DI: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?
MS : It’s all about giving a tap-proof space an aesthetic and desirable appearance.
DI: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?
MS : Our goal was to raise public awareness about how we deal with privat space and personal information in the Digital Age. In other words – taking responsibility by being another drop in the bucket.
DI: What are your future plans for this award winning design?
MS : Be exited.
DI: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?
MS : I started the project in 2013 as a reaction to some revealing events in our society (and politics). A previous version of the physical object has been exhibited at “Dortmunder U” in 2014. The project continued in August 2015 with the design of the chromatic cube. Graphic designer Laura Born got involved, and we started the visualization of the campaign in December 2015, followed by an exhibition at the NRW FORUM Düsseldorf in February 2016. To be continued.
DI: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?
MS : Generally, the research for our visual concept could be seen as a rhizomatic task to unite history and the contemporary, both philosophically and visually. But I also would like to emphasize the influence of Suprematism as well as artists of the Fluxus movement and a comprehensive awareness of a new media aesthetic.
DI: Who is the target customer for his design?
MS : Generally, everyone! But there are several occupational groups who are responsible for preserving independency in our society. So in some way it is dedicated to journalists, public workers, activists and politicians as kind of a beautiful reminder for their private home.
DI: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?
MS : The name O3JECT refers to the objectification of human privacy. The figure 3 is a reference to the hacker community, even if it’s not actually used this way. They use the 3 for the character E, which I do understand but not accept at all…
DI: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?
MS : The origination process was shaped by a symbiosis between analogue and digital tools and methods, correlating with the transcription of our three-dimensional reality into a two-dimensional, virtual world.
DI: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?
MS : Graphic designer Laura Born and music composer Benjamin Krause supported me in their fields of expertise and sometimes even beyond.
DI: What is the role of technology in this particular design?
MS : Every new wave of innovation brings new opportunities and raises questions about human ethics and how we design our society. It is a process we particularly like to participate in.
DI: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?
MS : Frankly speaking, financial limitations have been a concern but I guess this affects most independent projects. But we like to look at it as a challenge which often leads to new inventions.
DI: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?
MS : We were invited.
