The interview was conducted in English:
When did you first become interested in the design of aircraft trolleys?
I originally had the idea of transforming old aircraft trolleys while on holiday in Spain in 2001. I visited a friend in his house and discovered that he had a discarded aircraft trolley that he used as a mobile wine rack. Over a good bottle of red wine or two, the idea was born to transform this authentic and practical but unassuming trolley into a beautiful, modern piece of furniture for your home.
Did you attend a design school?
I never went to design school. Instead, I worked as a creative in advertising for over ten years, where I was constantly on the lookout for new ideas. I learnt a lot about product design and marketing in this industry and was therefore well equipped when the opportunity arose to start my own business redesigning shopping trolleys.
What are the biggest challenges you face when working on a project like this?
The biggest challenge I face in this industry is getting the word out about our product. A newly designed aeroplane trolley is not a typical piece of furniture that people would buy for their home and this means that I have to work hard to promote our work. The international market we are currently expanding into is particularly difficult and brings additional challenges, such as finding investors and working with other retailers to help us reach more customers and designers.
What are some of the highlights of your career so far?
I am very proud of the collaboration that we entered into last year with the Italian luxury glass mosaic brand Bisazza to develop the Luxury trolley BISAZZA MOSAICO to produce. I love being able to work with different designers to produce a completely unique product. Another highlight was that the famous German designer Michael Michalsky used the Skypak Airline Trolleys for the refreshments at his Michalsky StyleNite during Berlin Fashion Week last year. It is always very satisfying to see such a positive response to my concepts.
How would you describe your own style?
I personally like the idea of reusing and recycling old items that are no longer considered useful and turning them into something else. I like taking things with different origins and finding innovative ways to combine them into something new. I particularly like old wooden antiques and enjoy finding creative ways to reuse them as practical and modern pieces of furniture.
What is your ultimate goal when it comes to your work?
My ultimate goal with Skypak is to establish a successful brand associated with durable, practical and luxurious furniture. I love to collaborate with other designers on new projects and am passionate about bringing this simple but exceptionally functional concept to the international market.
What is your design philosophy?
Combining design and functionality and creating new life from outdated objects. Innovation is very important, so we work closely with other designers to create space for a constant flow of new ideas.
When working on a project, how do you weigh up what the client thinks is best and what, in your experience and expertise, would best suit their needs?
Actually, that has never been a problem for me. The collaborations I've done with other designers have been very successful and our customers can actually customise a car themselves, so there's little room for conflicting ideas.
Who or what inspires you?
I am always looking for new ideas and creative ways of thinking. I believe it's important to open your senses and experience what's going on around you to create products that are truly useful and desirable to others. Apart from that, a good run through the woods always inspires me!
Do you think about the environment? If so, what role do "green" designs play in your work?
The original idea for Skypak was actually to work with used aircraft trolleys and combine this weathered spirit of travelling with elegant designs. However, used trolleys come in a poor, battered condition, which means that we are not able to re-cover the exterior with one of our designs. The vast majority of customers therefore prefer to have an unmarked version with the panelling of their choice for their personal use. At the moment I am planning some future trolley designs using second hand materials as a step towards sustainability, but I won't go into detail about that just yet!
If you would like to find out more about our designs, visit our shop.
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