As shapeless and bizarrely abstract as his creations, Lovegrove’s talk was meandering but inspirational, touching on topics such as artistic integrity and the impact top management executives’ choices have on art.

The 58-year-old Wales native is known for his fluid, futuristic designs. He gained acclaim as the designer of the Sony Walkman cassette tape player in the 1980s, and has since collaborated with brands ranging from Peugeot to Tag Heuer.

“I could talk all night because I love my profession. And when everything takes years, how can you articulate two or three years in two or three minutes?” Lovegrove asked.

“So I live with my objects, and it’s quite interesting, these ... things I’ve made in my workshop on my own with my hand.”

Lovegrove’s studio is a trove of the designer’s identity with pieces like “nomadic solar architecture” Solar-C, a winding staircase that he dubs “DNA,” and numerous 3-D prints on display.

“When you’re with these objects, they feel incredibly human, and they are human,” he said.

Lovegrove also emphasized the importance of “using the tools of the time,” of being up-to-date with the most current technology.

“I’m an industrial designer, which doesn’t sound very exciting, does it? But industry has changed. Industry isn’t as violent and primitive as it was. Contemporary industry is incredible and accelerating at a fast pace. You have to stay up to date with what’s going on, not only in terms of process or material but also, the social changes in our environment, which affect us all.”

The advancement of technology, conversely, has heightened the value of the analog, Lovegrove added. Showing slides of hand-drawn paintings in his journal, he pointed out that now, computers are able to replicate the intricacy of analog drawings.

The second speaker, furniture designer Kim Jin-sik, described how he wants to approach problems “as simply as possible.”

“I believe that a design’s longevity depends on how ‘pure’ it is,” he said, detailing the many projects he has undertaken since his studies in luxury and craftsmanship at the University of Art and Design in Lausanne, Switzerland. Kim, 33, also conducted theoretical design research on the influence of physical and 3-D printer technology at Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands.

Kim’s list of collaborators ranges from luxury French crystal brand Baccarat to fashion brand Hermes.

Kim’s simple, luxurious and functional designs have nabbed him international attention. Design magazine Wallpaper featured Kim in August, spotlighting the mini-golf course that Kim designed to be installed at hotels. 

“Relating to people as a communicator is important,” Kim noted.

By Rumy Doo (doo@heraldcorp.com)