Nominee Threshold Award Autonomous Practices
Meet Joni Veizaj! Joni was nominated for the 2021 Threshold Award Autonomous Practices with his graduation project ‘Dat Kan Mijn Kleine Nichtje Ook’ (My Little Niece Can Do That Too). In this interview, Joni tells us about his work and future plans.
Can you tell us a bit about your graduation project and how it came about?
The idea for my graduation project came about when I was exhibiting with my class at the Dutch Design Week. During the exhibition I had a conversation with a visitor about the work at display. He mentioned that our work looked like the result of tinkering, something his little niece could make as well. This led me to question where design starts and tinkering ends, and if there is even a clear border between these two at all. With this question in mind, I started my research. I started implanting tinkering techniques into production processes and by doing so, I discovered the aesthetics of tinkering.
Tinkering creates a transparent and personal outcome due to the simplicity of the techniques it employs. For example, staples that show how two pieces of paper are connected or glue that remains visible after connecting the two pieces. But most importantly, I believe that the aesthetics of tinkering show the joy of making. The casual and experimental nature of tinkering emphasizes the process rather than the end result. This was the starting point for my graduation work. By using tinkering techniques I started exploring the thin line between tinkering and design and tried to join the two together in several production techniques. This led to many different kinds of material and form samples that show the dialogue between tinkering and design.
In the end I used the techniques I developed to create three furniture pieces evolving around different themes: drawing, forming and connecting. The end result shows the positive aspects of tinkering while still applying a clearly defined design methodology. The three pieces can be seen as a hyperbole responding to the statement ‘Dat Kan Mijn Kleine Nichtje Ook’.
Which themes or societal concerns are you addressing in your work, and how?
With my work, I wanted to show what tinkering can do for design. It questions whether the statement “dat kan mijn kleine nichtje ook’’ (my little niece can do that too) is really as negative as it sounds. I believe that designing with the same mindset as a child (our little niece or nephew so to speak) can shine a different light on design.
Most products that are being designed today do not show the joy their making processes can bring to the maker and the viewer. The playful design(tinkering) background of products is hidden behind clean products and exhibitions. I think there is a taboo around tinkering. Tinkering seems to be ‘unprofessional’ for most people in and around design, although tinkering is the base on which design is built. It is about experimenting, finding new solutions and coming up with great ideas while having fun. I think we can learn from our little nieces and nephews by implementing this tinkering mentality in our design processes.
Next to creating the furniture pieces, I wanted to provoke a conversation with my audience about the statement ‘dat kan mijn kleine nichtje ook’ (my little niece can do that too). I tried to do this by creating functional design pieces that exaggerate the classic tinkering details and techniques. Their form will tell you it is tinkering, but their function and craftsmanship show their intricate design.
What will you be working on in the near future? What are your next steps?
I continued working on my graduation project and am developing different designs for the lamp to present at exhibitions. I think the lamp is the best item in the series and I want to apply its production technique in the creation of different types of furniture to create a new series of products. Furthermore, I would like to present my work at the Dutch Design Week, where I can gather new input for my project. I am also looking for a new workspace to continue developing my designs.
To read more about Joni’s work, pay a visit to his Graduation Catalogue Page. Furthermore, his journey can be followed on the Website of Dutch Design Week, Instagram, and his Website. The winner of the Threshold Award Autonomous Practice will be announced during a festive ceremony as part of the Graduation Show. Keep an eye on our Graduation Show page for more information.
