can be used in every combination from one to three because of the unique configuration of each chair. The Tripplet chair was featured by DDJ in more detail here.---
The more recent Modest Stool follows the same principle of 3-in-1, with three versions of a stool being used individually or stacked into one another to form a single unit. This is accomplished through the base piece having half-pipe legs and three openings in its seat (as also seen with the second stool) to allow the successive ones to sit within.---
Other works from Paul Menand includes the Parker shelf, also depicted by DDJ here and Interaction lamp, a lamp which reduces the shade to its wireframe essence, allowing objects placed within the lamp volume - a plant? a book? a candle? - to alter the presentation and uniquely disperse the light.---
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