We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Agne Balke ("AB").
Agnė Balkė is a furniture designer passionate about her work. In her everyday life she is interested in design, music, arts, personal development and other kinds of creativity. She believes that all parts of her life gives an inspiration to each other. Design for her takes a big part of her life. She also gets inspiration from nature, ornaments, folk motifs, different cultures. In her works Agnė likes to combine minimalism with details as an accent and especially pays attention to product quality, materials, function and aesthetics.
Agne Balke Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Agne Balke.
Agne Balke Design - Wavy Desk
Agne Balke Design - Online Writing Desk
Agne Balke Design - Herringbone Writing Desk
Designer Interview of Agne Balke:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
AB : I graduated interior design. But during graduation I understood, that it would be maybe more interesting to create furniture. Now I' m working as a furniture designer. When I was a child, I thought that I will be singer, because i sang in choir. But when I was at 10th class at school, we had to choose profile and to think a little bit, who we are going to be. I turned over the book about specialties, which I found in library and I saw designer specialty. I thought, that it would be nice, but not real, because I do not go to art school. And I just forgot it. After some months my friend invited to enter an art school. I was so successful, that the school accepted me already to second class. And after one year, when I was graduating my school, I decided to choose design studies. Everything became reality very fast, I could not expect that before.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
AB : Kitaip is a Lithuanian Furniture Design Company working with individual customers. Company creates non-standard projects has their own manufacture and is cooperating with interior designers and architects. Kitaip located in Vilnius, Lithuania. Company established in 2008.
DI: What is "design" for you?
AB : It is a pleasure for eyes and body. Also functionality, aesthetics in form and details, problem solution.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
AB : I like designing furniture. Now for me it is like a wave for creating writing desks.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
AB : I can not except any design, because I love them all.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
AB : A bookshelf
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
AB : Wood (especially oak), corian, black metal, painted MDF, CNC technology.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
AB : When I' am inspired.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
AB : Form, function, aesthetics, details, materials, quality.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
AB : I feel positively calm and inspired at the same time.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
AB : I feel excited, because it is a big pleasure to understand that it finally became a reality.
DI: What makes a design successful?
AB : When it looks great, is sustainable and timeless.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
AB : Does it look great, is it professional, quality, what kind of materials, technology, not overloaded design.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
AB : To create a really sustainable design. It must be quality and timeless. Or maybe to create a new material, made from secondary materials.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
AB : Now it is creating a lot of new technologies, which opens a wider opportunities. I think the future will be very interesting.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
AB : It was 2019 May 6-12 during Design week in Lithuania. Next exhibition also will be this year.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
AB : Inspiration comes from nature, ornaments, combinatoric elements, sometimes folk motives different cultures, art.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
AB : Modern design style with sometimes Scandinavian elements. I like to use wood elements, some of my designs are inspired by nature.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
AB : I live in Lithuania, Europe. Yes, cultural heritage inspired me to use folk motives in my writing desk design.
DI: How do you work with companies?
AB : With a smile :)
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
AB : I think some companies look at designers portfolio. They can see what kind of design designer creates.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
AB : I start sketching, thinking about idea. Then creating technical drawings, deciding construction. And giving for manufacturers to make my projects. And also there are a lot for other things to do which i didn't mentioned.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
AB : Writing desk, bookshelf, armchair for reading, floor lamp, rug.
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
AB : Everyday is different and full of spontaneity, creativity and smile. After work I play drums, guitar or dance.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
AB : To listen their intuition and follow their dreams persistently.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
AB : I think there are more positives than negatives. Positives: you express yourself and feel realized, if you like your job, you always get inspiration from inner yourself, feel inspired. Negatives: when you like your job, sometimes you can not feel when you become overworked.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
AB : To do all the best.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
AB : 3d thinking, know materials and technologies, good skills in software, feel aesthetics and etc.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
AB : Autocad, 3d program, Neufert, furniture elements catalogues everyday and etc.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
AB : I don't know, just work till I finish what I have planed.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
AB : It depends on size and how complicated it is.
DI: What was your most important job experience?
AB : Every experience was important :)
DI: Who are some of your clients?
AB : People who need non-standard furniture, architectures and interior designers.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
AB : I like interesting fresh projects.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
AB : To improve my skills as a designer creating new interesting projects.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
AB : The main idea and the design of furniture I create by myself. But when we come to manufacturing, sometimes we have to choose better decisions together.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
AB : Now it is a secret :)
DI: How can people contact you?
AB : By my e-mail agne@kitaip.eu