Naomi Kizhner is an industrial designer from Israel. She has recently made headlines with her speculative “Energy Addicts” accessories that morph involuntary physical movements such as blinking of eyes and blood flow in veins into electricity. With an aim of exploring the post-humanistic approach where the human body might be used as a resource, the designer created the invasive futuristic jewelry. Lately, we got an opportunity of interviewing the most versatile and talented designer, so without much ado, please scroll down and see what the designer has to say about herself,
TechieTonics: Please would you tell us more about your background? And what brought you into designing?
Naomi Kizhner: I had always wanted to be a designer, but I did not made the cut at the first try so I studied political since and history at the Hebrew university of Jerusalem. After graduation I had realized that I cannot spend the rest of my life working nine to five … and decided to try to get in to design school again… and I have been designing ever since usually in an unconventional hours, because you are not always inspired from nine to five…
TechieTonics: Energy Addicts explores an interesting concept of generating renewal energy by harvesting body energy. What led to the creation of this idea in your project and how far do you think the concept has convinced people?
Naomi Kizhner: The idea came mainly from interest of speculating about future scenarios, I strongly believe that everything is possible, as well as I am very environmentally aware so I wanted to combine the two elements together as well as speculating and trying to analyze a bit the human nature, and how it would behave in yet known situations.
TechieTonics: What are your thoughts on the visual elements of a design that make one product more recognizable or interesting over another?
Naomi Kizhner: I think that the strength of a visual element is highly connected with the idea and the concept behind it, there are a lot of pretty things, but a pretty thing that makes you think is different story, I think that this is the strength of my work.
TechieTonics: Who or what are you inspirations that help you in spilling out the creative genius in yourself?
Naomi Kizhner: I find myself inspired by a lot of things, architecture, movies. Every day people that I see in the bus to work, but mainly its music, music is the soundtrack of our lives.
TechieTonics: What design environment inspires you to work the most? Is it the working in a team studio or personal studio or workshop or office?
Naomi Kizhner: It’s a mixture of all a little bit of everything.
TechieTonics: Do you agree with the notion, design will be the key feature in the next wave of sustainability?
Naomi Kizhner: Yes I do agree, design is present in our daily life and it will be present in the future.
TechieTonics: From your perspective, what do you think the 3D technology will be in the next 5 years’ time?
Naomi Kizhner: Probably it will be available to a bigger range of people, we will become makers, the consumer will be the manufacturer, I think that it will be interesting to see what will be role of the designer in this process.
TechieTonics: What are your future plans with respect to your designs? And presently, what are the interesting things that have hooked your attention?
Naomi Kizhner: My future plans are definitely to keep on provoking through my work. For now, I am studying the different kinds of reactions that I received from “energy addicts” in order to understand the power of provocation end and how I am going to use it in the next time.
TechieTonics: What’s the most valuable lesson you’re learned during your career in designing?
Naomi Kizhner: To be a designer is 5% talent and 95% hard work.
Rapid- fire questions:
TechieTonics: Describe yourself in one word?
Naomi Kizhner: black
TechieTonics: What is your strongest skill?
Naomi Kizhner: Escapism
TechieTonics: Who would you like to design something for?
Naomi Kizhner: Ridley Scott
TechieTonics: How would you label/categorize your work?
Naomi Kizhner: Provocative
TechieTonics: If given a chance, what would you like to change in the world?
Naomi Kizhner: The way we see everyday things
Naomi this has been a real pleasure! I can’t thank you enough on the behalf of myself and TechieTonics for taking out time and enable us to learn more about you and your career. Please know that you are welcome back any time and we look forward to visiting with you again and seeing much more of your work in the future. Wish you all the very best for all your future endeavors.
