http://www.richardhutten.com

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we met richard hutten in milan on april 17th, 2007.
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what is the best moment of the day?
the best moment of the day is by far after work when I come
home and play with my children before they go to bed.

what kind of music do you listen to?
at the moment I like rock.
I listen to motorhead, ramstein, whatever.

do you listen to the radio?
not so often, I try to avoid it because that way I am
free to think.

what books do you have on your bedside table?
I have my ibook on my bedside table.

do you read design, art or architecture magazines?
no, not so often. of course they get sent to me and then
I have a quick look, but I hardly read them.

where do you get your news from?
I get bits and pieces from TV or newspapers but I don't
read a newspaper everyday.

I guess that you notice how women dress,
do you have any preferences?
yes, my girlfriend has the best fashion shop in
holland so I have to notice how women dress.
I like them to dress effeminately.

what type of clothes do you avoid wearing?
I try to wear original things and avoid black.

do you have any pets?
no, I have kids, that is enough!

when you were a child did you always want to become
a designer?



I was 'born' a designer so it wasn't a choice. I have been
making things all my life and when I was around fifteen or
sixteen I found out that this could be a profession.

do you discuss your work with other designers?
yes, I constantly discuss with friends who are designers.
our discussions fluctuate between a rigid logic and
a total senselessness.

where do you work on your projects?
the designing itself is done when I am by myself at my
home. it is a thinking process so while I drive my car
(that's why I don't have a radio in my car) that's a good
moment to design...
or in an airplane where there is no phone ringing.
the developing work starts in my studio and in
collaboration with manufacturers.

could you describe your style as a good friend
of yours might?
humorous, friendly, surprising.
like most dutch artists I am more concerned with the
structure, the basic shape. you can follow the syntax of the
design process - the design can be understood immediately.

could you describe an evolution in your work?



I started off with a very conceptual approach which led to
objects that were not very functional.
function is much more important to me now, because I
have run my studio for around sixteen years and have
learnt a lot in these years.
my later works are functional everyday objects, that are also
surprising and humorous.

which of your projects have given you the most
satisfaction?
my children, it is a co-production but that's the best
thing I have ever made.

is there any artists, designers or architects from
the past that have influenced you or that you
particularly appreciate the work of?
yes, many many.
among those from the netherlands, there is gerrit rietveld
of the 'de stijl' movement. he invented modern design and
is still a big source of inspiration.

and those still working today...
in architecture I like the work of MVRDV very much.
in design there are also many from jasper morrison,
michael young to konstantin grcic...
it is an endless list of people that I admire a lot.

do you have any advice for the young
of course, it’s a big industry, a lot is involved,
many design magazines appear, lots of students are waiting
to bring in something new. this massive run on design
can be interpreted as an escape from an essential question.
so, my advice is: make a good clear point with what you
are doing! there is so much of that stuff and I always wonder
what I could add which hasn’t been done before.

is there anything that you're afraid of regarding
the future?
I am afraid of fundamentalists who try to push their
opinion on other people.