tastemakers
words by Bethan Ryder
q&a
patrick everaert of designaddict.com
why did you start designaddict.com?
My wife Alix and I have been collectors of design for 20 years. Over 10 years ago, our collection was featured in a couple of magazines and some other collectors contacted us wanting to visit and see our collection. As most of them were in the US, we decided to photograph the pieces and display them on the internet instead. At the beginning, it was a personal website with no ambition, but it just grew organically and so we continued to add content and new sections to it. Then in 2001, we had to create a company to manage the growth of the site, which now occupies us full time.
what’s it like working together as husband and wife?
It’s quite easy. We’ve created and developed the site together from the start and always make the decisions together. It’s a natural process. We have complementary skills, so we can distribute the work evenly between us. The most difficult thing to manage is the commercial aspect. Our artistic backgrounds hadn’t prepared us for that.
where do you live?
In Charleroi, 45km south of Brussels, in an area that suffered from the decline of the iron, steel and coal industries. Our house is located outside of town in a leafy neighbourhood. It was designed in 1965 by my father and is considered one of the most interesting examples of modern architecture in the area.
define ‘good design’…
In short, good design is the creation of products that succeed in a balanced synthesis between form and function. Today, it is also essential that the material and the making process are sustainable and that each new product meets a need of society.
which aspect of your site is the most popular?
The most visited section is our Index of designers, which is the ‘encyclopedic’ part of the site, second most popular is the Forum. We are lucky to have many participants who are incredible experts in the field of design and sufficiently generous to share their knowledge with all our visitors. So this ‘community’ part of the site is invaluable in our eyes.
what is your favourite design object?
One of my favourite objects is the cast iron pot designed in 1959 by Timo Sarpaneva [Finnish designer who spent many years working for Iittala]
who are your design heroes?
The list is long, there are so many designers that I admire. Here are some names that immediately spring to mind: Achille Castiglioni, Enzo Mari, Hans Wegner, Koen De Winter, Kaj Franck, Konstantin Grcic…
what object couldn’t you live without?
Dishes drawn by the Finnish designer Kaj Franck for Arabia in 1953. Our children are the third generation in my family to use the Kilta and Teema bowls and plates daily. It is the essence of the design that I like: simple, modest, practical and solid, – they’ll never go out of fashion.
which design icon do you dream of one day possessing?
The first edition of Enzo Mari’s Putrella for Danese [a simple, slightly bent doubleT shaped iron beam that functions as a tray]. I like the strength and the simplicity of this object and its rough aspect. It is an object that is perfectly functional and which has, at the same time, a strong sculptural presence.
name two promising young designers to look out for in 2008
Belgian designer Alain Berteau, who over the past few years has delivered a series of interesting creations like the Tab chair for Bulo and the Ruby chair for Montis. We’re also curious to see what Blasius Osko and Oliver Deichmann will have to offer in the near future. We were very impressed by the foldable Clip chair that they presented on Moooi’s stand at the Milan Design Fair.
what is the best annual european design event?
In spite of a profusion of new international events, the Milan fair is still the main reference because you can see the innovations from the greatest producers there, as well as creations from young designers and editors at the Salone Satellite and at the numerous Off exhibitions in the city.
tell us about a restaurant we should visit when in Brussels
The Café des Spores [103 Chaussée d’Alsemberg Saint-Gilles). It specialises in mushrooms and, although not a restaurant of outstanding design, it possesses typical Belgian qualities such as simplicity, good food and a warm welcome.
which six people would you invite to a dream dinner party?
James Joyce, Swiss writer Robert Walser, Bruno Munari [Italian artist and designer], Steve Jobs, Gandhi, Ingrid Betancourt [Columbian politician and anti-corruption activist who was taken hostage by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Columbia-People’s Army].
what’s your philosophy for life?
Interesting question, but I would need a whole book to answer it. A philosophy for life cannot be reduced to a slogan.
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