I’ve been itching to get an interview with a young product designer, especially one with such promise as Jason Cooper –
Born and raised in North London, Jase Cooper was first introduced to design after it became apparent that the NBA just really wasn’t going to work out for him – the next best thing? designing basketball shoes.
At university Cooper fell in love with design, not just footwear, basketball took a back seat and design became his passion. Jason has also included a few words about a selection of his projects, including the award winning ‘Cee-Jay’ table lamp.
"CeeJay is a table lamp for 12-20 year olds. The light uses black card to provide unique silhouettes."
DT: Tell us a little about yourself, where are you from and where are you living now?
JC: I’m from North London, UK and right now in the middle of a gap year in the French Alps interning for Salomon footwear department. In the middle of university studying Design For Industry at Northumbria University. Currently in the progress of looking for an internship for to start early 2009.
"Silhouettes can be cut and designed by users themselves or bought and downloaded off the internet opening up endless possibilities for product evolution through collaboration. CeeJay was awarded 3rd place at the 2008 Student Lighting Awards."
DT: At what age did you begin designing/drawing? And when did it become a profession?
JC: I’d say it was basketball that got me into design, I played a lot of basketball before university and I got to an age where I realised the NBA just wasn’t going to happen, my head dropped, and staring back up at me, my basketball shoes. I thought how cool it would be to design footwear and from there my opinion and views on design evolved, and here I am today.
On top placing in the 2008 Student Lighting Awards, Jason was also published in IDFX magazine
DT: What people (creative professional or otherwise), places or things inspire you, and how?
JC: I find human behaviour and the objects we chose to surround ourselves with truly inspiring. I try to be a sponge to my surroundings, allowing anyone or anything to inspire me. I like to look for beauty in mundane places that most people over look. I inspire to create products that engage the user, answer questions and tell a story. Designers that inspire me, there’s a lot, but off the top of my head, Deiter Rams, Naoto Fukasawa, Sam Hecht and Kim Colin, Jasper Morrinson, Yves Behar the list goes on.
DT: Are you professionally trained or were you self taught?
JC: In the process of being professionally trained, half way through school.
"Radiance is a PC speaker inspired by how our mood and emotions determine what type of music we listen to."
DT: What are your most used ‘tools of the trade’ (i.e markers, pens, 3D hardware,)
JC: It all depends what stage of the design process I’m in, it could be anything from a Bic pen to a scalpel, vacuum form machine to photoshop.
"I wanted to bring back some sort of physical interaction for the user when listening to music, an experience that is not so common since the introduction of mp3's and the disappearance of physical music collections."
DT: What are you working on at the moment?
JC: Currently working with the designers at Salomon on footwear for Spring/Summer 2010.
"Radiance uses LED lights that represent different playlists determined by the user - orange might be party tracks, purple may be slow jams, and blue for when you just want to chill out."
DT: What are your other interests beside art/design?
JC: Basketball, vinyl toys, shoes, fashion, the Internet.
DT: What’s the best and worst parts of being a full time, working artist/designer?
JC: The best part of being a full time designer is being able to do what you love full time, the worst part is realising that being told to be creative is not a ‘full time’ activity.
"MUJI Coin Collector; Functional alternative for the common use of using a jar/bottle to collect saved loose change. When coins reach the top the amount will equal £1. Cylinders can then be removed from base and taken to shop, bank etc. This is just conceptual work and has no affiliation with MUJI."
DT: Any advice to up and coming artists/designers?
JC: Let it become your life, be passionate, work harder than the next guy. Oh and use the Internet, it has become a second university for me, get involved with forums, visit ted.com, write your own blog, you will learn a lot, all for free.
– Also an avid design blogger! check out jason’s blog www.lifeofadesignstudent.blogspot.com
– and check out Jason’s main site for his complete folio http://www.jasecooper.com
although websites we backlink to beneath are considerably not connected to ours, we really feel they may be actually really worth a go by way of, so have a look
Here are a few of the websites we advocate for our visitors
we came across a cool web site that you just may possibly take pleasure in. Take a search if you want
here are some hyperlinks to web-sites that we link to because we consider they’re worth visiting
Very few internet websites that transpire to become comprehensive beneath, from our point of view are undoubtedly properly really worth checking out.
one of our visitors a short while ago suggested the following website
stays on topic and states valid points. Thank you.
Here is a superb Weblog You might Uncover Interesting that we Encourage You
usually posts some incredibly intriguing stuff like this. If you are new to this site
Sites of interest we have a link to
Sites of interest we have a link to
Thank you for your article post.Thanks Again. Keep writing.
although websites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they’re actually worth a go by means of, so possess a look
just beneath, are several absolutely not related web sites to ours, however, they are certainly worth going over
here are some links to sites that we link to since we feel they’re really worth visiting
below you will discover the link to some sites that we consider you’ll want to visit
very handful of internet sites that come about to become detailed below, from our point of view are undoubtedly nicely worth checking out
Here is a good Blog You may Uncover Exciting that we Encourage You
here are some links to sites that we link to since we believe they are really worth visiting
just beneath, are many totally not connected websites to ours, nonetheless, they are certainly really worth going over
Major thankies for the blog article. Fantastic.
Thank You for this.
One of our visitors not long ago suggested the following website.
Very couple of sites that take place to be in depth below, from our point of view are undoubtedly very well worth checking out.
I am interested in advertising a new social networking site. I have never wrote a Blog before. How should I write this? . And where do I go to write a Blog. This is all new to me and I want to start rocking.. Thanks..
just beneath, are a lot of totally not connected websites to ours, nevertheless, they may be surely worth going over
The details talked about inside the report are several of the most effective offered
Really informative blog article.Much thanks again. Keep writing.
very handful of internet sites that come about to become comprehensive beneath, from our point of view are undoubtedly effectively worth checking out
please pay a visit to the web-sites we follow, like this one particular, as it represents our picks through the web
just beneath, are several totally not associated web sites to ours, even so, they’re surely really worth going over
Every as soon as inside a though we pick blogs that we read. Listed beneath would be the newest web sites that we select
Excellent blog here! Also your website a lot up very fast! What host are you using? Can I get your associate hyperlink in your host? I want my web site loaded up as fast as yours lol
The facts mentioned inside the write-up are a number of the ideal readily available
here are some hyperlinks to sites that we link to since we consider they may be really worth visiting
the time to study or visit the subject material or internet sites we’ve linked to below the
Enjoyed examining this, very good stuff, thanks .
Thanks again for the blog.Really thank you! Much obliged.
the time to study or take a look at the subject material or web sites we’ve linked to below the
one of our visitors just lately suggested the following website
Very good blog article. Great.
It’s really a cool and useful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you shared this useful information with us. Please stay us informed like this. Thank you for sharing.
Here is a superb Weblog You might Locate Interesting that we encourage you to visit.
we came across a cool internet site that you just may possibly appreciate. Take a look should you want
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a few unrelated information, nevertheless seriously really worth taking a appear, whoa did one particular find out about Mid East has got much more problerms also
Hello are using WordPress for your site platform? I’m new to the blog world but I’m trying to get started and create my own. Do you require any coding knowledge to make your own blog? Any help would be really appreciated!
We came across a cool web page that you may get pleasure from. Take a look in case you want.
we came across a cool web site that you just could possibly get pleasure from. Take a appear for those who want
although websites we backlink to beneath are considerably not related to ours, we feel they’re actually worth a go by way of, so have a look
Here is a great Blog You may Come across Interesting that we Encourage You