interview :: the cookie bros - confessions of a design geek

This article was published 13 years

“We believe that design is like getting a tattoo. If it isn’t badass, then don’t f*ckin’ do it!” So say the Cookie Bros, who launched their Danny Boy Tattoo chair in Milan this year. Uncompromisingly themselves, I was disappointed not to meet Doug and Graham van der Pas in Milan, but I did get to see the chair, so I was keen to find out more…

What’s the most important thing to know about you?

We are exactly who we seem to be. We are trying to be as honest as possible in our designs.

What are your backgrounds? How did you end up doing this?

We all get into design for the same reason… we want to make cool shit! Graham and I actually always thought of ourselves more as musicians than designers. Music will always be our biggest inspiration. As it turns out, music never paid our bills.

My career in design really started out working at Marcel Wanders studio. Before that I bounced around picking up a small project where ever I could. When I started at Marcel Wanders, I started as a 3D visualizer but every now and then I would manage to design something cool. It’s funny how much influence you can have on a project when you’re basically in control of the visual appearance. After a while Graham (the other Cookie Bro) came and joined me at the studio. It was a small studio back then and a lot of fun.

As with everything you do in life, you work hard and you start climbing the ladder. You end up getting a better position, a better job until one day you have to make a choice. Am I going to keep designing for other people? Or am I going to do my own thing? It was an easy choice and as a result the Cookie Bros concept was eventually born.

Now up until this point our careers revolved around luxury design and when you’ve worked with Marcel Wanders, people automatically assume that this is what you’re into. Graham and I wanted to go down a different route. If you ever meet us, you’ll quickly realise why. We’re really not your typical, turtle neck wearing designer types, we don’t own anything by Gucci and we’re certainly not big on following trends. Our goal is to continually make things that speaks to people like us!

Okay, so what’s the fascination with tattoos?!

We grew up idolising bands like Motley Crue in the 80s. These guys were Gods to us and they were covered in tattoos! It becomes a fascination and once you realise that you’ll never work in a bank or that you’re not good looking enough to be a male model… it’s time for a tattoo. For some people one tattoo is enough, for others it can quickly grow into a lifestyle. If you’re lucky enough you’ll even develop a friendship with a tattooist. For us, that friend is Danny Boy aka Daniel O’ Sawyer.

Some people hate tattoos – how would you defend them?

It’s a personal choice. Who are we to say otherwise? Getting a tattoo is not for everyone, but then neither is the Cookie Bros style. When we were showing our chair and wallpaper in Milano, some people were appalled by our tattoo concept. We were doing live tattoos on the general public and some of the on-lookers loved it, other hated it. It makes no difference to us. The Cookie Bros don’t have a reputation for being subtle with our opinions either – whether anyone listens is a different story!

Do you have tattoos yourselves?

You can’t present a Tattoo chair and not have any tattoos yourself, at least not with any credibility. Chest, arms, hands… it’s a continual process. Graham is a bit more versatile with his choice of tattoo styles. I’m more into the old-school stuff.

Talk me through your design process.

Genetics has cursed both of us with minds that don’t shut off. Sometimes you can use this to your benefit. We’re ideas people and tend to see purpose and potential in all things. We can literally sit around for hours shooting ideas at each other. Usually Graham or I will throw out a great idea and the other will say how stupid it is. When we finally agree, we know that were onto something.

We’re not the kind of studio that makes things based on prettiness. We’ve made a continuous choice to have our designs driven by a concept and not the other way around. The Cookie Bros as a studio is new, but we’ve been working in the industry for a while. Design is a process and experience shows that we all have to go through it.

There’s long hours and loads of leg work involved and I’ve never worked in a studio that was any different. Drawing, redrawing, modelling, 3d visualising, making prototypes, trial & error, materialization, design development, production and then packaging, promotional content, marketing and trying to fit it all into a budget. It’s not sexy, but it’s a format. If you find a better recipe, let us know!

Tell me about a really good day and a really bad day in the life of Cookie Bros?

We’re not morning people so we tend to start our morning meetings at the little coffee bar next door. By the end of the work day we usually end up in the local rock bar having a beer and listening to Pantera. Opening and closing our days in this format makes everyday a good day!

What are you most proud of?

I guess what we are most proud of is the fact that we are doing all of this on our own terms. We have accomplished so much and we are receiving so much positive response, and we did it our way even though many of our friends and colleagues didn’t quite get it at first. We’ve proven that we belong here, we have in many ways broken a barrier. We’ve successfully merged two unlikely artforms and cultures – Dutch design and tattoo art.

What advice would you give to an aspiring designer?

Design should be a reflection of your personality, beliefs and interests. This is what will set you apart from the rest and just as every individual is unique, this is what will make your designs truly unique. Make things that you want in your own home.