Educational institution: Université de Montréal (Canada)
Programme: Master of Industrial Design, Ecodesign and Pedagogy
Year of graduation: 2009


What made you decide to become an industrial designer?

I am first and foremost passionate about design in all its forms, whether it be Art with a capital “A”, architecture, sustainable products, packaging, etc. When I chose to study industrial design, I was looking for a balance between pure creativity and finding solutions to people’s needs. In my opinion, design allows for the proposal of relevant and creative solutions to individual and group needs.


In your opinion, what types of people are best suited for the profession of industrial design? What is a typica
l industrial designer like?

I think that to be a good designer you need a creative mind that allows you to push ideas beyond what is considered possible, a sensitivity to your surroundings, and a critical mind that can wrestle with the complex issues facing society.


Where did you study industrial design and what was the most important thing you learned?

I studied at Université de Montréal’s Design School. What I retain most from my studies in industrial design is the ability to constantly face challenges, questioning assumptions, adopting a resilient attitude, which allows updates to the creative process, improving it over time.


What do you believe are the major obstacles or challenges for young industrial designers today from a professional standpoint? Are there additional challenges for women in the profession?

I think that one of the challenges in industrial design is to properly understand and analyse today’s complex issues in order to propose adequate solutions: industrial design is a profession that requires transferable skills, and solutions to issues like poverty, an ageing population, and climate change do not necessarily lead to the creation of a “product”. The industrial designer must also be aware of his environmental, social, and economic footprint when he works to create an innovative product, process, technology or service.


Tell us about the projects you are working on now.

I am Ecodesign Adviser in the field of residual materials management, more specifically as it pertains to the recycling of packaging. I work with businesses as they adopt ecodesign practices, from establishing general goals to communicating the end results. To find out more, you can visit OptimEco.ca, a website dedicated to ecodesign of packaging.

I am also organizing, in collaboration with a professor in graphic design, an international ecodesign packaging competition, which will be followed by an exhibit at the end of 2017 in Montreal. It’s a very exciting project that aims to shine a spotlight on design from here and elsewhere. We chose 2017 since Montreal is hosting a World Design Summit and is celebrating its 375th anniversary, an element that will be highlighted in the Packplay 2 exhibit.

Of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals listed by the United Nations, which do you believe represent the most important challenges facing your generation today?

It’s not easy to make a choice, as all the objectives are important. But if I had to choose based on the current world context, I would say that poverty, peace, justice, and access to potable water are undeniably major challenges.

Thinking of those most important challenges facing your generation, do you believe that industrial design is part of the solution?

Absolutely! Designers have the power to influence and intervene when it comes to responsible production and consumption, the creation of sustainable cities and communities, and the reduction of inequalities. Designers must cooperate more and more with specialists across multiple fields, making the most of their ability to propose innovative solutions all while taking into account the complexity of situations.


What do you most love about industrial design?

Learning every day, evolving, changing, collaborating, creating. The universe of possibles is infinite. Working with people from a diversity of disciplines, and contributing to the improvement of individuals’ quality of life.

A capacity to synthesize: a capacity to go from the multi-criteria analysis of a problem to the proposal of simple, effective, and innovative solutions. That’s where designers’ strength lies, in my opinion.


As an industrial designer, what is your biggest dream?

That design be better understood and valued as a source of useful creativity, and as a response to the challenges that the world’s populations are facing.


How do you see yourself working with Icsid to design for a better world?

By sharing my experience with the design community, the projects I am working on, and those that I would like to work on in the near future. By collaborating and by discovering the work of other designers.

Perhaps the creation of a platform for exchanges and networking could allow for the promotion of the practice of design in all its forms.

This interview was originally translated from French, click here to read the French version.

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