I spotted Aud Julie Befring‘s work at 100{ff546b69e23b1524d799f96c6ba7a638e1f677053b0a2a1568b05315fd5f8fc7} Norway during the London Design Festival and immediately loved her combinations of wood and oversized wool. We talked about listening to other people’s advice, getting over creative block and, of course, favourite colours…!
What’s the most important thing to know about you?
I’m a product designer from Norway who would prefer a few people to buy, use and love my products, than plenty people to buy them, love them for a little while and then forget them. Product attachment is an important focus, and something I have chosen to dig deeper into during my master`s programme at Oslo and Akershus University College of Applied Sciences. I want people who own my products to grow fond of them, making them irreplaceable. So it is sustainability in the manner of people not throwing the products away at all. Too many perfectly functional products are thrown away.
When you were five what did you want to be when you grew up?
An archaeologist or astronaut.
And now?!
Hehe, good question! After the studies I hope to make a living out of being a designer. I want to make products that are unique and maybe scarce, products that the owner wants to keep forever and the children want to inherit. Or I will go in a different direction or combine with making products for a better living, for example to design or improve medical equipment. It could also be interesting to combine the field of child welfare with product design. Product designers can be useful in a variety of fields.
How did you first get into what you do now?
I found information about the school I study at after high school, and it had my attention immediately. I have always liked working with my hands and finding practical solutions to problems. Unfortunately I listened to other people’s advice; to study something more “sensible”. I was young and confused, and started to study child welfare. three years later I followed my dream and started to study product design. But I still hope to help people, through design.
What inspires your designs?
Everyday things and problems, nature, culture and traditions.
How do you overcome creative block?
By eating too much chocolate, listening and singing along to 80s music, and trying to relax and have fun during the block. The block will normally come, often several times during a design process, so I will just try having fun and not panic.
Talk me through your design and making process from initial idea to final product?
The process can be really bumpy and winding, but It usually starts with a problem or a task to solve. I rarely design something just for fun. A normal start would be to do research on the problem and the market. Is there really a problem or a need? Is there already a product that solves the problem well or looks almost the same?
If not I will continue, and involve the user as much as possible in the process. I like working in material, and make small mock-ups and models. It is a nice way to get feedback from users. Based on the feedback I will continue on one or two concepts until I make a choice, again based on the users. So a lot of user involvement. In the end I will normally make the product In real size at the workshop at school or at home.
What’s your favourite part of the process?
Just after doing the first research, when I can start to come up with ideas and sketches. It is also an exciting moment when you have worked with ceramics and finally can open the oven after the glaze fire, and find that everything went fine. Ceramics can be really unpredictable , so I almost jump in joy when i open the oven and find that many of the products are OK. And also the feeling when a creative block disappears; fantastic!
Describe a really good day and a really bad day in the life of Aud Julie Befring
A good day is when you know there is nothing that has to be done, and you can do exactly what you want. If I had that kind of day today, I would pick mushrooms in the forest and bake a carrot cake. When you are relaxed and have fun, the ideas just pops into mind, and the creativity is at its best, at least for me. A bad day is the opposite, a lot of tasks that needs to be done, and the feeling that it never ends.
What are you most proud of?
Hm, difficult… If you mean as a person I feel I am honest and sincere. If you mean my achievements as a designer, I do not often feel proud, I guess that’s typical Norwegian.
What advice would you give to a new designer?
Difficult question since I am still a new designer, but I think we all should try to remember what made us study design. What were your thoughts and your dreams? It’s easy to start having second thoughts when it comes to creative education. It is a lot of work, and normally very little income, so you need to really like what you are doing. If you follow your heart and stick to your plans and dreams, I think you most likely will make it!
And finally, what’s your favourite colour?!
Green
Further reading for the especially geeky:
- interview :: kate shaw, cordello home
- interview :: pattern foundry
- interview :: hokolo
- interview :: head & haft
I met Julie many moons ago (hi Julie :-)if you read this ). still loving the stools. nice colour palette and images in the post, many thanks for sharing.