Have you ever seen a byproduct put to a constructive use, let’s say the remnants of injection moulding incarnated into a chair or a lamp or a bowl? Isn’t that amazing? Christian Kocx a young designer from Netherlands has fabricated a series of products like, chairs, lamps and bowls, which he has termed as Non-Woven. “The industry has a lot of left-over parts from production. Because they use machines, all the leftover-parts are identical. That gives me the opportunity to base my production on these shapes,” says Christian. Here is his story.
1. What motivated you to go into designing? And where do you get the ideas from?
Christian: As a kind, I was always fascinated by unusual things. I would take apart electronics equipment or play with the single piece of tree trunk for ours. Showing this fascination to other seemed the natural thing to do. I get my ideas from everywhere. It could be that I read something about a new material on the Internet and at the same time see something on the street, when these are combined a new design is born.
But sometimes I have a concept and go and look for materials and production techniques that fit.
2. How do you conceptualize the design you’re working on and incorporate it into your design process?
Christian: Sometimes a certain material “asks” for a certain concept. But I always design honest and clear products. They must be clear in the used material (don’t have any by product or waste problem that the designer don’t want anybody to know about) and clear in the goal it wants to achieve.
3. It is really good to see a byproduct being put to such a constructive use. Here I’m curious to know, why did you choose left over parts from the injection moulding only? And then how did you come up with the fantastic idea like that of Non-woven?
Christian: The industry has a lot of left-over parts from production. Because they use machines, all the leftover-parts are identical. That gives me the opportunity to base my production on these shapes. The choice for plastic is pure coincidence, but it also proved to me easily processable.
4. Could you please tell us as to how the constituent parts- injection moulding I mean- of the chair attached to each other? The chair ain’t solid, isn’t it?
Christian: The chair is not solid indeed. I use a metal mould to make the chair. By heating the plastic parts they stick together creating a solid structure.
5. What is the practical application of your product ‘Just a light’?
Christian: It’s is a light what you can put on to your leg with a strap. It gives light as you run. It transforms the genetic energy of the movement into a light pulse.
6. Where would you rank the mechanical performance of recycled plastic in comparison with the polymer?
Christian: In the non-woven collection there is no difference in the mechanical performance because the plastic used for the end-product is the same as the left-over parts. That is what I’m looking for. In this way you are not down-cycling (making a less quality product out of it) but actually recycling the material. I come to know that a lot of companies have high quality materials as left-overs.
7. Do you have a signature style? If yes, what are the hallmarks of your style?
Christian: I don’t have a specific style. I always try to design what feels right at that moment. As a designer you have to develop continually. Making designs is also looking for answers that affect the next products.
8. Where do you see yourself, after, let’s say, five years down the line?
Christian: I hope I can develop myself further as a designer. I hope I have a bigger collection of products that can be an inspiration for others. Also work together with companies to help them make products that matter reader as it would the only sell.
9. Finally, we would like to have your views on Ecofriend.org?
Christian: I like it that people are being informed about all the products that concern our planet. I will eventually give people the good mindset to start doing something themselves.
Rapid fire questions:
Describe yourself in one word?
Christian: Doing rather than thinking. Acting rather than standing a side.
If you had to walk in another person’s shoes for a day, it would have to be?
Christian: A classical answer I guess. George Bush. To try and change his political agenda.
Website(s) you must visit per day?
Christian: Design.nl
If given a chance, what would you change about the world?
Christian: I would like to chance the collective I idea that waste is not a problem as long as you have good ways of recycling them.
Thank you Christian for sparing out time in doing an interview with us, it is greatly appreciated. I’d also like to wish you success for all your future endeavors.
