Paulo Duarte Gomes de Senna Fernandes
1. Congratulations on winning the NY Product Design Awards! Can you introduce yourself and share about what inspired you to pursue design as a career?
My name is Paulo Duarte Gomes de Senna Fernandes. I transitioned into design when I realized that I wasn’t just interested in how things looked, but in how they functioned for the people using them. What really inspired me was seeing a confusing app or a poorly designed physical space—it made me realize that good design is actually a form of advocacy for the user.
2. What does being recognized in the NY Product Design Awards mean to you?
Now that my work have reached the international stage, winning the New York Product Design Awards is not just a trophy, but a significant turning point in my career and personal life.
3. How has this achievement impacted your career, team, or agency, and what opportunities has it brought so far?
I might be invited to serve as a design reviewer, speak at industry events, or take on high-risk projects that were previously only for senior designers. This would turn my resume into a testament to my outstanding achievements.
4. What role does experimentation play in your creative process? Can you share an example?
In one project, I struggled to make a complex data dashboard feel human. I put down my computer screen and started experimenting with paper prototyping—cutting out various elements and moving them by hand. This tactile experiment revealed a hierarchy I had previously overlooked when staring at pixels, ultimately leading to this Silver Award Winning design from the New York Product Design Awards!
5. What's the most unusual source of inspiration you've ever drawn from for a project?
Now that I've reached the level of excellence recognized by the New York Product Design Awards, my answer should prove that my "design eye" has never truly stopped. I not only browse other people's portfolios, but I also observe how the world works.
6. What’s one thing you wish more people understood about the design process?
I hope people can understand that design is first and foremost a cognitive process, and only secondly a visual one. 'Work' is not just about the final layout; it also involves spending a lot of time doing research, questioning assumptions, and solving logical puzzles. When I start 'designing' the visuals, 80% of the problems have already been solved through strategy.
7. How do you navigate the balance between meeting client expectations and staying true to your ideas?
I don't try to "sell" my ideas. Instead, I show clients how my creative direction can most directly help them achieve their goals. If I can prove that my "idea" can indeed solve their "problems," then everything will fall into place naturally.
8. What were the challenges you faced while working on your award-winning design, and how did you overcome them?
In professional interviews or feature reports, the challenges I encounter are actually more interesting than my successes. They demonstrate my resilience and technical depth.
9. How do you recharge your creativity when you hit a creative block?
Creative blocks are an inevitable part of a productive design process. When I reach award-winning levels, "pushing myself" often leads to exhaustion, so I should recharge as consciously as I do my work.
10. What personal values or experiences do you infuse into your designs?
I value inclusivity. My design philosophy is that products should be suitable for everyone, regardless of their skill level. I often draw inspiration from my own experience to ensure that my work removes barriers, rather than creates them.
11. What is an advice that you would you give to aspiring designers aiming for success?
Don't just look for inspiration in design. Read history, study biology, go to a concert, or observe how chefs arrange their kitchens. The best designers draw inspiration from outside their industry and transform it into entirely new works. Be a seeker of knowledge about the world, not just a student of Behance.
12. If you could collaborate with any designer, past or present, who would it be and why?
Choosing an ideal partner is a great way to showcase your design philosophy. It not only reflects who you admire but also demonstrates the "energy" you want to inject into the project.
13. What's one question you wish people would ask you about your work, and what's your answer?
This is a clever way to end an interview because it allows you to steer the conversation toward the part of your work that you are most proud of—the “invisible” efforts that others might overlook.
