There is something 'different' about Tord Boontje. I use the word "different" carefully because he isn't overly self critical, he isn't extremely happy and he makes some decent points without actually sounding like he thinks his audience lacks intellect. On stage, he rolled through his life as a designer almost like it was something that just happened and he just happened to be caught in the middle of it.

A theme running through Boontje's speech was that of "use what you've got". The idea being, of course, that you don't have to buy new things in order to make something new. And you don't have to spend a fortune on your craft. All it takes is a little ingenuity. This is how the idea of taking used wine bottles and creating vases and glasses came about. A simple idea really and one that is quite obvious and at the same time, utilising the old once again.

Boontje is adamant about design as an interpretation of an individual and specifically referring to his chandelier creations, which one would never think as chandeliers, but at the same time they are objects of beautiful and intriguing design that reflect nature.

One last thing, he talks about his design process which I kind of can relate to. The idea of getting from the starting point to the finishing point, but doing so through a number of small points in the middle. The idea that nothing just happens has always appeased me. But that's just a side bar.

Something that Boontje made me think about is creating something that is yours. Just like the chandelier, he spoke about never having to just succumb to what you have, but be the creator.

And for me,
That is what a designer should be!