We had the distinct pleasure to interview award winning designer James Hoefler about their original and creative Modular wall system design work. James Hoefler is an award-winning industrial designer, that makes our world a better place with their original modular wall system works.
James Hoefler ("JH") answered Design Interview ("DI") questions about their award-winning work XoomRooms Modular wall system. Interview questions prepared by Frank Scott.
JH : The main principle is simple, that we all should be able to quickly, easily, and creatively reshape our living spaces to best suit our needs at the time.
JH : Something simple to use, nice to look at, functional in practice, and reusable in a variety of different configurations, with the user creativity as the driving force.
JH : There is still much to do in order to bring this product to a mass market audience. My work in the coming months will be finding the right way to do that.
JH : I have been working on this idea for about two and a half years.
JH : I designed the product to help my daughters sublet a portion of their apartment. It is a common problem in large cities where individuals find rent to much to afford on one or two salaries. I wanted to give my daughters afford rent in a nice part of the city close to public transportation, and XoomRooms was able to do just that.
JH : My hope is to see the intellectual property, or to license its use, or to partner with someone who has the skills, connections, drive, and capital to help me bring this idea to market.
JH : There are several features of the XoomRooms design that help make it work. First, it can be set up in an infinite variety of arrangements. Second, anyone can do it. Third, it is easy to take up, take down, and store when not in use.
JH : I have to say I can not identify particular designers, but the design aesthetic in much of the product line at IKEA is pretty inspirational to me. I almost never go into and IKEA without being inspired about one thing or another.
JH : The typical IKEA customer is my target. Someone who likes the clean lines and the sensible design. The customer should also be someone who does not mind, and maybe even likes putting things together.
JH : The only things that vaguely resemble XoomRooms are portable trifold screens which are not at all sturdy or durable, and offer very little in the way of real privacy. At the other end of the spectrum are temporary pressurized walls, which are sturdy, but complicated and expensive to erect and illegal in may places.
JH : I brainstormed with friends on literally dozens of different names, but XoomRooms struck a chord. The product is about rooms, and the XOOM, pronounced ZOOM, suggests speed, and captures the idea of quick setup and take down.
JH : I mostly used prototypes. I love to draw, but I never put much stock in anything until I actually build a prototype.
JH : ANYONE can put this together and take it down. It is quite substantial and can completely change the character of someone’s living space. But it costs very little to buy, and takes not special expertise to assemble.
JH : I work mostly by myself, but took all the good feedback I go from a variety of places, including Don O’Hora at Northway Industries, very much to heart.
JH : XoomRooms is very low on the technology scale. It is mostly nuts and bolts, literally.
JH : Most opt the research I did was searching the internet and visiting trade shows. Attending Interzum in Cologne (as a guest of my good friends at Hafele America) in the spring of 2013 was really quite inspirational and key to helping me get to where I am today.
JH : There were no end of the challenges, but key was to make something that was sturdy and looked good, was easy to assemble, and could withstand may assembly disassembly cycles without failing.
JH : I was searching for ways to get my idea out there into the public realm so that it would be easier to sell and find partners.
JH : I learned patience and the importance of listening closely to and seeking our critical feedback. I also learned how important it is to prototype ones ideas. You do not really know anything about how things will work until you actually build it.
JH : I just wanted to acknowledge the help and support that I got from folks at Northway Industries (Middleburg, PA), Hafele American (Archdale, NC), Dickinson College (Carlisle, PA), and the Danish Institute for Study Abroad (Copenhagen, DK). Without out their help, advice, support, and encouragement, I would not be where I am today.
