mauricio issa

Since I have memory, I've been interested in building things. I started building balsa wood models with a Dremel Mototool and a glue gun that I got from an uncle, then I started to buy more advanced tools to build breakfast tables, side tables, I even got into custom car sound systems with a friend. all this with no background at all, just for fun. My parents kept feeding that desire and allowed me to do pretty much any mess that i wanted in the garage. Then I came to USA on 2006 on an exchange program and the funny thing is that our school had one of the best wood shops, I learned a lot and made nice wooden projects. My other passion is always been entrepreneurship, so I decided to study Industrial Engineering in of the best business schools in Colombia, Icesi University. They have a double degree program, so when I was in 5th semester of engineering I started in parallel Industrial Design, I knew that it was going to happen since day 1 but I started engineering first because it would take me less time to validate both at the same time. It was a worthy sacrifice.

Arlo Skye is a New York ­based travel brand for the design obsessed. The company focuses on travel goods based on three main pilars, an uncompromising focus on quality, elegance and practical intelligence. People should feel different using the products from the brand. The first product is The Carry-On, but the idea is to extend the range to soft-goods and checked pieces.

I like mass production products, thing that you can use and are not just for a museum. I really like solutions that make changes in people lives, it doesn't matter if is small or simple, just one simple positive change.

I love things that fit on the context and work. I really like the A9 from Bang and Oluffsen, it is simply beautifull and the sound is perfect and the Emeco navy chair, because I can trow it from a balcony and it will survive, it is simply indestructible. I absolutely love the serif TV the Bourellec brothers did for Samsung and I also love the Hippo Roller from Pettie Petzer and Johan Jonker, I think its a really good solution for the context in which is used for.

I worked on a new packaging for High End Bed Sheets, for a Colombian Brand while I was at College.

All kinds of wood, I just love how it blends with everything. I have to say that one of the things i enjoy the most is hand prototyping, 3D print is a big think in my life right now, but I'm really interested in learning about Arduino.

When I'm not thinking that I need to be creative. random places. That is why learning about a lot, allows you to have a broader mindset about the things you do.

I believe the concept and story behind it, are probably the most important things. these are the main pillars for a design solution.

I love to daydream, it nurtures my process, thoughts, feelings and goals. but as a normal human being my feelings go from joy to anger. It is really hard for me to get mad at something.

it is hard to describe, I always have a sense of fulfillment and happiness of doing something that somebody likes.

Thinking on it as a whole. Not just an isolated product or service but part of a systemic approach, measuring impacts on different fields.

the process behind, the concept, the idea, the execution. Sometimes really great designs are underestimated just because they do not look or what people was expecting but the idea works great and the concept is perfect for that idea. That is why I like taking the time to see the idea and process behind.

Sustainable design is possible and we have seen it. We need more designers to push forward thinking towards these ideas inside organizations, Designers CEOs that push sustainability ideas, no matter if the revenue is a little affected. If we do not do that, there will be no world to save pretty soon.

with the time design is becoming more " in-tangible", which is good because allows us to work within any area of an organization. I think designers will become highly relevant within organizations and we are going to see a lot of CDOs in companies that didn't have the, and CEOs that are designers.

I presented a project in the Wanted Design 2015, Colombia Design Booth called "Rana" along with a friend, Dario Narvaez.

I like reading about interesting things that have nothing to do with design, you never know where you can find inspiration. Architecture is a great source of inspiration for me, i love learning about the history of the buildings, you can learn a lot about how the context influenced the design in that specific moment. Also, long walks along with music. Looking for what is new to the market, what is trendy, what is not.

it is basic, changes a little depending on the project but i like simple useful lines with meaning. I'm obsessed with displays, the interaction with the design needs to be seamless

Right now I'm based in NYC. Colombia has good design schools although we do not have a huge heritage in design as a Country. I think living and growing there and be able to live and work abroad has made my mindset shift. It made it broader.

Not only looking for cool portfolios and awards but people that actually is a team-player and mixed backgrounds.

Always start with a brief or a basic idea in a notebook. The notebook is essential because i put there everything that comes to my mind event if is not related to the project. then I do some research for exiting similar ideas or just inspiration and keep sketching in my notebook. after I filtered the ideas, I start developing them in the PC, but always keep sketching ideas to introduce to your process. it is a cycle, so sometimes you go back and start again. Then mock ups and prototypes to validate concepts and ideas. and then more development. The process always vary depending on the project, but this is how pretty much I always approach my personal projetcs.

Marshall Stanmore Bluetooth speaker, I love the mix of vintage with new technology. My watch, because of what it means to me. My Arlo Skye Carry On in matte black. simply bad ass. Red mini Cubebot. meaining GoPro with accessories, that thing is pretty clever.

it is pretty basic: Gym to sweat the stress - Work - daydream - iced coffee - read on Flipboard - work on personal things at night and cook my meals.

I'm still on that category but I'd say that, keep learning about whatever you want, never settle because that is the only way to nurture creativity.

is positive that you can impact people lives, improve them. and is negative that it is still underestimated as a career just to make furniture for rich people.

keep asking questions, even if you think they are stupid. sometimes those are really importannt and nobody thought about them.

curiosity, empathy, humbleness and team-playerness as a I call it.

hardware would be - Lenovo laptop Workstation w540, wacom cintiq companion 2, Dremel Moto tool, notebook paper, markers colors and even crayons. I use a lot pinterest, le manoosh and design blogs. read a lot on flipboard about a lot of different stuff. i have books on design thinking, materials, and manufacturing.

I try to validate ideas quick asking a lot of questions to my self.

while at Curve ID, worked on projects for All Clad, Colgate, WasauPaper and Perkin Elmer. Now Arlo Skye with the travel goods.

I like the projects that make someone smile when they see and use them.

Right now, keep working on what I'm doing right now. We will see what the future has to offer.

always team, working on a complex project by yourself is pretty much impossible i think. but when is a small personal project, I might do it alone or ask for feedback from friends that I trust a lot designwise.

llinkedIn or Facebook with my name. I'm really easy to reach and always open to collaborations of any type.

I was born and raised in Colombia, South America. I've been interested my whole life into building things, started with a Dremel making balsa wood models, Airplanes, then I came to USA on 2006 on an exchange program and the funny thing is that our school had one of the best wood shops, I learned a lot and made nice wooden projects.

Since I have memory, I've been interested in building things. I started building balsa wood models with a Dremel Mototool and a glue gun that I got from an uncle, then I started to buy more advanced tools to build breakfast tables, side tables, I even got into custom car sound systems with a friend. all this with no background at all, just for fun. My parents kept feeding that desire and allowed me to do pretty much any mess that i wanted in the garage. My otter passion is always been entrepreneurship, so I decided to study Industrial Engineering in of the best business schools in Colombia, Icesi University. They have a double degree program, so when I was in 5th semester of engineering I started in parallel Industrial Design, I knew that it was going to happen since day 1 but I started engineering first because it would take me less time to validate both at the same time. It was a worthy sacrifice.

I decided, I love materializing things. from basic to complex ideas. My family nurtured it. and the circumstances have played in my favor, allowing me to work and learn from great and talented people.

I like mass production products, thing that you can use and are not for a museum. I really like solutions that make changes in people lives, it doesn't matter if is small or simple, just one simple positive change. I would love to get more involved into designing intangible solutions for businesses and systems. Business models and that sort of things. I already started learning, reading, nurturing from other fields.

wow. I wouldn't say that, legends are made by years and years of great work, I'm still in diapers, design wise, I'd say. I believe is essential and it might sound cliche but " never settle and always keep looking". I think one quality most young designers need is " your babies are not perfect " and accept "critics" positively as a chance to improve. If someone criticizes your "baby" it doesn't mean is bad, it is only an opinion, you can take it or leave it, but is always good to pay attention to it.

I think there is a paradigm with this question because i think great designers depend on the timing. For example in the 20's and 50's we saw a proliferation of probably the greatest designers of all time, Breuer, Pantone, Eames, making things that were ahead of their time and some stills are. Great designers are always one step ahead of everything, trying new things, new concepts, thinking outside of the "outside box". But now days, you have to add to the making of that new "thing", the impact. How this "system","product","business" is going to impact the world, the feeling and life of the users in a positive or negative way.

in my humble opinion. it should serve a purpose, be cohesive with the concept, use and user, be what it was intended to be. A really good design is those things that make you say " damn, this people really thought about it, the product, the model, the strategy, the impact from all sides". The product doesn't need to be complex or perfect, but the "whole" is so cohesive, clever and well executed that there is no way you can say a different thing. that is my humble opinion.

Good design makes a positive impact in people and animal life. Companies sometimes forget that "things" material or non-material are intended to be used and whether is human or animal, the interaction should feel right. If through good design practices you can make something even more positive of what you are doing right now, the question should be why not investing on it?

I would love to get involved in energy solutions, for cities, rural areas, etc. i think we rely so much in only electricity generated by power plants that we forget we need a backup plan. and better if is several backup plans.

I would love to explore how to use the energy we loose in organic waste every single day. i did a concept for a Colombian competition several years ago, that explored this idea. Just using organic waste to generate gas for power , cooking or heating water . An ancient idea used in rural areas but for cities. Imagine NYC without organic waste.

just keep learning and surrounding with people that knows and is way better than I am. keep your brain curious as a 5 year old child.

Eames, Breuer and Dieter Rams great executions and forward thinking about materials and design in general. I really like the iconic work from Oscar Niemayer and Santiano Calatrava. Giugiaro - his mind is on the future, always/ Yves Behar and Scoot Wilson from the new generation - I really like how they see design as a whole. I like their executions in social design and Business models.

I love things that fit on the context and work. I really like the A9 from bang and oluffsen, it is simply beautifull and the sound is perfect and the emeco navy chair, because i can trow it from a balcony and it will survive, it is simply indestructible. I absolutely love the serif TV the Bourellec brothers did for Samsung and I also love the Hippo Roller from Pettie Petzer and Johan Jonker, i think its a really good solution for the context in which is used for.

I did a project "Rana" with a friend Dario Narvaez. It is a ring toss game inspired by a Colombian game. Is the kind of things you think don't need intervention, but there is so much potential and concept exploration behind them that we spend almost 2 months figuring out the concept and getting rid of things. It is the kind of projects you do just for fun, so there is no limitations.

keep learning, not only design related. cooking, gardening, learning how to put tile or how to make a great capuchino. reading about business strategies, marketing, biographies, '' chicken maternity for dummies '', what ever you can learn, it will help eventually, somehow.

Architect or mechanic engineer - gotta say I find a lot of inspiration in those two fields.

always my family, not only my parents, my uncles, siblings, friends that are like family. and I gotta say, I owe lot to people at college.

I would say I'm a great designer. I just enjoy what I do, that is why I don't see it as a job but as a way of living.

Design master is a big word. but I had to avoid people with negative feelings, sometimes people think because you enjoy and don't take too serious yourself, they think you are being arrogant or feel superior. Is not that at all, I just love when people give constructive critics to what I'm doing, so I also like doing it, i like asking questions. And every designer is in love with their baby.

the project should be shown as a story. try to cover the whole in a way everybody can understand your decisions and the outcome.

More projects for ArloSkye, and personal projects. you need to feed your design needs from different angles.

To become an entrepreneur. It is funny but I'd like to use design and not just design for others. I think building companies and creating jobs is a way of adding a lot of value to the society. You don't give away money, you create a company and 20 jobs and let them earn their money.

the people that know me, always expect that I won't stop. and if i have to stop, I'll resume for sure.

Design can be used in 100% of the fields, companies and products in the world. from a service to a tangible product such as a Chair. The goal is for designers to understand that they not only make nice furniture but that they can add value to a hotel experience or a social cause. I happen to love designing tangible things, for now. but it doesn't mean i will always do the same. Some designers are crucified because they are not designing things but instead they opted for a social approach or a service design. I say, that's great and I respect a lot people that try to do meaningful things with their lives. Design allow us to think in a different way, which should be always welcomed in any context and organization.

I can't talk about that much it but it has to be with luggage.

The Carry-On for ArloSkye gave me a lot of inner satisfaction. It was a long journey from conception, long nights, long weekends. but we managed to get it done.

Shifting the mindset that a designer only draws nice things. A lot of designer are complementing their careers with other areas that are really suitable for any company. And the designers need to understand they need to learn more things besides drawing nice things.

A lot of companies are getting their own R&D labs and in-house design teams to explore possibilities. Which is good because they have understanded that good design is good business. I think a lot of designers will become CEOs of companies, just because they way they think. I also think design is becoming more and more "in-material"with intervention in areas that you wouln't imagine.

Asking a lot of questions. It is good to have the correct brief and constraints from the beginning but not paying too much attention to them on the concept phase where you need to fly. at the beginning it's a give and take.

Hard to say. I think some people just do things because they can and they want, and suddenly that becomes a trend. and some people take a trend and do something with it. So I would say it is both ways in my opinion.

At the very first stage I really love the technology called "pen and paper" and making quick mock ups to prove ideas or concepts. but I use the computer for pretty much everything else. Renderings, CAD, more realistic sketching with a wacom and for initial research.

I have a lenovo laptop workstation w540 and a wacom cintiq companion 2. With Solid works, PTC Creo, Adobe suite, sketchbook pro, Keyshot and my favorite Snipping tool !!

it is so important that it can affect how people feel just being in the presence of the "thing" or using the service that you designed. the whole experience should be enhanced by the correct selection of materials and colors.

I really like to see the process behind it. the effort to make it so simple to understand but the struggle to get there.

I believe in co-design 120%. It is hard to design just yourself, by yourself. Nothing better that having a working great team that throw ideas and not worried to ask or say that they do not know something. better if the team is multidisciplinary. I do not have an ideal design partner, but i like people that love what they do and take constructive comments, positively. I like people that argue with fundamentals and facts.

Coworkers and friends that I've worked with. I think from every single one of them I've learned a lot. As i said before, I've had the honor to work along with really talented people to whom I owe a lot

Creative confidence, change by design and the laws of simplicity are great design resources, and in the other hand you might think this two books do not influence design wise, but they have, on me. the books are. Zero To one, Rich Dad Poor Dad and Kaizen methodologies.

from the past, I would love to know what the hell was in DaVinci's head and from now I would love to have a talk with Manoj Bhargava the founder of 5 hour Energy. His R&D program for new inventions is simply, great.

I don't see awards as a way to get famous but more as a validation that all the effort and work you are putting into something is worth it.

I really like Nardo Gray. Place, gotta say that my parents home, they designed it. Pizza !!. Spring. Thing, my watch, it has more meaning that monetary value and brand, have to say that I love designs from Bang and Oluffsen, they just push the boundaries.

I have cut my self and had so many accidents ( not serious ones) at the shop and so many tetanus shots that a nurse told me I'm immune already.

Seeing the results of what you have done. when you see people on the street using or interacting with something you have worked in, that is a great feeling i have to say.

I have always liked making things, so I guess I was nurtured towards that path.

I don't even think we are going to be here in 200 years if we keep at the pace we are right now. In a 1000 years we are going to be probably in a different planet or this planet might change its name to Planet Water.

I would be great to have fans hahaha !!. I'm a simple person that enjoys meaningful things on life. loves motorcycles and pizza, and good sound.