Lex

Pott

in CONVERSATION

Q. What is your morning ritual?

Always coffee first thing in the morning. Then checking emails to see what needs to be done for the day.

Q. Who are you and what is your profession?

My name is Lex Pott and I’m a product designer working and based in Rotterdam.

Q. Talk to us about your background.

My parents are both artists. I grew in a family where creativity and art has been very important. However I also saw the downside to it. It’s hard to make a living from art but I’ve had a very happy childhood going from one museum into the other. It’s still one of my favourite things going to a museum.

Q. So what are some of your favourite museums to visit?

I enjoy visiting Voorlinden, Villa Panza and Tate Modern. Those are some of my favourites.

Q. What made you go into design?

Someone once said to me take a look at the graduation show from the Design Academy Eindhoven. This was a mixture between art academy and industrial design. I just came from high school and didn’t have a clue on what I wanted. After visiting the Graduation show in Eindhoven I was fascinated by the diversity and thought if this could be my profession, that would be great. Basically create what you want to create. Well and that’s more or less what I did ever since.

Q. How is it having your own studio?

The best and the worst thing, but mostly the best. Everyday I come to work with a lot of joy. I really like to spend my time on making things. Now I created some kind of kingdom of independence, a place where I can build my ideas. I wouldn’t want to do anything else. When I was a child I always wanted so sell fancy Yachts in Monaco, but I am very glad I am currently a designer.

Q. What is your design process? Does it take shape along the way or do you have clear vision from the beginning?

Usually it starts from experimenting with materials. Understanding a material and along the way I always try to combine form, function and fun into an object.

Q. What is your main source of inspiration?

Art and daily life. Doing the same thing a thousand times and changing the way you look at things can be a daily source of inspiration. Actually I believe inspiration is partly a lot of hard work. I always doubt when people say they get their inspiration just out of anything. It’s hard work and then things start happening. It doesn’t just fly in from the galaxy into your brain.

Q. How did the collaboration with Hay come together?

I was showing at the Salone del Mobile in a group exhibition with friends, I believe in 2014. It was my first attempt to think of something efficiently made and suitable for mass production. It was an experiment and then Mette Hay came by the exhibition and we started talking. I made sure she knew that I liked the brand a lot! She was interested in the pieces I created, so very organically we matched up. When Hay proposed to work together, I obviously immediately said yes!

Q. Do you still get insecure about the things you make?

Always. I think if you don’t question whether the design is good or not you are ignoring things.

Q. How was it guest teaching at Domaine de Boisbuchet?

Very inspiring and a dream coming true. It’s one of the most magical places I’ve ever been. Great people, great legacy, amusing facilities and a lot of likeminded people that love design.

Q. Having accomplished a lot already, are there things you still would like to achieve professionally speaking ?

Yes many things. But mostly continuing to make what I believe is relevant. If nobody likes it, at least I like it. My ultimate dream would be to have a second rural studio to work and study and then go back to the city life. Long term goals but so far so good I would say. I’m a happy man.

Q. What is your favourite playlist or song whilst working?

I have a lot of guilty pleasures. I grew up in the nineties so I love Eurodance. It always makes me smile. Somehow I also like Jessie Ware.

Q. The twisted candle, where did that idea originate from?

Actually the year before I made the Pillar candles in my studio. They’re currently also a part of the HAY collection. During the heatwave that year some candles melted. First I was frustrated but after some weeks I thought it was an amazing material property. Flexible wax, not liquid, not solid but in between. Scalable like clay. Then I spent a few months on developing the new twist candles. Trial and error. Everything that could go wrong went wrong but I learned a lot from it. It worked out pretty good in the end.

Q. Is there anything you would have done differently, given the knowledge and experience you have now?

No. I truly believe it’s good to make mistakes and learn by doing so.

Q. What's the first place you'd want to go when it's safe again to travel?

I hope Japan.

Q. Best piece of advice given?

Always blame yourself. Solving your own problems brings you a great satisfaction.