Today we are going to talk to you about a Belgian designer: Melissa Yseboodt.  Her work seduced us thanks to her commitment for the environment and her originality.

Magnus 5 is an ecological chair that was made with a material called « Kirei », which is an ecological alternative  for wood. It is light, sustainable and strong.

  If you want to discover her history and her work read the rest of this entry.

Magnus 5

THE INTERVIEW

In-We :  Can you tell us about your professional training?
Melissa Yseboodt : In highschool I studied Public Relations. In college, I studied Interior & Design for 3 years at “Campus Lucas Faydherbe” in Mechelen. But I was still eager to learn, so I studied some more: 2 years of Interior Architecture at the “Henry Van de Velde” Institute in Antwerp.

What products do you design?
I mostly design interiors, but I also have made some furniture pieces or objects. For example, I have created a dog house

Can you tell us about your philosophy?
In general, I try to make things that carry out a message or story. Otherwise it would just be yet another object. Sometimes you can see something and then when you hear the full story behind it, it moves you in so many ways. I think that is the most beautiful thing a person can achieve with its designs.

When did your interest for eco-design start?
You could say that, ever from since I was still a child, the environment has always played a big role in my thinking in general. I can’t help but feel aware of my responsibility towards the world.
As a designer, I try to take as many factors as possible into consideration. For example, if one chooses – the very ecologically justified – bamboo, one might need more of the material than would be the case with steel. In the selection of materials, it is important to weigh the benefits of utilising more of an ecological substance versus using less of another material, in order to attain a perfect balance between the viability of the concept and a low environmental impact.

Where does your inspiration come from?
I like to start from some sort of problem, something that has no solutions yet or could use a whole new one. I mostly put in a little story in my design from which the rest grows.

What materials do you use for your creations?
I prefer natural materials when possible, it has a certain honesty about it. This can even be fibres like felt or bamboo cotton. But with sustainable design in mind, plastics or other materials might sometimes be a better choice.

What message(s) do you want to convey through your pieces?
I don’t really have a loud and clear message to spread, but I like it when my work can amaze people. Sometimes an idea can be so plain simple, but the impact is huge.

Do you work by yourself or with a team?
My furniture design and interior designs are all done by myself.

What do you think of our blog?
I think it is a very nice initiative and it is a great opportunity for young designer to get some feedback on their work. 

 Dog house