Dan Formosa
New York-based Dan Formosa holds a Ph.D in ergonomics and biomechanics and was a member of the team that designed IBM’s first personal computer. The award winning designer will preside over the Product Design jury at 2015’s Cannes Lions. He talks design and innovation in our Q&A.
Dan Formosa
How you crossed with the advertising world...
I design products for companies, I’m not in advertising – although in a way I am, since people are buying products based on internet reviews by other consumers, every product becomes an ad, and each consumer becomes a spokesperson.
The most recent project I’ve worked on...
Many companies are investing heavily in design and innovation. I spent the last six months helping a large corporation in Asia set up a design and innovation centre.
The next big thing in advertising is going to be...
Less need for traditional advertising, with more of that investment being directed at design and innovation.
The piece of advertising work I wish I had thought of is...
The SportCenter television ads for ESPN. They are quick, relatively low budget, and really clever.
The best piece of creative work around at the moment is...
I’m a big fan of the animated videos for Chipotle Mexican Restaurants. I also like their website, and their approach to attracting and relating to the world in general. Like all good brands, they don’t have customers, they have a community.
The internet/digital tool I couldn’t live without is...
Skype, Viber, Google+, Facetime – any of the internet-based voice or video services.
In a film about my life, I’d like to be played by...
Daniel Day-Lewis – but it would be a comedy.
A word or phrase I overuse...
Radarscope
My last social media update said...
“Technology is useless unless it’s usable.” Which was something I typed as I was writing an article. I immediately revised it for the article, but posted it intact on Twitter.
My dream collaboration is...
To create a piece of music, probably with some legendary rocker, and to perform it somewhere. I am in awe of people who can perform on stage - not sure I could actually do it.
A piece of criticism I’ve received was...
“Thanks for the talk Dan, it was like having a Nathan’s hot dog with everything.”
The last piece of music I listened to was...
Playing in my studio now is a collection of classic blues recorded at Chess Records in Chicago, 1947 to 1967 – containing tracks by Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Elmore James and others.
4 March 2015
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