In Conversation With Lex Pott

Hello Lex, can you introduce yourself for me?

My name is Lex Pott. I'm a Dutch designer.

How did you first come to be interested in Design?

Both my parents are artists, so I was always fascinated with the art world growing up. At the same time though, I saw how difficult it is to make a living out of being an artist. 

Somebody introduced me to the Design Academy in Eindhoven, which sits in the grey area between art and industrial design, and that was really the perfect combination for me. I could design products that could be used, while focusing a lot on experimentation and artistic values.

What were the impressions that were made on you as a student then that have carried over to who you are as a designer now?

Well, what I really admire about the way they teach at the Academy is that they have a general program in the first year, where they introduce you to all fields of design, from digital to interior to fashion, to graphic, and parallel to that, they show you all the different materials and techniques. I didn't know anything, like, I knew how to cut a piece of wood with a saw, but that was about it. In the second, third and fourth year, they help you understand your own handwriting, which means that everybody that graduates leaves the Academy with a very strong personal DNA. I liked that I wasn't restricted to just one route or one way. 

That helped me the most to understand my work, what I like to do and what I like to make. Sometimes an idea fits better within the gallery world, another product may be better for mass production and sold at a fair price so that it's accessible to a lot of people.

I still enjoy coming to work every day and making things. So I guess, so far, so good.

How would you describe your process?

I try to work from a personal necessity, starting every project out of something I believe in or some kind of a necessity, making the prototypes, then throwing it into the world and seeing if other people like it as well. One of the most recent examples are the candles. 

Last year I made the Pillar candles, first for myself, and then for HAY. We had a heat wave last Summer and it was so hot, some of the candles started to bend over.

In the beginning I was very frustrated. I was like, “fuck, all the candles are ruined and I can’t sell them anymore.” And then after a couple of weeks, I realised that it was a beautiful material quality. Somehow it has a liquid state, it has a flexible state, and it has a solid state. I wanted to try and mimic those flexible moments. 

We spent a lot of time, extruding candles, very similar to making sausages. I knew with the right temperature, you have a flexible candle, and as soon as it cools down, it keeps its position as you dictate it. It sounds quite easy, but it was a nightmare to get there. Now have a little machine that extrudes the wax for us. We play with it, let the wax cool in the moulds overnight, and that's how we make our candles.

They’ve been quite popular, which has helped us through the pandemic crisis, although I expect business will begin to slow down in the upcoming months as the weather warms up.

There’s always the tendency to give the people what they want. In my case, if I make something just to please other people, it always ends up boring or average. At the end of the day, if nobody likes it, I will. When I have an idea that I really like, it automatically generates motivation and enthusiasm to continue the design process.

What’s the best and worst advice you've ever received?

I would say the best advice is, always blame yourself. It’s a bit of a cliche and it doesn't work for every situation, but in general, it helps a lot.

If things don't go according to plan, it's easy to blame others, but in the end, it's still your problem. Take responsibility, find a solution, and move on. 

And the worst advice. It's hard to remember, because usually I ignore that advice or I just erase it from my memory because it’s not relevant and doesn’t help me.

Bad advice means you have stupid people around you.

Last question. What is in the future for you? 

Surviving Corona! 

One thing that I really want to continue doing is self-initiated and self-produced projects. My ultimate dream is to be as independent as possible and to really only make what I want to make. For now, I have to compromise on commissions and commercial work until the pandemic is over. It's not my favourite cup of tea, but it's a necessity to pay the bills and to stay alive. 

As long as we have lunch and a bit of material to work with, we will be fine.