Album @ Vitra Design Museum Gallery: Interview with Ronan Bouroullec

Ronan Bouroullec

Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are without question two of the most important designers of their generation and are currently being honoured in two shows. The retrospective “Bivouac” currently on show at the Centre Pompidou Metz, and Album, an exhibition of their drawings and sketches that premiered in Bordeaux and is now on show at the Vitra Design Museum Gallery, Weil am Rhein,

At the opening of “Album” at the Vitra Design Museum Gallery we spoke to Ronan Bouroullec about drawing, getting older, and – once again – how he wants to accept less commissions…

(smow)blog: The obvious first question, do all your projects start with drawings ?

Ronan Bouroullec: No, not always. Some start just by thinking in very abstract ways. It has however changed a lot over the years. For my part, I participated in my first collective exhibition when I was 17. I am now 40. And so obviously my methods and my understanding of design have changed a lot over the last 20 years, I was very naive at the beginning.

(smow)blog: And did you also draw more in your early years? Does modern technology play a bigger role today?

Ronan Bouroullec: Drawing is something I have always done, longer than design and is something very important to me. If I stop designing I won’t die. But I can’t stop drawing. And I think in design drawing brings in a good balance. Design is a very long process, a very frustrating process. It can take years from the first drawing until the finished work and so it is important for us to be able to express ourselves in a clear, concise way through pictures and through drawing.

(smow)blog: Does that mean through the drawing you can better control the design process?

Ronan Bouroullec: The process in our studio, and in our minds is very chaotic. It doesn’t follow straight lines. And also each product has its own organic flow. And so its very difficult to describe it. Because we are so chaotic. Which of course is something that is never expressed in the results of our work which always seem so clear, simple and direct. But to arrive at this is a very, very chaotic process.

(smow)blog: In addition to Album, there is currently also the retrospective “Bivouac” showing in Metz. Viewing these two exhibitions can you see how and where your work has changed over the years ?

Ronan Bouroullec: I think at the beginning we were more optimistic and naive, but now we know a bit more about the whole system which is good, but that can also be limiting and can create imaginary walls. Projects actually take longer now than 20 years ago. When we were younger we were more intuitive…

(smow)blog: … and now you’re more careful, or… ?

Ronan Bouroullec: I’m not sure exactly why, but obviously there is more pressure on us, people are looking more closely, expecting things from us. Expecting a statement.

(smow)blog: Album and Bivouac are obviously chances to look back and reflect; looking to the future….

Ronan Bouroullec: I don’t feel the necessity to do so much now. We have a very small studio and I don’t really want it to expand, we never wanted to have a large studio. But because we are so well known we receive a lot of proposals. But I’m not really interested in doing everything that is offered, but instead try to concentrate on those that interest us. And to try to find some time to draw.

Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec “Album” can be viewed at the Vitra Design Museum Gallery until June 3rd 2012

Vitra Design Museum Gallery: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec "Album"

Vitra Design Museum Gallery: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec "Album"