Dror Benshetrit: Principled Design

Dror Benshetrit is the founder and master designer behind Studio Dror.  Benshetrit's work is a testament to the power of patience, discipline, and intuition. He has collaborated with clients including Puma, GE, B.R. Guest Restaurants, and Levi's to create breakthroughs in product design, architectural design, and brand identity. Behance caught up with Benshetrit to discuss productive idea generation.

Benshetrit's inspirations start with his surroundings. As he explains it, "I get the ideas for my designs from physics, from movement, from observing people's natural behaviors, from fashion and from my heart."

Benshetrit emphasizes the importance of envisioning progress to push ideas forward. "You need to fully believe in your idea and imagine that you are already there," Benshetrit says.  "When you imagine that you are where you want to be, it (will) not seem that you 'want' to be somewhere, as you are already there."

Benshetrit identifies intuition as a litmus test for vetting ideas.  "When coming up with new ideas some fade away, some stick with me a little longer...listening to my intuition has been a way for me to feel when one idea itches more than another and screams to be developed. This comes in different steps and stages until the project is completed."

Benshetrit adds value through his design by adhering to a heartfelt mission. "I have no interest in adding another ordinary object to the market."  Benshetrit always keeps his eye on the need for originality. "Any design I create has to evoke emotion, inspire or improves your well being, this is my mission."

To stay organized, Benshetrit believes that "creating deadlines is the best way to get things done."  However, deadlines aren't enough. Benshetrit also create a sense of accountability in his team by communicating deadlines publicly. He suggests that "you communicate each deadline, no matter how small, with every member of the team. Communication is the most important tool...in a team." When deadlines loom publicly, they are more likely to stick.

Benshetrit accepts the frustrations along the path of making ideas happen. As Benshetrit explains it, "you can work on a chair for 3 to 4 years until it's available in the market.  Sometimes you have ideas that are ahead of the times and it is difficult to find a manufacturer who is willing to invest and produce the design. ...Being patient is definitely one of my biggest challenges and frustrations (as a) product designer."

Advice for the creative professional community? "The best knowledge one can acquire is to understand oneself. Truly creating based on one's biggest strength, strongest passion, and personal desires.  Defining one's unique sensibility and working around that is the strongest tool."