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
we came across a cool web-site that you might enjoy. Take a appear in the event you want
The time to study or check out the material or web sites we’ve linked to below.
Here are a number of the internet sites we advocate for our visitors.
Every once in a though we decide on blogs that we study. Listed below would be the most up-to-date web pages that we pick out.
Although websites we backlink to below are considerably not connected to ours, we really feel they may be really worth a go by way of, so have a look.
The data mentioned inside the report are a number of the ideal offered.
Here is a good Weblog You may Uncover Fascinating that we Encourage You
Here is an excellent Blog You may Find Interesting that we encourage you to visit.
It’s really a great and useful piece of info. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful information with us.
Please stay us up to date like this. Thank you for sharing.
The data mentioned in the report are a few of the very best readily available.
Always a big fan of linking to bloggers that I really like but really don’t get a great deal of link adore from.
Here is a great Weblog You might Uncover Fascinating that we Encourage You
Although sites we backlink to beneath are considerably not related to ours, we really feel they’re essentially really worth a go as a result of, so have a look.
Always a large fan of linking to bloggers that I really like but do not get a good deal of link adore from.
Check below, are some totally unrelated internet websites to ours, nevertheless, they may be most trustworthy sources that we use.
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine some unrelated information, nevertheless actually worth taking a appear, whoa did 1 find out about Mid East has got a lot more problerms at the same time.
That would be the finish of this report. Here you will find some internet sites that we assume you will appreciate, just click the links.
The information and facts mentioned in the report are some of the ideal offered.
Please stop by the web pages we follow, which includes this one particular, as it represents our picks in the web.
Although web sites we backlink to below are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they are in fact really worth a go by, so possess a look.
Below you will uncover the link to some sites that we think you’ll want to visit.
Always a huge fan of linking to bloggers that I adore but really don’t get a good deal of link appreciate from.
That is true for investment recommendation as properly.
Please check out the internet sites we stick to, like this one, because it represents our picks from the web.
Please stop by the web-sites we comply with, which includes this 1, as it represents our picks in the web.
Check below, are some completely unrelated internet websites to ours, nonetheless, they may be most trustworthy sources that we use.
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine several unrelated data, nonetheless genuinely worth taking a appear, whoa did 1 learn about Mid East has got more problerms as well
The details mentioned within the post are a number of the best accessible.
Always a massive fan of linking to bloggers that I love but do not get a whole lot of link really like from.
Usually posts some very fascinating stuff like this. If you are new to this site.
Very couple of internet sites that transpire to be comprehensive below, from our point of view are undoubtedly properly worth checking out.
We came across a cool web page that you just could possibly get pleasure from. Take a search should you want.
Very handful of web sites that occur to be detailed beneath, from our point of view are undoubtedly very well worth checking out.
Although sites we backlink to beneath are considerably not associated to ours, we really feel they’re actually really worth a go by, so possess a look.
Thanks , I’ve just been looking for info approximately this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I have
came upon so far. However, what concerning the bottom line?
Are you certain concerning the supply?
Every after in a when we opt for blogs that we study. Listed below are the most current websites that we choose.
Here are several of the web sites we suggest for our visitors.
We came across a cool internet site that you simply may appreciate. Take a look should you want.
The time to study or check out the content material or sites we’ve linked to beneath.
Every when inside a whilst we opt for blogs that we read. Listed below would be the most current sites that we choose.
Every once in a though we opt for blogs that we study. Listed beneath would be the most recent websites that we pick.
Here are a number of the websites we advocate for our visitors.
You can definitely see your skills in the work you write.
The arena hopes for more passionate writers
like you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe.
Always go after your heart.
Today, while I was at work, my cousin stole my iphone and tested to see if
it can survive a twenty five foot drop, just so she can be a youtube sensation. My
iPad is now destroyed and she has 83 views.
I know this is completely off topic but I had to share it with someone!
The info mentioned in the write-up are several of the very best readily available.
Wonderful story, reckoned we could combine a couple of unrelated data, nevertheless seriously worth taking a look, whoa did a single study about Mid East has got more problerms as well.
Saved as a favorite, I like your site!
The info talked about inside the report are several of the top accessible.
Very few internet websites that occur to become in depth below, from our point of view are undoubtedly very well really worth checking out.
Please pay a visit to the web-sites we follow, which includes this one, because it represents our picks in the web.