Today on the blog we feature product designer, Ramesh Manickam of Cozart, Chennai. He shares with us in detail about his venture, design process and showcase at the Chennai event.

A bit about yourself and the design company.

Ramesh Manickam an industrial designer, alumnus from IIT Delhi, started his design career as an automotive designer, The Thunderbird motorcycle from Royal Enfield is one of his first creations – product out in the market designed way back in 2000. Started Centroid Design in 2005, in the last 12 years, he has designed over 400 products ranging from Tractors to pens. Has won Good design award Japan, CII Design excellence award, International Young design entrepreneur of the year award from British council. He is also a TED Fellow and a avid speaker on design and entrepreneurship.

Cozart is a decor brand from Centroid – designing day to day use products made simple, beautiful and functional. Cozart is a brand that makes the user emotionally connects with the products through subtle stories. Breathing in life in to products creating meaningful, simple, elegant and contemporary everyday items.

Concrete as your design medium – why?

Concrete as a material blends itself with the environment and is designer friendly in term of expressing emotions through form, texture and is very durable.

In Cozart range of products we have made a building material used in different context acceptable for day to day products. We have tried to push limits in materials and processes to bring in a different set of characteristics that blend with aesthetics  and light weight material to suit the Modern and contemporary indoor scenarios.

Concrete also allows a lot of experimentation and play. It is so easy to get any form in concrete, as any design medium to get it as simple as possible it takes lots of effort and eye for detail.

What is the inspiration behind your current collection? 

The range of products are designed for a target audience who is  a connoisseur of fine things in life, young at heart and connected with the contemporary culture.

A blend of minimalist surfaces with patterns & hues creating an ultramodern touch resulting in a unique aesthetic feel.

Clean surfaces + Defined edges + striking pattern overlay
The designs don’t call for attention and blends itself with its background – Subtle with no shouting.

Can you run us through the start to finish process of making a concrete accessory?

The design process starts from portraying the customer persona and understanding their requirements from their perspectives. Conceptualising the decor products that they would enjoy using, and each design is crafted. The sketches are converted CAD models – all details fine tuned to the last detail.

Master patterns and moulds are made to make the parts. The products are made with a unique mixture of special concrete that gives it a fine finish and texture. The light weight concrete also needs to set quick to enable to take multiple parts from the mould. The parts are painted, textured and finished to the required details.

What are your displaying at the By Hand, From The Heart.

The product range displayed at the By Hand, From the Heart consists of desk top accessories, that blends with the scenarios. The products are carefully designed that they don’t shout and call for attention. We are showcasing our family of products consisting of tea light holders, desk top organisers, pen stands, planters and flower vases.