interview :: os ∆ oos - confessions of a design geek

This article was published 10 years

Eindhoven-based Os ∆ Oos were one of those brands that seemed to appear as if from nowhere and then keep popping up. In a short space of time, I saw their work at Northmodern in Copenhagen, at Spazio Rossana Orlandi during Milan Design Week and then again at Dutch Design Week. I decided it was high time I caught up with Oskar Peet, who co-founded the brand with fellow Design Academy Eindhoven graduate Sophie Mensen in 2011. We talked drawing, dog walks and more drawing…

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

Our work is based on strong concepts, which helps extract the essence of the projects we are working on.

When you were five, what did you want to be when you grew up?

I wanted to be a bush pilot, so I could fly around the far north of Northern America as a photographer.

And now?!

Now, we definitely both want to be designers!

How did you first get into furniture design?

Thanks to my brother who came up with the idea while I was looking for a mechanical engineering school in Holland.

What inspires your designs?

A lot of inspiration comes from the contemporary art world, exhibitions and installations.

How do you overcome creative block?

We take the dog for a walk – fresh air works wonders!

Talk me through your design and making process from initial idea to final product.

We start with an initial idea and we build it up into a strong concept. This way we can always look back at it to keep us on track if we feel we are straying from the path. Then it’s time for drawings and more drawings. We research materials for performing the tasks we need. After that we move on to a lot of prototyping and if we have the time, a photo shoot. Lastly, we travel all around Europe to showcase the results.

What’s your favourite part of the process?

Drawing and making the tiny details.

What’s your favourite tool?

The metal lathe and the pencil.

Describe a really good day and a really bad day in the life of OS ∆ OOS.

A bad day is so busy that you feel stunned and don’t even know where to start, while a good one is when we make a great contact that leads to greater things. Winning something is always nice too!

What are you most proud of?

The Syzygy Lights (above and below).

What advice would you give to a new designer?

Be sure you know what you’re getting yourself into. Being a self-supported designer is more work than you can possibly imagine and there are few rewards along the way.